The Desert Ride Difference
Tuning for your needs & your shock's needs
At our core, we don’t just chase performance — we engineer it with
longevity in mind. We analyze how damping force is generated within
the shock, and tune the shim stacks to address both your needs &
the shock’s needs. We consider factors like:
- Cavitation Limits
- Direct & Effective Tune Changes
- Shim Stress Distribution
- Damping Consistency & Fade Resistance
- Crack Pressure
- Shock Pressure & Temperature Limits
The result? A ride that feels incredible — and a shock that
stays healthier, longer.
Consistent Ride Feel • Great Performance • Long Lasting shock
Tuning Philosophy Details
Using Engineering & Calculation to Optimize Ride
- Springs: Without the right springs, shock tuning will lead to a greater compromise. We can measure your vehicle and run it through our proprietary spring calculator to ensure your are on the right springs, ensuring no coil-bind, proper preload and crossover positions, and even behavior between the front and rear of your vehicle.
- Effective, Direct Tune Changes: Changing too many things at once in a shock can be dangerous. You can't be sure what change influenced which portion of the ride sometimes. Single changes at a time made to a shock will net in a much better result.
- Consistency: Going over the same terrain at the same speed is critical to understanding the effect of your tune change. Once the back-to-back is completed, feel free to hit it faster, and push the limit further.
- Cavitation: Too much valving or not enough nitrogen can cause a vacuum bubble to form in the shock that must be collapsed before damping force is made. Knowing where that limit is, and how to balance it is very important.
- Shim Stress Distribution: We design the tune to distribute the stress that the internal components are seeing, prolonging the life of each component in the shock while still providing a supple feel and smooth transitions
- Crack pressure: This is the spike in pressure that occurs when a shock changes direction. Often times this adds to harshness, and can cause compromises in performance vs. comfort if not properly addressed.
- Shock Pressure limits: Manipulating the tune so the shock stays within proper operating pressures for the given shaft speeds is crucial. The last thing you want is a blown out seal in a critical moment. You can gain perceived force inside a shock without pushing the upper limits pressure!