Subaru XT 1988 Service Manual page 768

SUSPENSION 4-1
Air Pipe
The air pipe is made of nylon, and the joint at the front strut
is composed of a cap, air bushing, and O-ring. The air pipe is
secured by tightening the cap to the specified torque to crush
the end of the air bushing.
Air bushing
Cap
O-ring
L4-1293
Fig. 14
All other joints adopt a quick joint whose construction is
shown below.
L4-128
Fig. 15
11
VARIABLE DAMPING FORCE MECHANISM
This mechanism senses the wheel stroke position and gener-
ates an optimum damping force in accordance with the road
and driving conditions.
Features
• Excellent riding comfort is assured when driving on general
paved surface, since the damping force is kept low when the
wheel stroke change is small.
• Both higher maneuverability on rough surfaces and in-
creased stability at high speeds are assured, since the
damping force increases as the wheel stroke becomes large.
Construction and operation
A metering pin is set up at the bottom center in the damper,
which slides in a bore drilled in the axis of the piston rod.
A in the Figure indicates the condition where a hard damping
force is being generated. Based on the same principle as the
conventional gas-charged damper, the dam ping force is gener-
ated by the orifice in the piston and the disc valves provided
over and under the piston.
B in the Figure shows the condition where a soft damping
force is being generated. During this condition, the clearance
produced between the th in diameter portion of the metering
pin and the rod also serves as an oil passage (flow route
marked with
*).
hence damping force is smaller than that
generated in condition A.