After 4 years on 2"/2.5" 5100 and OME, I want more....

[Mendoncyclesmith]

I think your Land Rover buddy conflated Chris King and King Shocks LOL.

100%. It all made sense as soon as I saw King mentioned here.

Haven't met Chris, but 35 years in the industry, I've met my share of luminaries, which is always kinda fun.

Yeah, I'm nowhere near dropping $5K whatever on suspension, not by a long shot. Rarified air in my world....

 

[2TH4IST]

This is what I did for limit straps. Currently my manual hub cv's are extremely limiting my down travel. I didn't want to run a super short limit strap in the front, for strap mount clerance reasons.

I diy'ed the control arm double shear bracket out of 1/8 steel. It just barley clears the coil over. Shortly after that pic, I removed the rear swaybar completely. Don't notice any difference and flex is more smooth.

 

[96RedRunner]

[MENTION=405460]2TH4IST[/MENTION] nice design my direction also. What length you go with?

 

[2TH4IST]

[MENTION=142122]96RedRunner[/MENTION]

I went with 10 inches for the front and 17 inches for the rear. But it all depends on your set up unfortunately. I'm running a 10 inch rear shock outboarded w/arcworks kit.

Eta: I really like orw's (off road warehouse) limit straps, exactly like tmr's just cheaper.

 

[phattyduck]

....forgiving squish!!!!! After a recent 10 days split between King of the Hammers and other Mojave BLM activities, I'm no longer willing to tolerate the harshness that I have been experiencing in the name of 'Value'.

Couple things:

Bilstein has digressive valving, which has a certain 'feel' that isn't always the best for off-road in some circumstances. The 'big boy' coilovers will have more linear or progressive valving that allows it to be more plush and still control large suspension events effectively at the cost of 'sharper' handling when you need faster transitions. Read up on valving styles to see what will work best for you.

What tires (size, brand/model and load rating) are you running and at what pressure?

All that said, I run stock front springs, OME2906 rear springs and 5100's all around and it all seems to perform decently at high speeds (stage rally course opening car, up to 70mph on dirt) with 20-22psi in the tires, though I KNOW it would be better to be on a set of Kings, etc.

-Charlie

 

[Endlessblockades]

Couple things:

Bilstein has digressive valving, which has a certain 'feel' that isn't always the best for off-road in some circumstances. The 'big boy' coilovers will have more linear or progressive valving that allows it to be more plush and still control large suspension events effectively at the cost of 'sharper' handling when you need faster transitions. Read up on valving styles to see what will work best for you.

What tires (size, brand/model and load rating) are you running and at what pressure?

All that said, I run stock front springs, OME2906 rear springs and 5100's all around and it all seems to perform decently at high speeds (stage rally course opening car, up to 70mph on dirt) with 20-22psi in the tires, though I KNOW it would be better to be on a set of Kings, etc.

-Charlie

I probably shouldn't have emphasized Speed but the little hits can be freakin harsh on hard earth - that may be why I prefer sand and am running hot under that strain (I am working on that). The front end also occasionally sounds like a bedspring you'd find in a ghost town. I got the RCD version 5100 (whatever that means) with 881 (I think) and 906 (I know). Not real stiff springs for the added weight I'm carrying, but I also digress...

I am running WildpeaK AT4W LT255/85R16 112/109S Load Range C at
+/- 18 PSI off road.. Maybe I expect too much. I don't carry the spare tire usually and it's here in my office at work LOL.....

 

[2TH4IST]

New tires will need time to break in. So go out, lower the tires psi and get in a rocky trail/rough trail(makes side walls flex). It should also soften up a bit too.

It was like that for my baja boss at in load E. A bit harsh, but after broken in, its plush, but I run them at 15 psi when I'm off road.

BTW, how do you like the at4w's in 255/85? I really want to move to the tall and skinny's.

Put the spare in the runner lol.

 

[Endlessblockades]

New tires will need time to break in. So go out, lower the tires psi and get in a rocky trail/rough trail(makes side walls flex). It should also soften up a bit too.

It was like that for my baja boss at in load E. A bit harsh, but after broken in, its plush, but I run them at 15 psi when I'm off road.

Good point - they have less than 5k on them. I will go to lower PSI next outing. I picked up some 'bead-grip' wheels so if it's not a gimmick, I can go a lot lower, too. I was alone last trip and kept the PSI up a bit.

BTW, how do you like the at4w's in 255/85? I really want to move to the tall and skinny's.

Put the spare in the runner lol.

So far they are nice. Anything would be better that the clapped-out Patagonia M/T 32s, though - they got cupped, lost chunks of tread, and were loud AF! These feel great on the road and are quiet. Supposedly they re-engineered the tread compound and pattern. I never felt "my tires are too skinny" in sand or on rocks, but then I'm just enjoying having new tires, period. I'm not qualified to tell the diff between a 255 and a 305 to be honest. I'm sure some fatties would be nice, too. Ah - the spare. Yes I need do do something about that. 33s are big and heavy! It would suck to get one back up on my rooftop platform alone. I do carry a plug kit, some Gluetreads, and a compressor. It's kind of irresponsible not to carry it, but I was sleeping in it and had space issues.....it's on the list......

 

[2TH4IST]

Find a 1st gen 4runner roll bar, mod the 2 front mounts, use the 4runner stock spare wire crank carrier thingy. Mount the spare in the back! I did this specifically to fit a 255/85 tire, as I didn't want it hanging off the back.

 

[Endlessblockades]

I like that a lot. I also remember someone fabbing an inside spare mount bracket and trying to sell it here. My only issue is that I need drawers to keep gear from flying all over on trails and I sleep inside. I could stand up the spare on one side and have a single, wider drawer and sleeping platform....

 

[turbo8]

After some more testing the rear 5160 shocks are not good, they are not valved correctly for higher speed running. I'm going to rebuild my 2.5 Icon piggyback shocks and put them back on.

Front 6112 are good.

 

[Endlessblockades]

6112s seem like the budget friendly way to go for the front. Limit straps to control big-air droop, too. Good times

 

[phattyduck]

6112s seem like the budget friendly way to go for the front. Limit straps to control big-air droop, too. Good times

Yes, though they still have digressive valving (its the Bilstein thing) - so keep that in mind. If you want well controlled, it will work for you. If you want plush, maybe not.

I don't want to sounds like I'm hating on Bilstein - I have been happy with them on my 4Runner and even with their coilovers on my old WRX (and will be putting PSS9 or better on my next car...). It just sounds like you want something else.

-Charlie

 

[Endlessblockades]

Yes, though they still have digressive valving (its the Bilstein thing) - so keep that in mind. If you want well controlled, it will work for you. If you want plush, maybe not.

I don't want to sounds like I'm hating on Bilstein - I have been happy with them on my 4Runner and even with their coilovers on my old WRX (and will be putting PSS9 or better on my next car...). It just sounds like you want something else.

-Charlie

I appreciate the insight. From a bit of research I think the 6112s with 600# springs will provide something I can happily live with. On a side-burner for now while I deal with other things. Just planning stuff for this next year while I tool up for what I hope will be an annual KOH/Johnson Valley trip!! Really digging the weird, wild, Mojave Desert.