Gabex35
New member
^this. Sonny is an authorized seller and maintainer of King shocks. Cool guy and very reasonably priced. With that being said, Tustin Toyota had a better price by a couple hundred. DSM does my rebuilds and revalving though.
Kings or Icons? I know I know, not again
- Thread starter MEMO CAMPOS
- Start date
^this. Sonny is an authorized seller and maintainer of King shocks. Cool guy and very reasonably priced. With that being said, Tustin Toyota had a better price by a couple hundred. DSM does my rebuilds and revalving though.
MEMO CAMPOS
New member
This is true! Thanks for the reminder I'm sure I will also get an unbiased opinion from him too!
mgrande
New member
Did you get any forum discounted price with DSM? I know TW members get one with him and my kings were cheaper than the icon stuff I originally had in order from Wheeler's.
ron in sc
New member
I am now member of the people with who might be upgrading to King or Icon. After my experience with Bilstein I think I might be better off with a higher quality and hopefully more capable shock. I have learned that these shock may need to be serviced based on use. I've read a lot of posts about coilovers on a 4runner and with the wandering and nosedive these coilovers may be the cure.
Getting a price quote from Tustin Toyota and going to find out if I need to change upper control arms and change roll bar or bushings.
Getting a price quote from Tustin Toyota and going to find out if I need to change upper control arms and change roll bar or bushings.
1engineer
Moderator
Ron, you might want to think twice here. Yes, Icon, King and others make some great shocks. They are not like Monroe or Bilstein though as they will need to be rebuilt, which means taking them off and sending them back and it is not cheap either. If you go offroad a lot at higher speeds then they are great. If most of your driving is on road then, and I hate to say it, Bilstein is still the best option. You got 75K out of shocks which is really a decent time. I usually put on new shocks between 60-75K anyway. When I do it will be the 5100's because they are the best out there for my driving style (mostly road with some slow off road) regardless of the price. When you make that big jump to King or Icon you really need to go there with your eyes wide open.
Jeremy556
New member
+1 to this.
I'm at about 20K miles on my Icons and both of my rear shocks are blown, leaking oil. Cost of rebuild will be more than a new set of Bilsteins. I wouldn't call my use (abuse?) typical, but I bet you will get much longer service life out of non-racing shocks.
I have seen Icon shocks broken in the same place as your Bilstein, but with a tiny fraction of the age and miles.
snzscooter
New member
This actually just clarified something I've been kind of wondering about which way I should go with the car I plan to get. Thanks, guys, for the useful information here.
Canazes9
New member
Ron
I'll echo what [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] and [MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] have said - the Bilsein 5100's are a good value and a good choice for your needs. It would be a mistake for you to assume that your negative experience w/ one of their products is indicative of the service life & performance you can expect w/ the 5100's on your 4Runner.
I have 5100's on both of my Tacomas and have been pleased w/ their over-all performance. The '07 has over 100K miles on the 5100's and while they are getting tired and need to be replaced they are still holding up - this truck has been wheeled. My '12 has about 70K miles and they still seem to be performing well, though I know the clock is ticking - this truck has been wheeled a lot!
Now, having said that and while also acknowledging that you are a grown man and still may be interested in something else, let me show you what I did for my wife's 4Runner:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/147258-no-low-lift-icon-suspension.html
Here's what it looks like now w/ Icon Suspension installed and Shrockworks TE rocker panels instead of the SR5 factory rocker panels:
About 15K miles on it so far and we are VERY happy with the performance!
David
jrandom
New member
[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] & [MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] Good points! Thanks for chiming in.
For some reason I was thinking Icons were at least human serviceable parts not send-me-ins. Good I suppose, since they will (or at least I hope they would) inspect all of the tolerances and parts for wear. Bad, they cost more to rebuild than a new set, I mean gees $400 bucks plus $50-100 shipping seems steep.
I know what I am leaning towards now at least for the present. Kind of a bummer I was getting a bit excited for the start of a performance suspension, I realize that a similar upgrade does require more maintenance, if your blowing out the back end at 20k f**k, that's a little discouraging. I know your experience may not be the norm, it is still good to know. I still have another 4-12 months to decide.
[MENTION=96409]Canazes9[/MENTION] your "wifes"
rig is what got me going towards an Icon setup
For some reason I was thinking Icons were at least human serviceable parts not send-me-ins. Good I suppose, since they will (or at least I hope they would) inspect all of the tolerances and parts for wear. Bad, they cost more to rebuild than a new set, I mean gees $400 bucks plus $50-100 shipping seems steep.
I know what I am leaning towards now at least for the present. Kind of a bummer I was getting a bit excited for the start of a performance suspension, I realize that a similar upgrade does require more maintenance, if your blowing out the back end at 20k f**k, that's a little discouraging. I know your experience may not be the norm, it is still good to know. I still have another 4-12 months to decide.
[MENTION=96409]Canazes9[/MENTION] your "wifes"
rig is what got me going towards an Icon setup
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Daily-runner
New member
The only thing about the Bilstein 5100 is that they are not adjustable friendly. To adjust them you have to remove the whole thing. Annoying as hell. That is the only reason that is stopping me from buying the 5100 and looking at true coilovers.
Jeremy556
New member
Consider toytec ultimate. They are 5100s with a threaded collar for adjustment on the vehicle.
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mgrande
New member
When you order coilovers from DSM you get a free rebuild. If you are just a weekend warrior then your coilovers may never even need to be rebuilt depending on how long you keep your truck. So the idea that you should get Billy's so you don't have to worry about them isnt accurate.
If you're up in the air about what to get then give Sonny at DSM a call.
If you're up in the air about what to get then give Sonny at DSM a call.
nashman69g
Member
I'm looking for new shocks now myself…my xreas is leaking
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/[email protected].
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/[email protected].
jrandom
New member
[MENTION=51294]nashman69g[/MENTION] Bummer man! At the very least you have 1000 miles to get it fixed before your warranty is up! or is it past 3 years?
I know you may be directing this to the OP. In my case, lets say I am not completely dissuaded, just a little more down to earth on the on the fact that performance shocks can have issues early on and the associated costs involved there after. A courtesy rebuild is certainly an sweet orange if it happened to be in a box of lemons
I know you may be directing this to the OP. In my case, lets say I am not completely dissuaded, just a little more down to earth on the on the fact that performance shocks can have issues early on and the associated costs involved there after. A courtesy rebuild is certainly an sweet orange if it happened to be in a box of lemons
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ron in sc
New member
I just spoke to gentleman at King and was told the stock coilover spring rate is 550 lbs. The model I am looking at is the one with a resevior and an external adjuster for the compression, with 20 adj. points. I also think the progressive spring rate on the Kings would work well and allow me to increase spring rate compression of front end when using front trailer hitch to move stuff around.
I have trailer hitch mounted on the front and right now when I move stuff around with the 4runner the drawbar is so low it nearly touches the ground. Lift with higher spring rate would help. They can do 600 and recommended that for my application. I also have a large heavy Odyssey battery mounted.
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KVA
Member
That is disappointing...did they state they could offer springs up to 650-700# on their front c/o's?
Rubberdown
New member
It's king... They will literally build you anything you want.
