Shock Valveing

how do i know what body and length to get?

 

TacomaTSP4:
Safest thing would be to get us a ride height measurement from mount to mount with the truck sitting there under its normal weight and then get us the measurement from the bumpstop to the bumsptop contact point and then let us know what the suspension set is and what type of driving you will be doing?

 

I was just hoping that someone would have a 6" lifted front and 5" lifted rear and could let me know the right shock body and height that i need to buy cause i want to have the shocks before i start my lift install. I already know im gunna go the standard 255/70 valving

 

TacomaTSP4: It would most likely need to be an 11" Travel 5150 with there stem conversion on it...But the valving in a 5150 in 11' is 170/60
12" would most likely work, but it will be long on compression..

 

isnt 170/60 valving for if you arent going to have weight in the bed of the truck, like racing? What does it me to have long compression with the shocks? Any problems with it?

 

Wow great post.

 

TacomaTSP4:

170/60 is a very light valving..Bilstein #'s are reverse of everyone else's.
60 is compression (Very Light) and 170 is rebound (All Most more of a medium)
255/70 is more of a general purpose valving I guess you would call it.
Sorry what I meant by long on the compression is that the shock may bottom out before the suspension bumps out.
Your bumpstops should make contact and compress before the shock would bottom out so that you do not ruin the shocks.
If you are driving hard off road, yes that could be bad, you may break a shock or at the very least a shock mount.
Hope this helps.
Sonny

 

For those people who have already purchased their coilovers such as Icon for example, and want more out of your shocks in the way of dampening, you can take them in or send them in for modification.

In my case I have Icon coilovers and I wanted some more dampening for my trips out to Ocotillo Wells. I called Icon and the tech guy said bring them in and for a small charge we can make some changes to the valving. I took them in and got them back the same day. Brought them home and re-installed my shocks with amazing results. Ofcourse there's no free lunch, as my street ride suffered a little, but the offroading was awesome. I'm sure DownSouth would be happy to do the same thing for those running King and Fox.

Just thought I would share this information

 

Good afternoon,
I hope everyone is enjoying there Sunday, and you are correct we have always offered a "1" time free re-valve on Fox and King and we are also offer the same for ICON and Radflo when they are purchased from us as well.We also offer the same "1" Year warranty against leaking under normal use of the ICON coil-over shock and if something happens to the shock under normal driving conditions and it begins to leak, we will re-build the shock for no charge, all you pay is the shipping to and from us.
What I mean by normal driving conditions is if we find a You Tube video of you jumping the canal and the shocks blew out and you say to us "Hey they just started leaking"...That would be "No" they are not covered..
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and any questions, just shot us a PM..
"Via con dios"
Sonny & Marco

 

You know if I hadn't rebuilt motorcycle and bike shocks (and also want to know my truck the best I can) I would drop my shocks off with Sonny when I found a dead shock yesterday.

I have some 2" adjustable resis that I purchased from a shop in Southern California that has a Rock Crawling champion as an owner. I called and asked about valving on a Taco vs a DC. The GM didn't know.

That was then then this is now. I will be tearing down my shocks tomorrow or Sunday and was wondering how can I find out what valving would be best for my application. I do a good combination of running fast in the desert (not as fast or comfortable at least as you LT guys) as well as some pretty good technical rock crawling.

When I am using as a grocery runner I typically have my full size spare, 10# CO2 tank, shovel and a hi-lift. When I am out exploring and camping, I probably have another 200-300 pounds (Roof Top Tent, camping supplies etc.).

In the front I have Fox 2.5" resi (not rebuilding those today). In the rear I am running Dakars.

After I find out what's in there, I need to find out the volume of oil and what valving I should start with.

Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.

 

What brand shocks are you working on that you need to know the valving?

 

Fox 2.0 resi adjustable... they look like this but they are the newer black ones. Thanks!

 

Can those be re-valved with different shims? When my buddy re-built his 2.0 smooth bodies I believe he valved them pretty darn stiff. I'll find out what shims he used. Maybe a stack of 15s or 20s. All depends on angle though. He had a cage and the shocks are vertical. Factor mounts are slightly angled.

 

I think you had said the shocks were for a leaf sprung application "Dakars"?

Yes the 2.0" Resi can be re-valved the same as most Fox shocks...
The compression adjuster is works by metering the fluid traveling between the reservoir and the shock..
Still same valve stack and same standard 2 bleed hole piston in there...
Most of the time for a soft ride they have been running a Fox #20 which is all .006" shims on compression and either a #60 on rebound which is a 10's on initial and .012" on the high speed side or #70 which is all .012" on rebound...
I myself like the #60 on rebound and the #20 on compression and then use the CD Adjuster to dial it in from there and run 200 psi...
Hope this helps...
Let me know if you have any questions....
Happy Holidays from DSM...
Sonny

 

Sonny I greatly appreciate your insight! You certainly live up to your reputation as being the 'go to guy' on shocks! I will let you know how it works out for me. Although my knowledge is less useful for driving trucks, if there is anything I can do for you please let me know.

 

Let me know if you need me to send you the valve stacks..

 

That would be greatly appriciated!! Also, what volume of oil?

Thanks again!

 

Call me on Monday at the shop: 1-888-973-6967 ext. 2
and I will walk you through the dividing piston depth and you can
let me know where to ship the Valve stacks...
No worries...

 

One more satisfied... wait a second! I was going to say satisfied customer but I'm not his customer yet... but I will be anytime I need what he sells.

Sonny took care of me!

Thanks Sonny!

 

Got the shim stack!

Thanks!

Hope to rebuild them tonight or Thursday!