Evolution of a World Class Brand

Pedders Suspension is one of the most progressive companies in the automotive aftermarket supply business, producing a vast range of arguably the best steering and suspension products in the country. From its manufacturing and service plant, through a nation-wide network of stores, the name Pedders has become synonymous with high standards of quality and expertise within the industry. Yet this story began over fifty years ago in a small workshop situated in the Melbourne suburb of Carnegie. At that time, when Roy Pedder began a small welding business working out of his backyard, little did he know that what he had started was to become the foundation of one of Australia's business success stories - Pedders Suspension. With a background in specialist white metal welding, soon after opening the business, Roy began attracting repair work on shock absorbers which at that time were made from die-cast metal and fitted to imported English vehicles. By the sixties the company was in full swing repairing all types of shock absorbers. It was at this time that the company was consolidated and changed its name from Pedders Die-Cast Welding Service to Pedders Shock Absorbers. Demand had led to Pedders producing its own range of shock absorbers to handle the tough local conditions, as the original equipment components often failed to handle the requirements of Australian drivers. In 1974, Roy’s son Ron took over the company and made a decision to distribute Pedders products through its own specialist stores. This change put Pedders in the unique position of being a world leader that developed, manufactured, distributed and fitted its own suspension products through its own retail chain. It also offered the opportunity for all Pedders products to be tested by their own group, ensuring correct fitment and rates that suit all applications, producing the ultimate form of quality control. Today, after 50 years, Pedders remains a totally Australian owned and operated family company with three generations working together with over 100 employees. Pedders also continues its commitment to manufacturing quality products, and supplying service and fitment information that is unequaled throughout the world. In Australia alone, Pedders suspension has in excess of 100 outlets nationally in both metropolitan and regional areas. Nearly a decade ago, Pedders applied its successful formula to the New Zeeland market where there is a growing network of dealers and stores. Following approaches from off shore, Pedders has opened its first stores in south East Asia, and is distributing to the African continent, the Middle East and many Asian countries as they discover the rugged nature make them ideally suited to all types of terrain and conditions. Pedders has been a significant part of the street car and performance community for over 50 years. In the high specialized area of automotive suspension expertise, Pedders has continually set new benchmarks for precision vehicle dynamic control and safety with a broad range of components installed by the finest group of suspension specialist shops in the world. Pedders springs, dampers, bushings and related bits set the standard for the ultimate integration of control and comfort for the most demanding customers on earth – automotive enthusiasts.

Quality has a New Name

It was during the seventies that Pedders began producing its own brand of shock absorber, which appeared in the now famous and distinctive 'Pedders Red'. The new product range grew out of the need to modify imported shocks to be able to withstand Australian road conditions. Pedders soon decided that it was time to create a far better design of their own. The progression from re-conditioning to design and manufacture was, as with all things Pedders, a natural progression for the company. From then on, research, design, innovation and build quality spearheaded the company's amazing evolution. With so much relying on research and development, a different more challenging environment was needed to put the results of all this effort to the test. The decision to form 'Pedders Racing' led to many achievements on the track and some valuable race-bred intelligence to take back into the workshop. With over fifty years experience at the industry helm, its not surprising that the products that carry the Pedders name today, represent the most comprehensive range in the country. Shock absorbers for almost every car on Australian roads. Springs and suspension systems that more often than not, exceed the performance of original equipment. An array of specialist performance products and load-carrying systems. Steering products that include re-manufactured power steering assemblies, steering gears and pumps, new pressure hoses and filters. All developed to make sure that all Australian cars on today's roads…stay, on today's roads. Today Pedders is without doubt, the number one supplier of suspension systems, steering parts and service. With over fifty years of industry experience to build on, the company has grown to become the mainstay of Australia's unique motoring history, constantly developing new and more relevant products through their innovative and unique approach to business. As an Australian owned and family run business, Pedders has flourished throughout Australia and more recently in New Zealand and Asia. Driven by a passion for providing high quality parts and unparallel expertise and advice the company is rightly proud of its achievements and now looks forward to bigger and better things to come.

