My journey into expensive shocks… Learning

[Bumbo]

I guess I am still learning more and more about shocks, but I had my mind made up when it came to buying King shocks. After I conversation with some very experienced tuners I started considering the Fox 2.5 with DSC adjusters instead.

What I knew… I need to move away from digressive valving from my 6112 for the type of driving I do off-road. This was again confirmed after talking to a professional tuning company as they confirmed what I suspected.

What I didn’t know… The King adjusters only adjust high speed compression. I thought it might have adjusted compression as a whole, but it doesn’t. My concerns with going with a linear / progressive was handling and stability in situations where low speed compression would be important.

Now that I learned about the Fox 2.5 with DSC, it comes with two independent adjustments for low speed and high speed compression. Cost is also higher, but it addresses some of these concerns.

I really did like the handling of the 6112 for general purpose street and cruising sandy areas where it’s generally smooth, but the second I got into a situation where high speed compression needed, I would blow though that digressive valving pretty easily and start bottoming out.

My concern with the Kings is that I couldn’t fine tune that low speed compression, and was reported that its very soft, caddy smushy which would probably promote more sway. A standard coil over is velocity sensitive so unless its seeing high speed compression hits, there isn’t much tuning to be had for regular driving scenarios. I haven’t driven with them, but I wasn’t sure how much I would be giving up with a setup like that. The Fox seems to address everything, but at a higher entry cost.

Does anyone have any real world experience using both. Are my assumptions in handling accurate at all?

 

[YetiX]

Sounds to me like you're sort of in the same boat as me. I'm going to try heavier springs in my 6112's before I go for the more expensive shocks. I just ordered them and should have the 650# spring next week. Then I need time to install.

 

[Bumbo]

Maybe… I thought of changing the spring, but at this stage I feel I have grown out of it and kind of want an upgrade anyways. I am going to do my own labor, and I really don’t want to do it twice. Changing the spring I also have to deal with a spring compressor. I had Wheelers assemble my struts for me so they were ready for drop in. At least it makes a nice excuse for me to change the assembly.

To be honest I am a little over-sprung in the rear when completely unloaded, and I know using too much spring to compensate for shock only leads to bucking. Learned this first hand with my own setup (OME 2895). When loaded it’s great, but unloaded the rears will bounce/buck the rear pretty good over big bumps.

Even if the 600-625lb coil is right for me, the valving is a bit too light for my taste when I am in the desert. If it’s not that either, then it’s a digressive valving since its stiffer up front and doesn’t provide any additional force generation as the shaft speed increases like a linear / progressive shock would. At least that what I have gathered in my research.

Give this a read…
Digressive vs Linear vs Progressive Pistons & Shock Valving | AccuTune Off-Road

Really liking this low speed and high speed compression tuning capability.