King Coilover Weight - Is 600lbs Enough?

[JohnOfTheJungle]

I've got the bug to upgrade my front suspension and saw a 5% off deal for King Coilovers from SRQ. They're setup with the 600lb springs.

I've got about 200lbs of weight on the front with my plate bumper + warn 8000 winch. I'm currently at about 2" of lift in the front, and I'd like to stay at this level.

SRQ said the 600lb coilovers are setup correctly for my use. I trust that they're correct, but I am just hoping to get a second opinion before I lock in and maybe regret it in the future.

I called King and the guy on the phone was kind of all over the place but said that he'd recommend 650lb springs, but that 600lb should work - I just might sit a little lower than expected and would need to increase pre-load to get me where I want to be.

I know a few of you run Kings coilovers - does anyone have experience on 600lb vs. 650lb springs with about 200lbs of added weight in the front from bumper + winch?

 

[westdiablo]

Don't know the specific shocks, but some math...

Stock truck is what...1100 pounds unsprung at each front corner? 2200lbs on each spring (due to suspension design). Compresses 600lb spring about 3.7". Less than 1/3 of shock length at static load. In the right range.

Add 200lbs -- 100lbs extra per side. At roughly 2x leverage at the springs...that's 200lbs on the spring. That will compress a 600lb spring another 1/3 of an inch. Out of a 14" spring that's already compressed about 3.5-4.0" at stock weight.

IOW -- you'd hardly notice. Give the spring seats a turn or two to set the height. The springs will hold the truck up just fine. You could add another few hundred pounds easily.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Most aftermarket coilovers from the big names are set up to give 2” of lift right out of the box. If you have added weight you’ll definitely want to crank the collar down a bit to compensate for the added weight. One thing that you can do to mitigate that is get a 14” coil instead of the default 13” coil. This will give you more of that preload without cranking the collar down as much.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Hi,

1) you can always call King and talk to them

2) IMO ..... No. Get the 650 lb coils.

I have the 600lb coils and I barely get 2" lift even after adjusting them. I only have an ARB bumper, plus Savage front skid, plus rocksliders, no winch. I don't think I have 200lbs of weight up front.
.
Check out some of the king discussion threads via search. We've discuss this topic well.
.

 

[westdiablo]

Ride height difference between 600 and 650 3"x14" springs on truck with offroad bumper...

0.31"

about 3/8" of an inch. Less than the width of your pinkie.

Hardly enough to even notice.

If I was able to specify springs when buying new, I'd maybe get the 650s.

If I had to pay money to swap them out...nope. 600s work fine.

I'm not posting this to slag anybody -- just pointing out that it's real easy to overthink it. With the 14" springs those shocks (and others) use...there is a wide range of what works.

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

Thanks for the input everyone. After much reading and debate I am going with the 600lb - SRQ has solidly reinforced that those are setup for plate bumper & winch. They also have that set in stock now vs. having King build something for me and having to wait 6 weeks - which I'll be honest, I'm an impatient bastard.

I run, and continue to plan to run, less lift than most people probably are looking for. So as long as the lift I get from these Kings is on par with the current lift I'm getting from these AC Delco branded 99' coils on the front then I'll be happy in that department.

Really looking to these for smoothing things up, especially on the washboard. I had a gnarly experience a few weeks ago in Vermont on a back road that was very torn up from the winter. Looking forward to hitting that one again to test.

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

Alright - put the Kings on today and drove around a bit. I think 600lb springs is the right call for my setup. The ride is good - not buttery smooth, but good. The streets of Brooklyn really are a war zone though. I will be taking it to Rausch Creek in 2 weeks which will be a good test.

Interesting thing is I got more lift up front than I was even looking for. I didn’t touch the settings out of the box, and I assume SRQ didn’t either.

Here’s the stance now, looks like some reverse rake. I have OME 906 + 5100 on the back and carry about 100lbs+ everywhere I go. Looks like I’m at at least 2” in the front

Here’s how it looked prior

I think I will give them a week and see if the front drops any. Otherwise looks like some new rear springs are in the cards - maybe some LC 7 wraps....or I could just take the easy way out and drop the fronts a bit




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[TonyB66]

I installed the 891 springs (OME 2891) in the rear, with Kings, and got almost 3" of lift. Might work well for you with 2" in the front...

