Adjustable Shock Absorber - Chrysler Conquest 1988 Service Manual

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FRONT SUSPENSION
- General Information
2-3
ADJUSTABLE SHOCK ABSORBER (8 LEVELS)
NOZBCAA
The adjustable shock absorber can have its damping force adjusted manually to any of eight levels according
to the road surface condition and driving condition. Rotary valve 1 gives the lowest (softest) damping force
and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 give increasingly higher (harder) damping force, thus allowing adjustment of the
shock absorber damping force according to the driving condition.
CONSTRUCTION AND FUNCTION
The rotary valve has eight orifices "E" (El to E8) of different
sizes that give different levels of resistance to fluid flow. By
changing the orifices, therefore, the damping force of the
Rotary valve setting
shock absorber can be changed.
OPERATION (FLUID FLOW WHEN EXTENDED)
The fluid in chamber B is pressurized and flows to chamber D.
In chamber D, a damping force develops as the fluid flows
through variable orifice E, and this force adds to the damping
force that is generated as the fluid flows to chamber A.
Therefore, by changing the size of orifice E, the damping force
can be changed.
OPERATION (FLUID FLOW WHEN CONTRACTED)
Fluid in chamber A is pressurized and flows to chamber B; the
amount of fluid corresponding to the volume displaced by the
piston rod flows to chamber C. As the base valve is closed, this
same volume flows to chamber D, flowing through variable
orifice E and thus changing the damping force in the same way
as when the shock absorber extended.
Handling Precautions
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Set both right and left damping forces at the same level.
Setting them at different levels adversely affects steering
stability.
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If set midway between numbers, the damper operates at
the hardest level (8).