Several factors play a role in the performance of a shock absorber. One of these is the piston. A piston is a component in the shock absorber that works to absorb and transmit energy. It can be made of a variety of materials. For example, a piston can be made from Delrin, PTFE, or sand-blasted steel. The piston can also have a coating to reduce friction.

A piston can be either stationary or move. A stationary piston will be placed inside the cylinder body, while a moving piston will be pushed outward by the spring. A piston can also be a digressive piston, meaning that it has two pistons on each side. A digressive piston will have a thin piston on one side and a thick piston on the other. The thickness of the piston determines how much resistance it has to the shock absorber. This thickness also affects the overall behavior of the car. A thin piston will make the shock absorber less responsive. The piston will also be less comfortable.

A piston can be used in either a mono-tube or twin-tube shock absorber. A mono-tube shock absorber has a piston that is located inside the cylinder. A twin-tube shock absorber has a piston inside the cylinder and one outside. The piston in a mono-tube shock absorber is used to absorb vibrations. A twin-tube shock absorber uses two pistons.

The epsilon layer is a porous layer of material that allows the material to adhere to the metal. The epsilon layer is usually titanium oxide. The epsilon layer will be coated with a protective finish layer. The coating will be uniformly thick, ranging from 20 to 60 microns. This coating increases the wear resistance of the piston rod and also reduces friction.

A chamfered piston will increase the flow of oil towards the holes. This allows the piston to be more in contact with the ground. A chamfered piston will also have a slight "valve" effect. This means that the oil will move faster towards the holes when rebounding. The chamfered side of the piston should be mounted lower than the flat side. This will keep the wheel more in contact with the ground.

In addition to pistons, shock absorbers also use a piston rod. This rod will move with the piston and will deliver the ideal amount of liquid to the seal. This helps to minimize the seal's wear. It also helps to reduce the chance of leakage.

In addition to pistons, shocks can also use a spring. The spring can be mounted externally around the piston rod or internal on the inside of the cylinder body. This allows the shock absorber to be adjusted in response to changes in the load. A spring also provides a constant pressure for the fluid. A spring also helps to increase the damping force.

The shim stack will also affect the performance of a shock absorber. Shims can be used to increase the damping force on both sides of the piston. Shims can also be used to increase the shock absorber's ability to absorb track imperfections.