King Coilovers ride like crap!?

New guy here and I am not very knowledgable on this subject. I have a 2004 4x4 Tacoma crew cab, the original owner installed the lift. The front suspension is very stiff when off roading and on road if I drop off any sort rapid elevation change, like a steel construction plate, it feels like the front end just falls without any buffer from the suspension. Here are some pictures, anything obvious jumps out at you guys, I know the shocks at adjustable maybe the previous owner adjusted them too high? Thanks for the help in advance, Rory

 

Yep, you've got way too much preload. You should have no more than 3/4" of thread showing above the spring collar. Do you have a plate bumper or any extra weight on the front?

 

Rebuild shocks and upper control arm uni balls, deff check nitrogen pressure.that may free up the suspension some.

 

I have an allpro tube bumper and a winch. So my dumb question is, if I reduce the amount of preload will it lower the front end? And how easy is it to adjust, worth taking to a shop? Thanks

 

Yes, reducing preload will lower the front end. According to King, every 5 turns of the collar is one inch of height.

Not too hard to do yourself if you have the collar adjustment tool, especially since you don't have the external reservoir to get in your way. Just loosen the allen head bolt, stick the tool in the hole and turn.

 

Also, clean off the Uniball and grease it with some TriFlow. Looks like they rubbed some grease all over it.

But it does look like you're preloaded quite a bit. Think of 1/4" of preload is 1/2" of lift. Thats not exact but a good rough estimate to kinda use in this situation.

Personally i prefer my uniball post to be dead center or just barely lifted above dead center for optimal travel.

But to address the ride, it looks over cranked as well as could need a rebuild.

 

So much preload!

 

Thanks again everyone for the help. You prefer the uniball post to be dead center or just barely lifted above dead center, in reference to what?

 

Where it sits at your desired height. You see how it's leaning in and on the cup wall damn near? Think of it simply as your travel. Once the post hits the wall closest to the coilover your down travel is pretty much done. So I prefer it to be centered.

 

Wow, I got it now. I'm going to try adjusting them myself and see how that goes. Depending on the results I may take it into a shop. Any shop suggestions in San Diego?