I know they make up the suspension, but when you hit a bump does the shock or the spring control the upward and downward movement of the wheel?  If I want a softer ride do I need to replace the shock or spring or both?

This website is about motorcycle suspension, but it seems to say that a softer shock would make the initial hit less jarring.  Rocky road sells a shock that I may try.  It is by Doesch Tech.  Anybody know anything about them?  Also what is involved in changing out shocks?

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Suspension.html

rear shocks
Unbolt top and bottom and remove
Reverse to put back together

rear shocks
Unbolt top and bottom and remove
Reverse to put back together

How can you reverse the rear shocks... one end is a stud, the other's an eyelet... or am I missing something here?

Altho motorcycle shocks are quite
a bit different than the automotive
type, the principals that they work
on are the same. Motorcycle shocks
usually have a much wider range of
adjustability due to the light weight
of bikes and range of riders weights.

The more easily a shock compresses
the softer the bump will feel. This is
one reason I like the Crown Victoria
shocks, they are designed for a soft
comfortable ride, and altho they were
designed for a car that weighes lots
more than a Sidekick, they seem to
give a good, yet firm enough ride that
suits the Track/Kicks well

As far as purpose, springs are to support
the weight of a vehicle, too soft and it will
bottom out too easy, too hard and it is too
hard on parts and your body. The best would
be to have a progressive rate spring, with a
soft cruise area, a progessively stiffer mid
section, and a fairly stiff last section for the
hard core bumps.

Shocks are to prevent the vehicle from bouncing
more that 1-2 cycles before it stops, if it goes
more than 1-2 cycles, you need new shocks/struts

Wild

How can you reverse the rear shocks... one end is a stud, the other's an eyelet... or am I missing something here?

Funny guy
Reverse to put back together
Install new shock (some way the old one came off) and bolt back on.
shock body on the bottom and shaft on top

all i can say is thank good you did not post this on pirate

all i can say is im glad we are not idiots like pirate..that way people can acctually LEARN new things w.o being railed or insulted.

all i can say is thank good you did not post this on pirate

That is why I don't hang out on Pirate.  There is a big difference between know what something does and how it works.  

springs hold the vehicle up.  yes they have some effect on how your vehicle rides over bumps, but shocks exist to control (dampen)  the movement incurred by the suspension.

you can drive a vehicle without shocks (whee!!!) and see what I mean.  the body movement is very..uhh..entertaining.

you cant drive a vehicle without springs and just shocks.  At least not very far until the shocks all break from supporting the weight of the vehicle.

its a combination.  I have YJs on my samurai and they are very soft, but I have Rancho 9000x adjustable shocks and I can crank them all the way up and make the sami ride like an unloaded dumptruck.

~daxe