read something that brings the basics on shocks here (last post): https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/crossfire-srt6/22346-best-shocks-comfort-srt6-2.html
by bladecutter:
"A shock is a fairly simple device that keeps your car under control on the road.
There are two main forces that the shock controls:
Compression forces and Rebound forces.
Compression forces are very easy to explain.
You are driving down a very smooth road, and you hit a bump.
The tire travels up, and compresses the shock absorber.
Depending on how the compression damping inside the shock is set up, this controls how much of the compression force is absorbed by the shock, and how much is transmitted into the body of the car, which ultimately is felt by you in the driver's seat.
Basically, the compression damping is controlled by the size of the orifices in the piston body inside the shock. The larger the size of the holes, the more fluid can travel through when the piston compresses the fluid. The larger the holes, the softer the ride can be. The smaller the holes, the more resistance there is the the fluid passing through, and more of the impact force is transmitted through to the body of the car, and the driver.
Now, once the shock compresses, it eventually has to go back to its normal position. The job of the spring is to push the suspension back apart, but by itself, the spring will just oscillate uncontrollably. The shock absorber has to stop this from happening.
This is where the Rebound damping takes place.
As the piston in the shock goes back to its normal position, there is a check valve in the shock that seals off the compression damping orifices, which then forces the fluid to travel through another set of holes that control the rebound damping rate.
Again, as with the compression orifices, the ones that control the rebound damping will allow more fluid as they are larger, and less fluid as they are smaller. But in this case, too large makes the ride jarring, while too small causes the suspension to take too long to get back to its original position.
In other words, too little rebound damping causes the back end of the car to jolt back into position, causing the rear end to get light and skittish, like a bucking feeling. Too much rebound damping feels like your suspension is made out of tar and molasses. The rear end seems to stick in the compressed position, and really can put the car out of sorts on a bumpy, curve, right quick.
Personally, I would want a shock that offers just a smidge too little compression damping, and also a smidge too little rebound damping. This means that the shock will travel up and down on the firm side, without being overly jolting in either direction.
Hope this helps you understand what is going on with the suspension a bit better. "