King shocks update!

[chrissurfr]

So you were able to get them in 5 days? That’s great turnaround time. Congrats! And honestly, the way Kings sales rep was explaining the 1/4” (1/2” at the wheel) difference in “extended travel” vs. standard to me wasn’t convincing me that the 4 week lead time was worth it when they had what I needed in stock.

I’m literally 45 minutes away from King, which is one of the very important reasons I chose them. They’ve always answered the phone and got me speaking to either a tech or sales rep within 5 minutes.

The fact that I can drive down there and exchange, modify, or pick up parts is gravy. In 2 years when I do a rebuild, I’m just boxing them up and driving them down to the shop for a custom valving job, if it’s even needed. I’m pretty confident that I’m going to find a street setting and a couple off-road settings that I like with the adjusters.

Yes, Fedex is delivering them today. They had them in stock. They were super helpful on the phone when I called.

 

[phillyd2]

Do these thing come in any other color or just Bling Blue?

 

[ChrisJHarney]

Do these thing come in any other color or just Bling Blue?

Per King, you can pay out the nose ($300 a pair) to have them anodized in up to 8 different colors. Springs only come in blue, but those are easily replaced with something like PAC or Eibach springs. A friend of mine is having this exact dilemma. He wants black but is definitely not going to pay that much.

 

[phillyd2]

Per King, you can pay out the nose ($300 a pair) to have them anodized in up to 8 different colors. Springs only come in blue, but those are easily replaced with something like PAC or Eibach springs. A friend of mine is having this exact dilemma. He wants black but is definitely not going to pay that much.

Ouch! They really do stick out on a black truck.

 

[chrissurfr]

how many threads do you guys have showing on your coilovers and what heights does it have you at?


my truck is getting everything on it right now and would like to not have to adjust it again if i can....

Thanks,
Chris

 

[blacksheep4]

how many threads do you guys have showing on your coilovers and what heights does it have you at?


my truck is getting everything on it right now and would like to not have to adjust it again if i can....

Thanks,
Chris

Check out this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/245542-calling-all-kings-informational-survey.html

I'm at 8 threads which has me right about 3".

 

[ChrisJHarney]

how many threads do you guys have showing on your coilovers and what heights does it have you at?


my truck is getting everything on it right now and would like to not have to adjust it again if i can....

Thanks,
Chris

You’re probably done with your install by now. I did mine on Saturday.

I took off my Eibach 650lb springs and 5100s, as well as my rear Superflex 2.0 springs and 5100s.

I installed the King’s, 2.5 resi front and rear, 650lb springs front, and OME 898 (315lb) in the rear. Also installed a pair of Icon Delta Joints.

PLEASE NOTE: My “height gains” are based on my previous suspension set-up, which was a Toytec adjustable 5100 set-up. Because we are all coming from different suspensions set at different heights with different weights, there really can be no comparing Member A’s gains to Member B’s gains.

That being said.....

I gained 1.25” in the rear, which was to be expected, as even though the Superflex have a 2” taller free height, they are 95lbs lighter. I also added an additional 145lbs in the form of a half completed rear bumper, or that height gain would have been a lot higher. For record, my Superflex 2.0 with 26,000 miles on them measured out at 16”, the OME 898 out of the box are 14”. As of yet, I have not measured the installed length of the rear coils.

As far as the fronts were concerned, I was surprised that with no additional preload over stock coilover configuration, I gained 1.25” on the passenger side, and .75” drivers. For record the Eibach 650lb front coils are 16” free height and the King 650lb coils are 14” free height. After install, with zero added preload, the King coils measured 12.5. I’m assuming then that you count that 1.5” as factory installed pre-load?

Over the course of 2 days I accumulated 75 miles and went back today to get my alignment and re-measure. The rear settled a bit to 1-3/16 over pre-install measurements, and the fronts stayed the same. I had my mechanic rotate the driver side collar 2.5 full revolutions, which according to my adjustment sheet from King, should have given me back my .5”. Instead it only gave me .25”. Well they just re-installed it and aligned it, so I’m not going to sweat 1/4”. I’m going to wheel the hell out of it soon, and when I bring it back, I’ll re-check the measurements.

FYI, I measured the rear from the alignment rack to my rear frame, 1’ in from the last crossmember. For the fronts, I have always measured from either the rack to the wheelwell, and to the bottom of the alignment tabs. Tire pressure was set at 50psi pre-install and after.

