More suspension travel?
Do I have more suspension travel if I install the shock spring loosely?
Absolutely not. The suspension travel is determined by the stroke of the piston rod and the transmission ratio of the rear triangle. The spring only regulates the force required to utilise the entire suspension travel. If you only screw the spring in loosely, there is a risk of bottoming out, which can quickly destroy the shock. The spring should always be preloaded by a few turns so that the spring disc cannot come loose and the shock can bottom out. Select the spring stiffness so that the shock does not bottom out on your home track, or only once or twice.
(Photo: Daniel Simon)
