KING-OEM Performance Series Shocks vs Icon Vehicle Dynamics- Stage 2

I'm with username, King coils in front Icon smoothies out back. That is a shiny bypass you have there man

 

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Since this thread came back from the dead, I wonder what the OP went with if anything..

 

Actually, due to a rough year all my savings and more were out towards things more important :/ however, I have since been re saving and am close to my setup. I have officially decided to run KINGS on all four corners, with TC ucas and icon leafs. Can't wait. For real this time -.-

 

So Kings win it finally!

/ Thread

 

I think I'm getting Kings too... Hopefully within the next 2 weeks... I'm going w Dakar LP though.... Not sure on which UCA yet... And not sure what spring # yet... I read 700 are good for the weight of plate bumpers but that's not in my immediate future... What I will get very soon is skids so sure yet...

 

TC UCA, 650# springs for now can probably even get away with 600# springs but I think Kings come with 650?

 

Thanks for the input...

 

Im not going to associate with a company that is related to Donahoe. Kings are better IMO anyway.

 

why?

 

King & Fox use 600lb springs
Icon uses 650 lb springs.
SAW I am not sure.

 

been wondering and youd be a good person to ask. lol
does it cost more to get the kings with a 700lb spring in the coilover.
i think thats what i wanna do, heres my understanding, please tell me if im wrong or if theres anything else to consider, etc.
from what i put together the truck would gain more or be at the same ride height while using less preload then a lower spring rate, resulting in an equally comfortable/stiff ride with more travel. is this correct?

 

I didn't pay more.

If your truck is not heavy with a winch/armor/steel bumpers there is no need for 700# springs.

 

True. I tried 700's and they were way too stiff. Even though they replaced 650's it raised the ride height several inches, even with the preload turned as far out as it would go. Plus they are a pita to install, I had to compress them a little to get them to fit. 650's just slid right in.

 

With King there is no Price Diff I believe.

Your theory is correct, But on a truck with no winch or bumper, it would ride very stiff. 650lb springs would be the way to. Icon nailed it sending their C/O's with 650's. Ride good and don't have to preload a ton. You really only wanna do the 700's if your going 200-250lbs over stock weight. You figure a winch is about 80-100lbs. But the bumper you have to factor in the weight loss from ditching the stock one. So it really cancels out unless your getting a beefy plate bumper.

Your travel #'s overall will not change at all. Having more or less preload will change your up/down travel ratio's.

 

You may say they "nailed it" but by not offering any other spring rate for years this is exactly where they severely dropped the ball IMO. They may test and market their shocks as being tested for the Tacoma's but for what type of Tacoma? A stock Tacoma? A built armored rock crawling Tacoma? A desert mobbing light pre-runner? This is why I always call BS when people tell me Icons were made specifically for the Tacoma unlike the Kings.

My kings were valved for the weight of my truck and my conditions while getting the correct spring weight for my needs. Sounds much more specific than a set of Icon's off the shelf.

Everyone I know locally who has Icons or Fox shocks is running King 700# springs for a reason.........because their 600/650#'s blew out and Icon didn't offer any other options for years.

 

Having been a part of the process for the LT Icons, this is how it went. They had a spare set for the Race FJ, hooked me up with them and I went and beat on them. Severely. Then they went back to the shop and got fine tuned with my input. This happened with several platforms and different drivers (DC, AC, FJ, etc) and they found a happy medium. Are they perfect for a heavy doublecab with an old school winch spooled with steel cable stuck in a home made plate bumper? No. Are they perfect for a gutted single cab? No. But 90% of the market will be happy with them right out of the box. If you are in that 10% that sucks, but it's not impossible to fix. The Icon techs will make them right for you if you call, and although they don't have different spring rates listed they are just down the street from Eibach. Just sayin'.

 

Exactly, Every vehicle is different just due to the size of the driver and their wheels tire combo, and countless other things. But if you can get them to work for 90% of the user's out of the box, that's pretty good. Like said above, the other 10% they are more than happy to work with. And offer those other spring rates.

I feel Out of the box for most users Icon is the way to go for the DD/ Weekend warrior. That being said, the Kings, Fox's, SAW's are still an huge upgrade from stock. Most user's do not have all the info needed to request specific valvings. Any of the shock makes can do this for you.

Also, the 650lb rate is nice. I have a lot of guys from here go from the King 600's to Icon 650's.

No matter what, the fact that all of these companies are continuing to work and bring more options to the table is good for you all, and that;s what matters most.

 

So you would recommend 650 over 700 for my truck with just a baja bumper up front?

Which would you say runs stiffer? :700 with no preload, or 650 with preload set at the same height as 700 without?