Might you still have the install instructions King provided (one page, front & back)?

I have a pair of front Kings, with 650 springs BTW, awaiting to get installed. I just opened the box and the instructions are not legible due to a plumbing leak I had some time back (box was stored in the garage, just below the leak!).

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

Ask and ye shall receive. Sorry the pages are kind of wrinkled, I had shoved them in my bag earlier.

How is the ride with 891’s? I’m looking to soften up the ride a bit from the 906 that I have now, but I do still want it to handle well without much body roll - which it does now.

I also will be building a rear bumper that I expect to add an incremental 50-70lbs when it’s all said and done.

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[TonyB66]

Ask and ye shall receive. Sorry the pages are kind of wrinkled, I had shoved them in my bag earlier.

How is the ride with 891’s? I’m looking to soften up the ride a bit from the 906 that I have now, but I do still want it to handle well without much body roll - which it does now.

I also will be building a rear bumper that I expect to add an incremental 50-70lbs when it’s all said and done.

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I can't read portions of what I have, so thanks much!

The 891s, with the King rear shocks are just fine, IMO. I considered a couple other options, but decided upon those due to the weight I added, and will be adding. Might want to check-out to SuperFlex springs.

ToyTec SuperFlex Rear Spring INFO Thread

861 vs 891 vs Superflex Coils for rear weight

Thanks again.

 

[dirtbike250x]

Thanks for the input everyone. After much reading and debate I am going with the 600lb - SRQ has solidly reinforced that those are setup for plate bumper & winch. They also have that set in stock now vs. having King build something for me and having to wait 6 weeks - which I'll be honest, I'm an impatient bastard.

I run, and continue to plan to run, less lift than most people probably are looking for. So as long as the lift I get from these Kings is on par with the current lift I'm getting from these AC Delco branded 99' coils on the front then I'll be happy in that department.

Really looking to these for smoothing things up, especially on the washboard. I had a gnarly experience a few weeks ago in Vermont on a back road that was very torn up from the winter. Looking forward to hitting that one again to test.

I have the 600lb coils on my Kings and I think you'll want to change your rear springs. I am running OME 861 coils in the rear, and didn't touch the preload on the kings out of the box. A set of LC coils would pair well with the Kings setup out of the box.
If you need another 4Runner to join in on the Rausch fun let me know!

 

[BrianSD_42]

In my experience driving around with the front Kings they ride great off-road but hitting a pothole with them in the city can be very jarring. That is just how it is. Everything has trade offs.

 

[Kyngfish]

I have OME 906 + 5100 on the back and carry about 100lbs+ everywhere I go.

I'll be interested to see your thoughts after you switch the rear springs. The 906s IMHO are great because they're actually stiffer than the other OME offerings, the extra 100 lbs in the back should soften them up slightly. With the taller OMEs, you'll also get a softer spring, which is probably better on trails, but I wonder how it will impact towing, which is what like about the 906.

 

[Road Bull]

In my experience driving around with the front Kings they ride great off-road but hitting a pothole with them in the city can be very jarring. That is just how it is. Everything has trade offs.

Same here, but I need to dial out some of my preload. Don't forget your tires are running at road air pressures and are not going to be supper supple. Were the shocks that you were running before better at handling potholes and speed bumps?

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

I went ahead and ordered OME 891s + Tundra 5100s today, hopefully they're here before the weekend so I can put them on Sunday.

I really wanted to try LC's, but I don't have it in me to scour IH8Mud classifieds for days hoping something pops up, and I'm also really looking for 2.5" to 3" of lift max - which the LC would be more like 3.5" to 4".

I thought about 890s because I know 891s are stiffer and I want a smoother ride. But after reading probably close to a thousand posts I found some that turned me to 891s. Apparently paired with Tundra 5100s (softer valving) the ride is firm but smooth. Because I do plan to add another 100lbs to the back and do a decent amount of highway + mountain driving I will appreciate some stiffness & stability, with ability to handle some additional weight.

