How important are rear shocks?

I'm looking an an icon stage 2 right now, and I'm wondering, and kind if new to the leaf spring thing, what is more important for ride quality and flex? Springs or the shocks?

Also, do you guys prefer whole new leaf packs or aal's? what are good options? I'd like to match ride quality with the icons up front.

Looking at 3 inches of lift, by the way.

 

A whole new leaf pack will ride better than an AAL. And a new leaf pack is a better option if your stock springs happen to be sagging, an AAL added to sagging springs is just a band aid that will sag soon enough too. You dont have your truck info filled out, but if chances are, being a first gen, your leafs are sagging. Its more money, but if you have the coin then its worth it.

Check out wheelers offroad for the leaf pack options there.

 

That's what I was thinking, just wanted to confirm.

I guess my shock question should have been: is it worth getting the icons? Do the rear shocks have that much effect over the springs? Or would 5150s be just as good in the back?

 

icon rears with resi? or just the reg. shock? between those two i would go with the resi. but if its the reg. shock i would go with 5150s

 

The right shock can be the difference between OK and amazing.

While 5150's are a decent shock for the $, there is better available. I was where you are right now. I ended up redoing mine and what a difference. If you can afford it, do it right the first time.

I went with the Alcan 8 leaf spring pack from wheelers and got a set of FOX 2.0 Reservoir shocks from Downsouth Motorsports. Amazing combo and really compliments the front end now.

 

The shock have to do with the dampening of the springs. In other words how quickly the leafs can react to the terrain and how quickly they go back to normal location.

I have the 5150s and i think they are pretty good really. But i have ridden in Mikes truck(Digiratus) and its pretty nice. Granted he has different leafs then me too but the valving on the shocks is much more different. But i am more then happy with my 5150s.

That being said i also rode a full week without shocks and it really wasn't that bad..i had brand new leafs tho and they were pretty stiff. But i was still surprised on how well it worked.

 

Thanks for the info, everyone.

I guess I'll go with the icons. Foxs are a little spendy for me...