Sports Ryder Coils

Coil quality starts with the steel used to make the coil. Pedders uses the same local Australian vendor to supply the BHP steel wire used for SR Coils. Even with the same vendor, new batches of steel are tested throughout the first production cycle to guarantee it meets Pedders quality standards. The steel is heated in a staged temperature controlled furnace to insure that each steel rod is correctly and evenly heated to the designated temperature for winding. Pedders Quality Control is a key element in the manufacture of every Pedders part. The hot steel is wound to the precise shape and number of coils for a particular application. It is quenched in an oil bath for cooling. Pedders maintains a flow in the oil bath insures that no bubbles attached themselves to the coil during quenching which can cause hot spots on the steel and reduce the uniformity of the material. A second furnace is used to temper the newly wound coil to the desired hardness of the steel. Precision hardening is required to prevent the spring from sagging with age or cracking in use. After tempering the coil is shot peened to clean the coil and relieve surface stress. Shot peening involves thousands of metal balls being fired at the surface of the coil. The Military Spec Shot Peen balls work like a multitude of hammers, pounding the surface molecules of steel to relieve the stresses built up during winding and tempering. The surface layers of the coil spring are subjected to the greatest forces when a spring is twists under compression. The Pedders Military Spec Shot Peen Process is a mission critical component in the manufacture of a Pedders Sports Ryder Coil. Scragging or presetting is the next stage of coil manufacture. Each spring is fully compressed to the point at which all coils are touching or coil bound. The procedure twists the steel to its limits – throughout its lifetime the spring will never again be twisted to this degree because full compression is prevented by a vehicle’s bump stop. At completion of the scragging process the height of the coil has been set. Each Pedders Sports Ryder coil is then tested to verify that the spring rate is accurate and the loaded height of the spring, the height when installed on the vehicle, is within 2mm of the specified height for this particular coil and vehicle application. The industry standard for this measure of quality and function is 15mm. Why does Pedders build to a standard that is 87% closer in tolerance than the industry standard? The Pedders design, manufacturing and testing process for springs ensures that a Pedders Coil is equal to or better than the best of the best as measured by consistency in rate, loaded rate, height, reliability and the most important criteria of all your Pedderised vehicle will provide the ultimate in control and ride quality. After all, it is a Pedders Sports Rider. The final process is powder coating. The springs are cleaned before being electrostatically charged and sprayed with an oppositely charged powder coating. The Pedders red powder is attracted to the spring’s charge equally coating the entyre surface. When coated the coils are baked so that the powder melts onto the springs surface. This extremely smooth, high gloss finish that makes Pedders coils a premier choice for show vehicles also provides a lifetime of protection for enthusiasts. A Pedders Sports Ryder coil is the choice of the knowledgeable specialists and enthusiast world wide. Sports Ryder coils guarantee consistency in ride height, precision vehicle control and balance with unsurpassed durability and ride quality. Choose Pedders when you want the very best.

Torsion Bars

Independent Front Suspension (IFS) in front wheel and four wheel drives utilize torsion bars to optimize space and allow a wide operational range for the shafts. Torsion bars are basically a straight solid rod, enlarged at the ends, made to resist twisting force. Each bar has a spine on both ends for fitting. In most cases, the front of the torsion bar is fitted to either the upper or lower wishbone of the front suspension while the rear of the bar passes through an arm to allow the bar to twist. This force is then transmitted through the bar to the road. Torsion bars are prone to wear and performance can be adversely affected by the addition of bull bars, winches and other add-on weight to the vehicle. OEM torsion bars are set to carry the weight of the vehicle as designed by the manufacturer. The adjustment of the bar is intended for factory use to level the vehicle during production and for minor correction during the life of the vehicle. When this adjustment is applied the bar is ‘cranked up’, it creates less extension and more bump travel. The torsion bar is then able to twist further than normal before the suspension bottoms out and in most cases, the bar will twist beyond its elastic limit. The result is sag in the suspension. It should be noted that adjusting the bar will not affect the rate of the bar. To increase the rate the bar must be shortened or the thickness increased. Most after market / heavy duty bars are larger in diameter. There is more to a high quality torsion bar than diameter. First the rate of the torsion bar is governed by the quality of the steel, its thickness and length. Service life is determined by the quality of the steel and the precision of manufacture. Pedders has a proprietary process that is followed to ensure only the best results are achieved and each Pedders torsion bar exceeds OEM specifications. Each Pedders bar is made from the highest quality spring steel. The grain structure and maintenance of the grain plays a major role in the reliability of the bar. The grain can be adversely affected by the machining of the central parts and splines at each end. Pedders bars are manufactured with a unique process that involves upsetting (forging) the ends and cold rolling the splines. The manufacturing process starts with the bar being peeled and then centerless ground to the preferred diameter. The peeling is done by a rotating, multi-feed cutter and ground with precision to exceptionally accurate results. The upsetting of the ends maintains grain integrity reducing the chances of fractures where the splines meet the bar. Next Pedders bars are fully heat treated by even heat in an industrial quality oven. The heat treatment ensures that the entire bar is treated and not just the surface as is the result with induction heat treatment. The bars are then shot peened using military spec shot to preserve the most consistent result. Each bar is fully scragged and then shot peened again with a smaller diameter shot. Each step is critical to produce the highest possible quality torsion bar. Each Pedders torsion bar is then tested for Loaded Height and preset from a master spline which is oriented with the control and adjusting arms. Presetting the bar involves fixing one end and twisting the other end 117 degrees in the direction it will be used. Torsion bars are manufactured to be right or left handed. Each Pedders bar is then X-Rayed for defects and the ends stamped to ensure correct fitment. The ends are stamped with an L or R Arrows and the Arrow end is always fitted to the adjustor. Pedders Quality Control continues with rate testing each individual bar as measured in kg/m/degree of twist. The final stage of manufacture is a three stage protective coating that includes a phosphorous anti corrosion coat, black polyester powder coat for durability and flexibility and a final trademark layer of Pedders Red for proper presentation.

