2 Gen Coilovers-Which?Why?

This discussion grew out of Chris pointing out some differences between Fox, King and Icon COs. We have "digressed" from there.

Perhaps a better way to approach this discussion would be to ask those familiar with these COs to describe the differences in driving characteristics between the different COs.

 

Ya afaik, digressive shocks are good for mixed mode trucks. People who do a lot of on and off road. You will get a decent shock for the road without too much body roll etc, but to tradeoff, it will not be a good rock crawler.

Where it shines is high speed off road like rally driving. Flying down a washboarded dirt road or rutty trail, you will have nice soft suspension to soak up those high speed bumps.

Since that situation covers me nicely I would rather have digressive damping.

Progressive is good for rock crawling or more technical trail, slow stuff. Nice soft suspension, but if you hit something big, or too fast, the suspension will firm up before you bottom out. The downside is more body roll for the street etc and a very firm ride on washboarded roads, giving you a lot of wheel hop etc (that out of control slippery feeling).

Mostly just expanding on what chris4x4 said, but ya, I prefer digressive.

 

I had the Radflo's before the Icons. And at the same height 3" lift, the Radflo's were stiffer then Icons on road.

For people that get the Radflo's and want to run a 3" lift I reccomend using a 1/4" top plate spacer, for better ride and more down travel.

But for me I prefer the Digressive coilovers, there not too firm/stiff on road at all! And they handle rough roads alot better....

 

This is great, thanks for this discussion, its pretty much exactly what I was looking for in response, although I may not have worded it.

So would potholes and washboard socal freeways at 75 mph benefit from progressive or digressive? I'm not going to be prerunning desert courses or rockcrawling, but will be hitting fireroads and such.

 

ive been driving my truck with icons for 3 years, and still feel like it was the best mod for the truck. ive beaten them to death on every terrain and they still drive smooth and feel better than stock on every surface.

 

Great to hear that. I have a set of ICON's on order and am happy to hear a report like that. What leafs are you using?

 

It's not the vehicle velocity, it's the velocity of the shock's shaft. So it depends on how fast and big the bumps are and the weight of the vehicle.

So a rough logging road could be easier and less jarring at 30-40.

 

Yes! and getting worse by the day. The pothole repair crews just circle the holes with paint now and leave them for weeks...then throw cold patch asphalt in them, which lasts like a month...glad I have a truck.

Thanks for the info guys, seems like I can narrow it down to Icons or Kings...

 

Hey sorry to revive and ancient thread but I'm curious. What did you end up going with?

 

No worries...just trolling and noticed your post -- But I went with Kings, was not disappointed, like riding on a memory foam mattress on top of a water bed. Traded the truck in though in '13 for an FJ Cruiser, which more closely meets my offroad needs -- but I miss the truck. In a perfect world, would have both.