Öhlins TTX Technology
Öhlins TTX Pressure Balanced
How Öhlins TTX Technology Works
The Öhlins TTX (Twin Tube) damper uses a revolutionary design that separates compression and rebound damping into two independent circuits.
The Core Principle
TTX technology works by creating damping force through raising oil pressure on one side of the piston while having gas pressure on the other side. This pressure differential is what controls your suspension movement.
At the heart of the system is a solid piston that distributes oil flow through the independent circuits. Unlike traditional monotube dampers where oil flows through passages in the piston itself, the TTX solid piston directs compression oil flow to the outer tube and rebound oil flow through the inner tube.
The Twin-Tube Design
- Compression damping happens in the outer tube
- Rebound damping happens through the inner tube
- The gas chamber is integrated directly into the shock body
- No external canisters required
Preventing Cavitation
The engineering brilliance of TTX lies in maintaining oil pressure above gas pressure at all times. This prevents cavitation—a damaging phenomenon that occurs when pressure drops too low and gas bubbles form in the oil. These bubbles severely impair damper performance, causing inconsistent and unpredictable suspension behavior.
By never allowing oil pressure to drop below gas pressure, TTX dampers eliminate cavitation entirely.
How Traditional Monotube Shocks Work
Conventional monotube dampers route both compression and rebound oil flow through the same piston and single tube.
Key Characteristics:
- Oil flows through passages in the piston itself
- Both compression and rebound occur in the same chamber
- All damping forces generate heat in one location
- Adjusting compression affects rebound, and vice versa
- Under hard use, pressure can drop below gas pressure, creating cavitation
- Require bulky external remote canisters to provide gas volume for shock shaft displacement
- Canisters require large piston shaft displacements to create enough fluid flow to be effective
Why TTX Technology Is Superior
1. Independent Adjustment
Unlike monotube shocks where compression and rebound settings affect each other, TTX allows you to change compression settings without affecting rebound, and vice versa. This means more precise tuning for your specific riding or driving style.
2. Superior Heat Management
Traditional monotube shocks concentrate all damping heat in one location, causing oil temperature to rise and performance to fade. TTX separates the oil circuits, allowing heat to dissipate much more efficiently. Your suspension maintains consistent performance even during long, demanding sessions.
3. Eliminates Cavitation
Monotube shocks are prone to cavitation under hard use when pressure drops below gas pressure, creating bubbles that harm damping consistency. TTX maintains oil pressure above gas pressure at all times, delivering unrivaled control and flawless damping no matter the conditions.
4. Compact, Integrated Design
Traditional monotube high-performance shocks need external remote canisters that require large piston shaft displacements to create enough fluid flow to be effective. This adds resistance, complexity, weight, and installation challenges. TTX integrates the gas chamber directly into the shock body, eliminating the need for external components while actually improving damping characteristics.
5. More Consistent Feel
Less heat buildup and no cavitation means less damping fade. The shock feels the same on lap one as it does on lap twenty, giving you better control and confidence in any condition.
The result? A suspension system that's more tunable, more consistent, more compact, and more predictable than traditional monotube technology.
Demo Video
Please note the TTX technology in this motorcycle video is the same technology in the automotive dampers.