Dampers

As the industry’s leading Shock Absorber, Steering and Suspension Specialist, Pedders prides itself on being able to offer a complete range of quality shock absorbers through its 100-store network throughout Australia and New Zeeland. It is this commitment to customer service and expertise that provides owners their choice of Pedders shock absorbers. Touring Black Gas
Comfort Gas VRD
Sports Ryder
Sports Ryder eXtreme
4WD Gas Sports Ryder
4WD Foam Cell.

Pedders has built its reputation on the ability to fine tune shock valving for precision handling and ride control. Utmost durability is also part of Pedders’ commitment to our customers. All Pedders shocks and struts are manufactured with features specially designed for long life performance and reliability. Beyond all else, Pedders has a comprehensive range to meet the needs of all drivers and applications. The Sports Ryder SR 1000 Series of hydraulic shocks fulfils the needs of drivers who demand firm wheel control for uncompromised handling. The gas-charged GSR Sports Ryder shock range uses high nitrogen gas pressure to enable precise control without compromising on ride comfort. Sports Ryder sealed struts and cartridges are high performance, heavy duty replacement units which deliver a new standard of comfort and road holding ability for today’s hi-tech, lighter vehicles. The Sports Ryder brand has been synonymous with high performance shock absorbers, struts and cartridges for decades. Sports Ryder shocks combine the most advanced technology with Pedders’ renowned expertise in the fine tuning of valve rates for superior handling. At the forefront of sports suspensions Pedders eXtreme X coil-over, height adjustable shocks or struts are hand-built to Pedders unique quality standards. Pedders eXtreme X features a sports tuned replaceable cartridge, motorsport coil springs individually tuned to suit each application / vehicle and a host of other high performance features including re-engineered mounting bracketry. The eXtreme X is the pinnacle of performance suspension technology and the flagship of Pedders’ Sports Ryder range of specialist performance suspension products. Pedders eXtreme X is the result of over 50 years as a leader in the steering and suspension industry with outstanding product success in both the motorsport arena and sports performance markets. Before the introduction of eXtreme X, Pedders’ Sports Ryder range already represented the ultimate in balanced and integrated performance suspension for legal street cars. Sport Ryder eXtreme X now completes the ultimate performance suspension system.

Function

The function and operation of shock absorbers are widely misunderstood. The first lesson to be learned about shocks absorbers is that their name is deceiving, for shock absorbers do not absorb shocks – or at least that is not their primary role. Shock absorbers are devices that resist movement and their main function is to control the movement of the car’s springs and also reduce body roll. When a tyre hits a bump in the road surface, the wheel and suspension moves upwards, causing the spring to compress. The spring absorbs the energy of the impact and then releases this energy by expanding. This movement of the suspension is necessary to allow the tyre to pass over the bump without causing the body of the car to rise the same distance. However, further expansion and compression of the spring after the impact is unwanted and this is what a shock absorber is designed to prevent. Shock absorbers, like springs, are generally mounted between the axle and the car body. When a spring expands and compresses, so does the shock absorber. The shock resists this movement by controlling the flow of oil inside the shock through a number of control valves.

How a shock absorber works

With each extension and compression of the shock, known as a ‘stroke’, a piston moves up and down inside the shock and oil flow between the inner and outer chambers of the shock, known respectively as the ‘pressure cylinder’ and ‘reservoir’. The oil must pass through tiny valves which open and shut depending on the direction of the flow. The valves are precisely engineered to provide a measured resistance to the oil flow. The spring-loaded valve only opens to allow oil to pass through when enough force is supplied. This force is generated by the speed at which the shock is extending and contracting. As the stroking speed of the shock increases, more valves come into play to control the flow of the oil. Thus the shock is sensitive to the amount and speed of suspension movement and is designed to supply precisely the amount of resistance required at any time to ensure that the suspension’s spring remains in control, performing its intended role.

