[x-bird]

the gas/oil in the shock handles the speed of the compression and rebound of the spring. the spring's rate in pounds per inch of compression is what holds the buggy up. too high of a spring rate and it'll do like your brothers and not compress when it should. too low of a rate and it'll sag too much and end up relying on the gas or oil valving to do it's job in the bumps and will bottom out too easily. You can stiffen and soften the shock's action and increase or decrease the speed of the shock's return to its "static" loaded position with both pressure and valving changes, but it isn't a method to use to compensate for something that just isn't a good match for the weight of the vehicle.