Compression Adjusters: What Ya Say?

[MAST4R]

I only started reading about suspensions lately, devouring what I could. I read people complaining about some adjusters (like Kings) for not making enough difference while praising others (Fox high and low speed) for being useful.

Then Radflo says that adjusters are for fine tuning anyway with the valving being the key determinant: so you if you get the wrong valving for the desired application, the adjusters won't compensate. In other words, adjusters do not walk you all the way from really soft to really firm but within roughly 15% of where the shock is tuned. But that may or may not be Radflo specific.

So:

--What setup/weight do you have on trail?
--What shocks and type of adjusters do you have?
--How do they adjust (many clicks or a few positions)?
--How often do you adjust?
--If not, where do you choose to usually stay?

--Would you get adjusters if you were to buy again?
--Do you feel that you really need the reservoirs in the first place?

 

[DavidR1]

In the "mods you most regret" post it seems many prefer higher end shocks with adjusters. I'm planning to get a new suspension sometime over the next year and would like some adjustability, but if it really doesn't change much then I'm less interested in paying the extra for it.

 

[57buick]

It has been really nice to turn them to soft when on road and turn them to hard when off road. Or adjust in the middle to your preference. Point is its worth the extra couple hundred dollars to adjust to your liking.

 

[MAST4R]

It has been really nice to turn them to soft when on road and turn them to hard when off road. Or adjust in the middle to your preference. Point is its worth the extra couple hundred dollars to adjust to your liking.

Which shocks and what type of adjusters do you have?

 

[mrblah]

Kings w/ adjusters. I use it so rarely I don’t remember what I set it to. I think I keep it close to full stiff for the most part.

 

[a t l a s]

--What setup/weight do you have on trail?
--What shocks and type of adjusters do you have?
--How do they adjust (many clicks or a few positions)?
--How often do you adjust?
--If not, where do you choose to usually stay?

--Would you get adjusters if you were to buy again?
--Do you feel that you really need the reservoirs in the first place?

I have King 2.5 all around with adjusters. I counted the clicks some time awhile back and I believe it is around 28-30 positions.

I don't adjust often at all, in fact I've only done it once or twice. I keep the rear at full soft and front at 5 clicks, and this is with the Icon 2in "12% over stock" rear spring rate (with no additional rear weight), and front 650lb springs (with a bunch of additional front weight). This provides me a ride that works well in most scenarios.

I am getting a RTT soon, and the trips where I use it will also call for having a cargo area full of stuff, so I am glad to have the adjustment. It is also nice for snow wheeling or forest service road driving where there are a lot of moguls and undulations in the path where the truck is close to bottoming out due to weight.

If I were to do everything all over, I would definitely get the adjusters again just for the option to fine tune when I need to.

With the type of wheeling I do, I don't think the reservoirs are truly necessary, but I wanted adjustable Kings and that means having reservoirs. And the bling factor is a plus

 

[57buick]

Which shocks and what type of adjusters do you have?

I have KINGS with full adjusters. I personally dont see the point in paying for ICONS when just a little more you can get KINGS which all professionals run KINGs for a reason, they are the best.

But thats just my opinion

 

[Bayou_Pro]

Talking in depth with Filthy Motorsports on my Kings he doesn't really push the adjusters much but recommends custom valving if needed to achieve your goals. He also highly recommended the reservoirs for the extra volume and tuning. Now he doesn't advise against the adjusters, and if you don't mind the extra money then by all means get them. For me, I just can't see dropping the money on Kings and NOT getting them adjustable. I know me and I'd regret it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ayeyothisiskyle]

Like I said in the regrets thread, I like the "tuning" on the fly aspect of adjusters. Albeit, only 10-25% of what can be adjusted, it changes things. If you're on a strict budget, I would do custom valving if you know a common trend in your trips. Resis are always better because of the added volume as Bayou/Ben@fiilthy says. Adjusters are just another cool thing you can do and for a few hundred extra on a big ticket item, its a "why not" type of decision. Go big or go home.

Q&A:
--What setup/weight do you have on trail?
no load day trip, street clicks +2 from 0 - weight from rear bumper and sliders
light load weekend trip +17 from 0 Weight with added gear
--What shocks and type of adjusters do you have?
Kings 2.5 ext + adjusters all around. 650# springs up front/Icon 3" springs rear
--How do they adjust (many clicks or a few positions)?
0-27 (0-4/5 lower speeds & the rest for higher speeds)
--How often do you adjust?
when weight changes or if im bored and want to try something
--If not, where do you choose to usually stay?

--Would you get adjusters if you were to buy again?
Yes. Definitely
--Do you feel that you really need the reservoirs in the first place?
Yes. Higher speeds and larger bumps with more travel = the need for more dampening

 

[chengitis]

I went with no adjusters as I don’t see myself using them, just being lazy. Now if kings came out with something similar to what tein’s have EDFC on board adjustment in the cabin then i’d be all over it. But until then I’m happy with no adjusters.

 

[nimby]

I don't see them as necessary in the front since weight doesn't change much up there, but in the rear where I can go from loaded to empty, I think adjusters would be great. I plan to get a pair of adjustable rear Fox shocks in the future.