Mitsubishi 1993 3000GT Technical Information Manual page 86

3-14
DRIVE-CONTROL COMPONENTS -
SHOCK ABSORBER
The shock absorber comes with a built in damping force
changeover actuator (including a, position detection
switch) and the damping force can be changed in 3
steps (SOFT, MEDIUM and HARD) with this actuator.
Expansion
side
Damping
force
Contraction
side
Damping force characteristics
Damping Force Changeover Mechanism
For damping force changeover, the damping force
changeover actuator is operated by a signal from the
control unit which causes the rotary valve built into the
piston rod to rotate and changes the opening/closing of
the orifice and the oil flow passage area. The rotary
valve has large and small orifices (1 each for a total of 8)
as shown in the cross sections A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D
in the figure below. There is also one passage (for a
total of 4) for each cross section in the piston rod.
Piston
Check nut
HARD
MEDIUM
SOFT
Piston speed
SOFT
MEDIUM
HARD
12F0008
Damping
force
changeover
actuator
Rotary valve
Piston rod
12FOOOS
Electronic Control Suspension (ECS)
Furthermore, the piston valve has a double seat and the
base valve is made of 2 valves; accurate control is
possible at any damping force step for achieving both
safe operation and comfortable riding.
Front shock absorber
cross section
The damping force is changed in 3 steps by combining
the rotary valve and piston rod passages.
When the ECS control unit confirms the change in the
damping force by the command from the position
detection switch, it stops the signal sent to operate the
damping force changeover actuator.
12F0047
Piston
valve
Base
valve
Rear shock absorber
cross section
12F0009
12F0037