Choosing a Small Body AFCO Shock for Open Wheel Racing
No matter what type of open wheel racing you do, Speedway Motors and AFCO have you covered. This article will outline what type of different small body shocks are available and what each does.
The 16 series is a very popular style of shock from micros to 410’s. It is a small body twin tube shock (with the exception of the double adjustable). It is available in both non adjustable, rebound adjustable and compression adjustable. The 16 series double adjustable (both rebound and compression adjustable) is a mono tube, small body shock using a remote canister to adjust the compression through the base valve. The double adjustable uses a 5/8” diameter shaft while the single adjustable and non-adjustable uses a ½” diameter shaft. The non-adjustable and single adjustable are available in both threaded and smooth body while the double adjustable is threaded body only. 16 series shocks are available in 5”, 6”, 7”, 8”, and 9” stroke lengths. The double adjustable is available in 6”, 7”, 8”, and 9” strokes.
The 63 series is a gas charged mono tube bulb shock. It uses the same style piston as the 16 series double adjustable. It also is available in compression and rebound adjustable. The 63 series also uses a base valve. Using a base valve in combination with gas pressure allows for lower gas pressure to be used, providing more driver feel and traction. Using a bulb and smaller diameter shaft accomplishes the same thing due to there being less internal rod pressure built up as the shock goes through its motions.
Both the twin tube 16 series (single adjustable) and 63 series adjust bleed through the shaft whether the shock is rebound or compression adjustable. The 63 series has multiple different needle options allowing for maximum range of adjustment or finer increments of adjustment depending on what the driver is looking for. A bigger needle taper such as a 15 degree will have more range and adjust more with each click while something with a one degree needle will have less range but have a very fine adjustment per click. Be sure to specify when ordering if you desire something with a specific needle.
Your Speedway Motors and AFCO teams have the knowledge and will be able to help you get what you need! The 16 series single adjustable has two options for a rebound adjustable needle and one needle for compression adjustable. With the rebound needles the premise is the same as the 63 series, more range or finer increments. The standard needle is the one allowing for maximum range.
Cockpit adjusters are available and compatible with all styles of shocks mentioned. These cockpit adjusters come with a knob that will replace the standard one on the rod end of the shock. Once this knob is replaced the AFCO cockpit adjusters can be mounted and attached for “on the fly” adjustments.
The 16 series double adjustable adjusts the compression valving by adjusting bleed the through the base valve located in the canister of the shock. When ordering the shock it comes standard with a short hose to locate the canister close to the shock itself but there is an option for a longer hose to mount the canister within close proximity of the driver for “on the fly” compression adjustments. AFCO does also offer a conversion kit to take off the standard compression knob and replace it with a knob that will accept our standard cockpit adjusters.
AFCO also has shocks for quarter midget racing! The 52 series quarter midget shock is a mono tube base valve shock. It utilizes the same piston as the 16 series non and single adjustable shock. The 52 series shock has a seperator piston to separate the gas chamber from the oil chamber of the shock, much like the 63 series. But rather than charging the gas chamber with compressed nitrogen, the 52 series is open to the atmosphere. This allows the shock maximum grip and traction and zero gas pressure gain. There is also a Schrader valve version where the gas chamber can be charged.
Coil over kits for all shocks are available for all of these styles of shock and you can also check out springs for coil over applications from AFCO and Speedway Motors.
