Basic suspension setup tips.
The primary function of the dampers, is to control the energy as it enters and exits the springs, which when compressed (“bump”) and then released (“rebound”) have a natural tendency to overshoot their original length as they release the energy. (Ever driven a car with a broken damper? you will know that it is not a nice experience).
Dampers won’t limit the total amount of load transfer through the car, but will affect the amount of time it takes the loads to transfer. Therefore, the car’s behavior during moments of transition; such as initial brake application, brake release, initial turn-in and application of throttle can be affected by a damper setting change. If we take the front suspension as an example, the compression (bump) happens when additional load is put on the spring, as when hitting a bump and/or hitting the brake pedal. As the spring compresses in response to this additional load, the compression setting on the dampers provides additional resistance. The rebound motion is simply the spring trying to “rebound” to normal after being compressed, as when the car comes off a bump or the driver releases the brake pedal. Resistance to how fast this happens comes from the damper’s rebound setting.