So today we're talking circle track shocks. Twin tubes, monotubes.
What's the difference? Let's figure it out.
I'm Adam this is Tim here with QA1 kind of talking to you through the differences between our circle
track shocks. So let's start with the monotubes. Yeah monotube shock it's kind of in the name
itself just one tube which the piston rides right directly inside the body of the shock. On the
base here there is a gas chamber that gets charged up with nitrogen that's the basic construction of
the mono tube. Moving over here to the twin tube shock. You can see that the piston is much smaller
than the mono tube version that is because it has a smaller what we call a compression
tube that the the piston rides in. This twin tube design has this compression tube
and which goes inside the body of the shock hence two tubes the twin tube shock. And then
where this has a nitrogen charge that instead has a gas bag in it. Correct yeah so you have to have
as the shock compresses the displacement of the rod has to displace oil it does that into the
gas chamber in the mono tube and then in the twin tube it flows into the outer chamber which where
this gas bag is. Which then compresses with that displaced oil. When would you use a mono tube
or what makes a mono tube perform differently than a twin tube. I'd say the major difference
in a mono tube that's going to be your most noticeable is is that gas charged to the shock.
Typically they're charged from the factory minimum of 100 psi and what that does is the biggest
characteristic of that is when you compress the shock it's going to want to extend on its own.
And which is in turn having spring rate and adding spring rate to your car spring rate does change as
that the shock compresses and builds up pressure it will have different rate throughout its travel.
That is preferred in some scenarios. Is definitely preferred in a high compression application so
the left rear of your dirt car I'm sure you got one on there yep that's going to help
have consistent damping throughout its range on a high compression application
minimal hysteresis they work really well there. When would you want to use a monotube?
When you're in a in a rough track where you got a lot of bumps and ruts. The gas charge
shock design just helps react quicker and recover from those those imperfections.
Also it does have a spring rate to it with the gas charge. So when you're trying to use it to
lift the the vehicle you know lift the corner of your car for the left rear of your dirt
car if you're trying to jack the left rear up that's where it works works really well. It has
with the charge in it it keeps the compression damping force consistent and just really shines
there and and getting the that corner of the car up. So now that we've kind of gone through
the advantages disadvantages of the mono tubes let's take a look at the twin tubes.
So one thing I use these on three corners of my car because I race on a lot of smooth dry slick
tracks so when you're trying to feel where the traction is at what's happening there
having that base valve like Tim was talking about just gives you a little bit more feel for what's
happening. Another big advantage this is one of my shocks right here obviously took a dinger
and I was able to finish the race this would need to be rebuilt I wouldn't want to bolt
this back onto the car but it didn't stop me in my tracks you know the shock could still
travel a little bit because it didn't hit that internal compression tube. Another advantage
in really high rebound applications like if you're trying to tie the right front down
like Tim you were saying in an asphalt car if you're trying to keep the the car just down
low. This can do that a little better or a little bit more consistently than a monotube shock can.
So the main disadvantage when using a twin tube is really when you have those rough ruddy if you
got a lot of bumps in the track these just aren't able to react quite as quickly as a monotube is.
So you get a little bit more feel but you sacrifice that reaction time. So now that
we've kind of taken a look at all of them I mean is there really a reason not to use either one?
Not specifically a lot of it really comes down to preference. So whether you're using a
stock mount shock or a bearing mount shock
um you know you can check with your chassis builders your your local rebuilder if you got
one. If you if you don't know a rebuilder give us a call we'll find one for you we have a pretty
big network of them. But but all of them can be rebuilt all of them can be revalved based on where
you're running how you're using it what kind of car you have all very versatile shocks but if you
have any questions give us a call we'll point you in the right direction and thanks for watching.