Base valves ---

[Christopher Crowe]

I don't really know how they work; what advantages might be gained. Anyone care to share on this?

Thanks,\

Chris

[HastyHorn]

I've only heard of people messing with these on motorcycle front forks but the theory remains the same. Go here for a good explanation of the difference between base valves and mid-valves in a suspension shock.

http://shimrestackor.com/Physics/Flu...alve-types.htm

Sorry, I don't know how to make this an active link.

Hasty Horn

[Becker Motorsports]

I clicked onto the listed website and it opened right away. Exellent info on shock tuning albeit slanted towards motorcycle suspension.
I also found Penskes website informative.

[R. Pare]

Nothing all that special about it.

From what I can see in their description, it is nothing more that a means of using the shaft-displaced fluid as the main damping medium. All canister-type shocks do this as well, but in bump the displaced fluid is damped out in the canister as a (small) percentage of the total fluid displaced by the piston and shaft together.

I can see why it is so important in motorcycle fork shocks - the majority of fluid movement is because of the shaft displacement, not the piston - just the opposite of our 'normal' dampers.