Will update with pics and the ride once I get them installed.

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

I have the 600lb coils on my Kings and I think you'll want to change your rear springs. I am running OME 861 coils in the rear, and didn't touch the preload on the kings out of the box. A set of LC coils would pair well with the Kings setup out of the box.

If you need another 4Runner to join in on the Rausch fun let me know!

I’m going as part of a group trip and we’re doing this 301 level off-road course Saturday 4/27. Unfortunately it’s private and is all booked up. There is a massive FJ Cruiser festival happening there the same weekend though. So the place will be full of Toyotas. I’m most likely going to just drive back Sunday and not wheel.

I’d definitely like to get back out there though again this summer or maybe the Pine Barrens sometime. Let me know if you’re planning any trips - the next couple I have are in NH and VT - you ever head up that way to wheel?


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[TonyB66]

I went ahead and ordered OME 891s + Tundra 5100s today, hopefully they're here before the weekend so I can put them on Sunday.

I really wanted to try LC's, but I don't have it in me to scour IH8Mud classifieds for days hoping something pops up, and I'm also really looking for 2.5" to 3" of lift max - which the LC would be more like 3.5" to 4".

I thought about 890s because I know 891s are stiffer and I want a smoother ride. But after reading probably close to a thousand posts I found some that turned me to 891s. Apparently paired with Tundra 5100s (softer valving) the ride is firm but smooth. Because I do plan to add another 100lbs to the back and do a decent amount of highway + mountain driving I will appreciate some stiffness & stability, with ability to handle some additional weight.

Will update with pics and the ride once I get them installed.

I likely read the same 1,000 posts as you several months back, and I too found the 891s to be the most desirable for my intended application...

 

[wrench.n.wheel]

I’m going as part of a group trip and we’re doing this 301 level off-road course Saturday 4/27. Unfortunately it’s private and is all booked up. There is a massive FJ Cruiser festival happening there the same weekend though. So the place will be full of Toyotas. I’m most likely going to just drive back Sunday and not wheel.

I’d definitely like to get back out there though again this summer or maybe the Pine Barrens sometime. Let me know if you’re planning any trips - the next couple I have are in NH and VT - you ever head up that way to wheel?


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I likely read the same 1,000 posts as you several months back, and I too found the 891s to be the most desirable for my intended application...

I wonder how the Tundra 6112 shocks with their 600 lb spring rate compare to these Kings, at $650 its half the price. They have a 2.5" body as well.

 

[dirtbike250x]

I’m going as part of a group trip and we’re doing this 301 level off-road course Saturday 4/27. Unfortunately it’s private and is all booked up. There is a massive FJ Cruiser festival happening there the same weekend though. So the place will be full of Toyotas. I’m most likely going to just drive back Sunday and not wheel.

I’d definitely like to get back out there though again this summer or maybe the Pine Barrens sometime. Let me know if you’re planning any trips - the next couple I have are in NH and VT - you ever head up that way to wheel?


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Awesome enjoy the course. I know those off road courses book up fast. But definitely keep me in mind, I typically head out with guys from Tacomaworld, but would be sweet to be around another 3rd gen.
I haven't ever been up in that area to find trails. From what I see though, the trails you can find are beautiful. The pine barrens are pretty lame though for trucks, neat for a day of exploring and having lunch in the woods, but not a day of wheeling.

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

I put on my 891’s today! Got me to 23” middle of hub to fender both front and back. With my 906 i was at 21”, so I gained 2”.

I think I’m gonna drop the kings in the front about 3/4” in the front to give me a little rake.

I did not have the right tools to loosen the top nut on my current 4runner specific bilstein 5100’s, so I kept them in. The ride feels pretty good, absorbs bumps better than the 906’s.

I’m gonna try to bring it to a shop this week to see if they can swap out my 4runner 5100’s in the back for the Tundra 5100’s. That’s a job I don’t mind paying someone for.

Here it was with 906 rear, kings in front

Here is the look now...still a little high up front

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