The nitrogen charge technically doesn't "soften" the ride, but rather keeps the shock from cavitating. When the shock is valved heavy as needed on these trucks, the actual internal piston force can over-ride the nitrogen force. What this does is create an internal air bubble for a split second, and this is where the "rough" impression comes from. Smaller diameter shocks cavitate easier at the same nitogen pressure. .
Nitrogen charge is only adjusted to prevent cavitation with heavy valving, and with a heavy truck, but on light vehicles the nitro force can have a spring rate effect and shock seal stiction. As far as we are concerned, actual internal valving changes are the only thing that can be done to really change the ride. .
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Great info
How does this come into play as far as a fox steering shock or a shock similar that you would have to let nitro psi out for your truck not to pull to one side while goin down the road at recommended charge? Is it likely going to cavitate easier? I was wondering because when I ran the fox shock I had to drop the nitro to around 70 or 80 psi for the truck to drive straight down the higway and fox says to have a 200 psi charge, if having that psi would defeat the purpose of the shock or is that not going to be a factor with that type of shock?
Thanks
jtnm