To be honest, I had two friends helping me on Saturday, and it was a whirlwind of activity and I wasn’t able to document a lot of what happened, which is a shame. But it all went on fairly easily, with only a couple mishaps that could have been avoided, but I’m very satisfied with the finished product, and I am beyond stoked that I only had to dial in a very small amount of pre-load to keep the truck with the exact same stance as it had prior to the install.

It’s tough for me to quantify the difference between my setup now vs. before because I changed so many variables. But I will say this, even with an additional 145lbs on the rear, the truck feels WAY more stable, tight, and planted compared to before. The shocks are noticeable only in the way they soak up expansion joints and keep the truck from bobbing after hitting a dip or speed bumps. Once I get it loaded down with my typical 650lbs of gear and can do some high speed runs out in Mojave or Anza, I’ll be able to tell if what I paid was worth it.

 

[ChrisJHarney]

Check out this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/245542-calling-all-kings-informational-survey.html

I'm at 8 threads which has me right about 3".

Thanks for the heads up on the King’s thread, I’ll post there once I get some trail time in and can better articulate my observations.

On a side note, what are your thoughts on the 255/80 tires you have? I was dead set on that size until this lift. I wanted to keep my stock wheels (7.0” width) and still run a true 33” tire. Now looking at it from the front, I’m not sure. With my stock backspacing they look sucked into the wheel well.

 

[blacksheep4]

Thanks for the heads up on the King’s thread, I’ll post there once I get some trail time in and can better articulate my observations.

On a side note, what are your thoughts on the 255/80 tires you have? I was dead set on that size until this lift. I wanted to keep my stock wheels (7.0” width) and still run a true 33” tire. Now looking at it from the front, I’m not sure. With my stock backspacing they look sucked into the wheel well.

No problem!

I love the tire size, but you're right they do look a bit sucked in with a lift. I have spidertrax so mine sit right about flush with the fender. If I get a chance later I can update this with a picture from the front to give you an idea, if you're not opposed to spacers it might be a good option for you. On another side note, I've just started to notice some of the outside lugs chunking off after 30k miles and about two years... I expected these to last quite a bit longer but I have been pretty rough on them.
[MENTION=208941]ChrisJHarney[/MENTION]; added pics here, couldn’t send attachment in PM

 

[ChrisJHarney]

No problem!

I love the tire size, but you're right they do look a bit sucked in with a lift. I have spidertrax so mine sit right about flush with the fender. If I get a chance later I can update this with a picture from the front to give you an idea, if you're not opposed to spacers it might be a good option for you. On another side note, I've just started to notice some of the outside lugs chunking off after 30k miles and about two years... I expected these to last quite a bit longer but I have been pretty rough on them.

I think any tire is going to chunk after some serious wheeling in the rocks, regardless the size, I have some good size pieces missing myself.

I’m not necessarily opposed to spacers. It’s just unfortunate that I can’t find a decent 17” wheel with the backspacing I want to push the tire out without moving up to an 8”-9” width. IMO, that’s way too wide for a 255, it’ll just get thrashed.

Yes please either post a pic or PM me a pick of your rig (so we aren’t thread jacking) head on so I can see the tires flush with the wheel wells.

 

[chrissurfr]

thanks for the replies, guys. I think the height issue is good now. might crank it up just a little bit more.

now next problem - it feels like there is a little "clunk" in the steering wheel when going over bumps. the front end just doesn't feel solid.

the shop owner mentioned something about the sway bars...could that be the culprit?

 

[blacksheep4]

thanks for the replies, guys. I think the height issue is good now. might crank it up just a little bit more.

now next problem - it feels like there is a little "clunk" in the steering wheel when going over bumps. the front end just doesn't feel solid.

the shop owner mentioned something about the sway bars...could that be the culprit?

Check to see if the sway bar is contacting the radiator support bracket... after about 50 miles I started getting a creaking noise (maybe could be described as a clunk but it was more of a sound than a feeling). Turns out the spacer included by King was not actually enough for the sway bar to clear the radiator crossmember after things settled in.

 

[chrissurfr]

Check to see if the sway bar is contacting the radiator support bracket... after about 50 miles I started getting a creaking noise (maybe could be described as a clunk but it was more of a sound than a feeling). Turns out the spacer included by King was not actually enough for the sway bar to clear the radiator crossmember after things settled in.

it almost feels like something is loose on the front left side. at super low speed going over a bump it will almost rattle from the lower control arm or something. taking it back in tomorrow.

