yes, I live in Sac.
Quick bolt on lift!
- Thread starter mgson
- Start date
yes, I live in Sac.
4rcybr
New member
So both Radflo and Icon have their shocks come with a 650# coil, and optional 700#. King on the other hand comes with a 550#, and says that other companies use higher spring rates because their shocks are worse.
Given that the shocks seems to be designed the exact same way, (Icon's digressive valving aside), why the discrepancy?
Rodtheviking
New member
My guess is the King has more coils, 10 it looks like. Compared to the 8 for the Icon.
The amount of nitrogen charge could also play a part in it.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
That logic is simply idiotic. Isn't spring rate based mostly on vehicle weight, and valving (shock performance) based on what you will be driving over?
You can't "cover up" the lack of performance or durability of a shock with a stronger spring.
You could say that because of Icon's digressive valving (firmer for slow shaft speeds than king) and heavier coils, it would have better handling characteristics than King. There is a downside and a plus side for everything.
BlackWorksInc
New member
That's weird...
As [MENTION=130999]Inv4drZm[/MENTION] mentioned, you really can't use springs to compensate for crap shocks.
Springs are what actually support the weight of the vehicle, shocks manage the oscillation inherent in springs and smooth out the ride. Additionally using a stiffer spring when you have more weight on the axle (i.e. full metal bumper, winch, ect.) helps keep the vehicle from sagging and the springs from being overly compressed.
I don't get their reasoning there. Can you link the article/statement they're making?
4rcybr
New member
The logic stated was that the 550# coils are enough to float the vehicle, and that the shock does the work beyond that, while with 650# or 700# the springs actually are part of the dampening equation, rather than just the shock. Or something along those lines. I talked to someone at King for a while, and had a lengthy conversation with Ben from Flithy Motor Sports (amazing customer service there) and was told the same by both. Of course in talking to ICON they said theirs was the best.
Oh, this is the best resource I've found on valving. Shim ReStackor example calculation retuning a shim stack to be three clicks softer
Do you have any other resources you could share?
4rcybr
New member
These were phone calls with King and then with Ben from Filthy Motor Sports. It is entirely possible that I'm missing something, but hearing from two different sources that 550# was good enough for my setup while ICON said I should go with 700# is a bit disconcerting to me.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Users have reported going from a stock weight coil to #700 and noticed less body roll, and because they are taller coils, less preloading needed so a bit of an improved ride with their heavier armor. I've had the #700 coils (King coils ironically on my Icons LOL) without an aftermarket front bumper and have loved them. My brother has #700 on his FJ with bumper/winch/armor after having the stock #650 Icon coils and noted less body roll and a general ride improvement.
I would recommend you to get the #700 for the extra armor you carry.
4by4th
New member
I just had this 3" Rough Country lift installed on my 2004, picked it up yesterday so no experience yet.
http://www.roughcountry.com/toyota-suspension-lift-kit-765a.html
http://www.roughcountry.com/toyota-suspension-lift-kit-765a.html
BlackWorksInc
New member
Hmm... Not sure what to say to that. I mean perhaps King is tuning their shocks for a different set-up than the other two? I figured Icon & Radflo have their set-ups dialed in for a more overlanding bias than say rock-crawling or baja racing. There reasoning seems vague and somewhat counter-intuitive at best.