Pedders Shock R & D

The suspension specialists at Pedders Head Office study a vehicle on the road and in the shop before they begin the actual engineering of a new damper. The OEM part is tested on a Shock Absorber Dynometer and the data studied in a variety of ways. The areas designated in need of improvement are specifically targeted. Any company could simply make new parts that are 30%, 50% or 100% firmer / stronger than the OEM but that is not the Pedders way. A Pedders damper is designed to improve vehicle dynamics so that it may be the same as OEM spec in one motion, 30% firmer in another and 51% firmer in response to still another. Once a part has been designed, prototyped, tested and placed in manufacture Pedders lives with it through over 100 established retail suspension specialists’ outlets. The process is never complete. As more consumer and specialist information is collected the part is continuously refined and performance and ride quality are not all they focus on. Pedders components are designed to be more precisely fitted than an OEM component. Remove the OEM part and install the Pedders part. There is no need to compromise the integrity of your vehicle to adapt it to fit a Pedders part. Pedders R & D along with their dedicated suspension specialists make certain that Pedders parts are the best performing and best fitting. We would like to tell you more about the Pedders R & D process but then we would be educating the brand-x component manufacturers on how to design to Pedders standards.

Manufacture

What makes a Pedders damper special aside from the engineering done at R & D? The list is lengthy and we will try to be succinct. It is structural and internal. In a performance vehicle the shell for a strut may be adequate for the stresses based on stock springs, dampers, bushings, wheels and tyres. When you increase loads the bracketry may not be up to Pedders standards so, as an example, a Pedders strut would be built as a complete replacement unit with stronger steels and longer welds. A detail as small as the size of the weld for the mounting bracket at the bottom of a shock is a mission critical detail to a Pedders R & D specialist. This same commitment to Pedderising the damper would be demonstrated in the type of oil by composition, weight and brand. The same would be true of a Teflon seal. It can’t just be Teflon it must meet the exacting specifications of the Teflon required for the seal in Pedders damper. The internal valving of a Pedders damper is as much science as it is art. The damper must work in a complimentary range with the springs and bushings of the vehicle. All of this must be tuned to keep the comfort of the original equipment ride while enhancing vehicle dynamics to provide the most precise driving experience possible. Some Pedders units are manufactured by hand. Other models are manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities. It may even have been hand built by the founder who is still active in the family business. If you are running a Pedders 90/10 GTO drag strut in the USA it was hand built by Roy Pedder. When the family name in on the product the quality goes in long before the name goes on.

About Suspension Bushes

Casting an aftermarket bush requires almost no skill or science. A soft or floppy mold can be created with minimal expense and a ‘performance’ bushing created. That doesn’t mean it will perform as you would like. Pedders engineers suspension bushings to be progressive in response. That requires incredible commitment and engineering expertise when the materials the bush is made of are not progressive. Study a range of Pedders bushes and you will find them to be unique. This is another Pedders mark of excellence. A Pedderised vehicle will provide 90% of the response found in the harder basic castings of brand-x bushes with 90% of the ride in the same model OEM equipped vehicle. Suspension bushes play a critical role in car safety, ride comfort and handling. They are used to position and align suspension and steering components such as shock absorbers, sway bars, torsion bars and control arms. All but the hardest bushes also help absorb road shocks and enhance comfort, while some are designed specifically to reduce noise, vibration and harshness or NVH. As such, bushes must always be maintained in optimum condition. Worn bushes can cause rapid tyre wear, loose or pulling steering and can affect braking and safe handling. To perform its intended role, a bush must be able to compress, but to a precise degree, and then return to its original position. If a bush is too hard, too soft, or damaged in any way, the ride, handling and safety of a vehicle is compromised. Bushes are made from a number of different types of materials, including rubber, urethane and synthetic rubber compound. Each type is chosen for a particular application based on a number of characteristics, including its general performance, feel and response characteristics, noise and durability. By upgrading original suspension bushes to superior Pedders units designed for specific purposes, a vehicle’s general handling or its ability to perform in certain conditions can be dramatically improved. Pedders has spent many years developing a comprehensive range of bushes for all applications, designed to allow flexibility of movement of the entyre suspension, while maintaining correct mounting and alignment of individual parts.

Urethane

Pedders Urethane bushes have a high capacity to bear tension, compression and friction and retain their hardness, even under the most adverse conditions. This makes them well suited to the demands of heavy load carrying, firm suspension control or where regular exposure to corrosive materials is expected. Another major advantage of Pedders’ urethane bushes is they can be used to solve wheel alignment problems. This is particularly relevant for most front-wheel drive vehicles, as they do not have provision for wheel alignment correction. With these types of cars, as the suspension wears with age, vehicles can suffer from unnecessary tyre wear and unsafe handling. When this happens, usually a result of original rubber bushes being too soft or over complaint for NVH, Pedders’ preset urethane bushes, with offset caster, make the ideal replacement. In driving terms, this means better road holding, increased tyre life, more responsive steering and a longer service life of suspension components with minimal affect on NVH.

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