b'TECH TIP PAGE Tech Tip 11: Shocks are such a critical key to winning performance, the technology evolvesvery fast. In just 3 years, the technology leaders have changed significantly. The Fox/Ridetechshocks we built for years with digressive pistons & Secret Sauce valving, are still available.But the new Fox Racing Shox are significantly better, at similar great pricing to Ridetech. JRI has not developed much new the last few years, but still offers their same high grip technology & digressive valving. ARS & Penske have taken the lead in development with decoupled/digressive pistons that increase grip even further over irregular surfaces on all tracks. Penske now offers their patented Regressive Valves that allow the driver to literally drive over road course curbs at speed WITHOUT unsettling the car!All four race shocks (ARS, Fox, JRI & Penske) are available with base valves or canisters to reduce rod pressure & increase grip. The highest grip, most adjustable, single adjustable is new from Fox Racing Shocks. Our testing & results have shown our ARS valved canister shocks to be the absolute best on autocross courses, while our 8300DA & 876TA Penske valved shocks dominate on road courses. JRI shocks are still the best dual purpose autocross & track shock. Tech Tip 12A: The concept of rear steer is normally associatedwith IRS. But every linkage style suspension with a straight axle rear end is capable of rear steer. In fact, if it has been ignored, many race cars with linkage suspensions have some form of rearsteer, if the lower links have not been leveled to the ground.What is rear steer in a straight axle?It is when the car chassis/body rolls & thatroll causes the lower links (or other so named suspension components) to pushone side of the rear axle rearward and/or forward. This only happens if the lower links are not level. If the lower links run uphill going forward, like the example above, as the race car turns left & the chassis rolls to the right, the left side of the chassis picks the front of the lower link up more, shortening it relative to the rear axle centerline, pulling the left wheel forward. The opposite is happening on the right, lengthening it relative to the axle centerline, pushing the right wheel back. This skews the axle & wheels relative to chassis centerline & Rear Steers.Racers have used positive rear steer & counter rear steer for years as a tuning tool. But there is no free lunch.If the link pivot points are level to the ground, the chassis roll does not cause rear steer. If the front chassis link pivot is higher than the axle pivot, as in the example above, we end up with some degree of positive rear steer. This helps the car turn better in the corner, but reduces rear tire grip on acceleration. If the front chassis link pivot is lower than the axle pivot, we end up with some degree of counter rear steer. This increases rear tire grip on acceleration, but hinders (tightens) the car turning in the corner.Dues to the negative side effects, Ron Sutton does not usually utilize any rear steer. He prefers to make the car turn & accelerate well without this band aid. So, at RSRT we utilize slotted front chassis brackets to run the lower links perfectly level. 302'