AZ BS Thread 4²0

I was just looking at Bilsteins and Summit has a few different model/length/valving options in stock. 5100s 7100s etc.

 

I see a few options there but the shipping dates are Sept 9th... good call though. Never thought to look at summit

 

The 7100 14” short body is honestly great for the price and they are easy to work on too. They are only a 2” shock but they are also only $250 each. While researching rebuild parts and such I found out that Bilstein actually uses a really high quality oil in their shocks, nearly the same temperature rating as Fox and way better than what King uses. I’m going to try and find time to pull mine in the next week to revalve. Got new valve stacks from Downsouth and should be a pretty straight forward job.

 

Gotta check the "in stock" box.

This is the first Ive ever heard of King not being "good" so what am I missing?

 

Fox is rated for 400 degrees, Bilstein is rated for like 375 I think and I can’t remember the exact temperature for King but it was only like 275 degrees. I might be off a bit in the exact numbers but I recall it being a significant difference.

 

Is there anything else that people dont like about King? Ive only ever heard that ADS and King were the best options.

 

King’s quality of parts and seals is not as high as Fox. Not sure how ADS or Bilstein compares in that department though.

 

Where did you you order from? Planning a call to downsouth next

 

Interesting. Since were talking about shocks and Im researching what to do for my Blazer I came across this well done, slightly more than laymans terms, shock tuning tutorial from Accutune. Its a good read.

https://accutuneoffroad.com/articles/digressive-vs-linear-vs-progressive-pistons-shock-valving/

 

You didnt ask me but when I bought my King PR2012-SSA's they were in stock at Down South.

 

I bought the shocks on Amazon before the price increase.

 

I drove home from Pinetop, then cleaned out the garage. I thought, it doesn't hurt. The next day I was a hurting unit, was in bed moaning, my wife had no sympathy at all.

 

Damn, this is a real nail in the coffin. I would not have bought Kings for my Tacoma if I had come across this article ahead of time. This has also convinced me not to buy Kings for the Blazer. I think Im going to end up with 7100s with the heavy valving.

https://accutuneoffroad.com/fox-vs-king-oem-coilovers/

 

Yeah, I would only buy King if I found a good deal used that needed a rebuild. Rebuild parts are really easy to find so that’s an advantage and you can always change the oil. The Bilsteins are old school cool and ride really well for the money.

 

I ordered my foxs for my f150, accutune customer service is one of the best. Very knowledgeable and quick responses.

 

Findings worth sharing.
Posted a few days ago about some spring bits attached to my rear diff magnet. I pulled it all apart and called ECGS, they couldn't tell me what they were from only that they were definingly NOT from the ARB locker. Scratched my head and asked around and thought "maybe from the axle seal". They both checked out and I didn't find anymore bits in the tubes or case. I decided to put it back together after a solid flush and cleaning Had a few days passed and I found a new leak on the diff. behind the pinion flange. Ordered the pinion oil seal and pulled it out to replace. To my surprise I found the rest of the missing spring. Never would have thought it would have made it through the bearing. Should be an interesting conversation with Paul at ECGS about the next step.

 

Yeah, I went through the same genesis of opinion on Kings as well. I believe Kings (and to an extent, ADS) benefits from scarcity bias and their position in the market. Because they only make coilovers at the higher end of the market, the general opinion is usually going to be that they make "good" suspension. Couple that with buyers who don't exactly go and cross shop multiple suspension systems at similar price points and the fact that every kit is a little different depending on the use and needs of the truck, makes it hard to question someone when they say their Kings are great and that Kings are the best there is.

Meanwhile Fox has a much broader range of products across a wider span of the market, and is more likely going to risk aggravating more customers simply because they sell to more customers. Couple that with some idiot comparing his old Fox 2.0's to the Kings he upgraded to and of course Kings are gonna be "better".

Fox and Bilstein (when it comes to their 8112's) are two of the biggest Suspension manufacturers in the world. There's a reason OEM's go to them. They simply have more resources and experience to make better products, but suffer because of the balance of opinion that comes from their entry level stuff which is still great when price is factored in, it (the price) just usually isn't for some people.

 

Except Radlfo. Regardless how popular they are in the rock bouncer and certain Ultra4 market. Their customer service just sucks. And their seals dont last worth a shit.
King, Fox, ADS all good stuff. Higher Bilstien good stuff. Lower Bilstien has a market, but not for harder wheeling. I blew out 6112/5160 so fast, they warrantied once. Not a second time.

 

Totally off the tacoma subject.... any smart geeks know how to get my phone off the grid? I am sick of google, a mazon and others following me. I have location turned off but I am being followed.........