 

[ChrisJHarney]

[MENTION=208941]ChrisJHarney[/MENTION]; added pics here, couldn’t send attachment in PM

Those look great, seems like they are just right as far as the lines down the truck go. I am really crossing my fingers that the KM3 adopts this size by the time my current tires wear out. I think a little more aggressive tread would be perfect for me.

 

[ChrisJHarney]

thanks for the replies, guys. I think the height issue is good now. might crank it up just a little bit more.

now next problem - it feels like there is a little "clunk" in the steering wheel when going over bumps. the front end just doesn't feel solid.

the shop owner mentioned something about the sway bars...could that be the culprit?

I also had some noise from the drivers side wheel well. Definitely keep an eye out for metal to metal contact, sway bar is one culprit, although King incorporated the sway bar relocate spacer in the resi bracket so there shouldn’t be any contact if there wasn’t before. UCA would be another, but I also had a lot of clunks and “noises” for a good 10 miles after install. I just drove the hell out of it, taking as many dips and speed bumps as I could to settle the suspension. All the noises slowly went away. I had everything aligned and torqued down today and it feels very very solid. But if you suspect rubbing, you can clean off the area in question, drive it, and then check to see if there are any new marks indicating contact.

 

[blacksheep4]

it almost feels like something is loose on the front left side. at super low speed going over a bump it will almost rattle from the lower control arm or something. taking it back in tomorrow.

When I first started hearing my creak I could have sworn 100% the sound was coming from the drivers side UCA... like a bushing sound. But somehow it was just the sway bar.

 

[chrissurfr]

it was a loose tie rod. problem is resolved now.

now I might crank it up a couple more turns and get another alignment lol

 

[ChrisJHarney]

it was a loose tie rod. problem is resolved now.

now I might crank it up a couple more turns and get another alignment lol

How many miles do you have on the new suspension? My alignment shop wouldn’t touch it until I had at least 75 miles. He said break in time and settling affects the numbers.

Glad you found the culprit.

 

[chrissurfr]

How many miles do you have on the new suspension? My alignment shop wouldn’t touch it until I had at least 75 miles. He said break in time and settling affects the numbers.

Glad you found the culprit.

maybe 20 miles so far.......

on my cars in the past I always got two alignments after messing with the suspension. one the day of...one after it settled 100%...

 

[tacoyota]

This post is in relation to lead times, as well as a shout out to Kings sales guys Jason Gonzalez and Frank Pazunno.

I just got home from Kings shop down in Garden Grove. I had originally ordered a complete suspension from a now defunct and bankrupt vendor down in San Diego. When I picked up my order late in August, 2 pieces of the order were missing and the front coilovers were for a KDSS 5th gen (25001-243AEXT), as well as the wrong spring weight (550 instead of the 650 I ordered). After going back and forth with Wheeler’s (vendor who supplied said defunct San Diego shop) when King didn’t immediately respond to my emails, they were pretty certain the KDSS version would in fact work as long as I swapped out the resi bracket.

When I finally got in touch with King, they said, nope, different bracket, different hose length, different fittings. Not going to work. Best thing I could do was order a new kit and exchange the kit I had. LEAD TIME FOR ALL NEW ORDERS IS 4 WEEKS.

I pleaded with them that I had already rented a bay and lift, and sourced a tech that was going to help me install, and he was coming out from Arizona, this next weekend. After a few emails, they told me to come on down the next day and they would do what they could to get me fixed up.

I drove down this morning, they explained the situation, and told me to hang tight. Jason came back and said it was my lucky day, they had ONE 25001-178A kit in the warehouse and I was welcome to have it. Unfortunately it wasn’t an extended travel kit. And if I REALLY needed that extra .25” that the extended travel kit would give me, I would have to wait the 4 weeks for them to build it in the order it would be put in the system. And to be clear, this is the start of their busy season, it only gets longer from here. Best time to order is mid summer, when almost no one is desert running.

I know I’m a small fish in a big pond, and King is a race focused suspension company, built to service some of the biggest race teams out there, so for two guys in sales to go above and beyond to make my situation right gave me all the reassurance I needed that I made the right decision in going with them.

Now to get it all installed!! I can’t wait until Saturday!!!

This is why I would support King. Fox would just blow you off and leave you stuck with obscene wait times.