King Shocks - Answering Your Questions (submit more!)

We're diving into your questions on King Shocks, mostly addressing OEM Replacement series.
Submit your questions for your vehicle in the comments, we'll get them answered in the near future.
www.shocksurplus.com/collecti...
Bookmarked Questions
00:42 - Are King Shocks better than Fox Shocks?
04:47 - Do King Shocks have a break-in period?
07:25 - How much lift do King 2.5 shocks give?
09:04 - How Long do King Shocks last before rebuild?
12:00 - Are King Shocks made from aluminum?
13:02 - How do you adjust King Shocks while on the vehicle?
14:32 - What does the adjuster knob on King Shocks do?
16:34 - How much nitrogen pressure (psi) for my Kings?
17:18 - How do you revalve and retune King Shocks?
22:13 - Bonus - Rebuilding King Shocks with SDI EClik

[@ryansmith9030]

Honestly the Best video I've ever seen explaining how shocks work

[@murcielagos472]

Awesome of you that answer every single question, well done mate!

[@ShockSurplus]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jordankeogh6643]

Learned loads, thanks. Will be getting a set of kings when the bank account allows

[@ShockSurplus]

glad we could help! support@shocksurplus for when you're ready

[@brookekathryn1980]

It's Killin me! You've been sold out of the struts I want for like 2 months! I don't wanna go OEM again if I don't have to!

[@ShockSurplus]

We did receive some in. Please let us know or contact us directly on what kit you need and we can check the stock levels.

[@brookekathryn1980]

@@ShockSurplus Just checked your website. Still says sold out. ☹️

[@green24348824]

Hello their, I have question if you don't mind I installed 2.5" king on my f150 but I want to install 20" tires is this possible or should I use spacer or some other stuff Thank you

[@Hartz187]

SuuoperDuperamazing 🕺 Would love that sti electrinic adjustebility on my BP51 setup on my 37" ArcticTrucks built Hilux 🕺

[@ShockSurplus]

Oh, that would be a killer combo

[@suetaylor1127]

What kind of spanner wrench do i need to get to adjust the king 2.5 exts front coilovers? Whats coilovers ate better icon or king?

[@ShockSurplus]

You don't need a spanner. You need to compress the spring or remove it, then unlock the collar, and rotate it by hand. Both are great options, and is just a matter what suits your needs better.

[@cougarslayer91]

So can you make a video on the effects of psi in the reservoir to the compression dampening, ride quality. I have fox factory race coilover with the 10" reservoir and have 200psi, preload is set fine (not fully extended) and bro shitbis like a wagon on patchy roads and minor bumps but offroad its actually not bad is it just fox? Or what is up?

[@ShockSurplus]

We can suggest it. We run about 150 psi when we rebuild Fox and King. If you're adding more psi, you are effective making it firmer.

[@BaconCruiser]

How much difference in ride control do you notice with adding the SDI eClik to the King 2.5s?

[@ShockSurplus]

From what we have tested, it's a massive improvement in variable ride controls.

[@joeyalent4974]

Will you do this comparison with the Icon shocks please. Thanks

[@ShockSurplus]

Yeah we can, do you have any specific questions there?

[@joeyalent4974]

@@ShockSurplus if you could describe the piston the way you did in this video, and also possibly say if there is a difference in number of holes, if the diameter of the holes are the same, and if not, how much of a difference that can make. Example: if there are less holes, but they are bigger, does that equate to the same amount of oil flow. And what type of driving off the shelf they are set up for, slow, mid, or high speed damping. Thanks

[@ShockSurplus]

Will do! We actually had a video ready for this, but you raise a point that we want to address, so we'll re-record it and have it up in the next week or so.

[@aaronricafrente9224]

Do you guys offer shock rebuilds for all shocks? Even shocks you guys don’t sell on your site?

[@ShockSurplus]

If youve got the seals and oil we can, or we can acquire even though the shocks may not be on the site. Email [e-mail]

[@chris1293]

I have off the shelf Fox 2.0 on my Jeep Wrangler. Do you offer customized tuning to fit my driving style and the added weight?

[@ShockSurplus]

Not sure if you're asking about rebuilding/retuning the fox 2.0, which we can do, but its pretty costly compared to alternatives. But if you're asking in general about custom tuned shocks, yes that's something we do, whether its Fox, King, or Icon.

[@robp418]

Not sure if they can tune the ifp shocks but they can do the 2.0 resi shocks for sure

[@9noldE]

My 2021 RAM2500 4x4 I have a new king suspension. I’ve installed the OEM performance 2.0 shock with reservoir & adjustment knobs. Also change front coil spring and arm. Bed bounce at 70 mph +/- highway is still extremely rough regardless of adjustment. What is your recommendation?

[@ShockSurplus]

We've got a couple more questions before we can give a suggestion, please email [e-mail]. What front springs did you get? Stock rear springs? Are the King Shocks the 2.5 OEM off the shelf or custom tuned? Email us or give us a ring 213-433-3616 and talk to Sean Reyes or Jeff

[@9noldE]

Thanks, I will call in tomorrow

[@xXB.FunkXx]

I have 2.5's on my Tacoma and i run hard on them. Rarely do i feel them fading from too much heat, they just keep taking the abuse. You know those tines when you shoot over a knoll at mach 5 realize your going to nose dive hard and ya pucker up anticipating a big jarring but instead it feels like you landed on a waterbed ★KINGS★🤙 and when i start really getting off the hook those bumpstops have probably saved me thousands in dental bills from not smashing teeth on hard landings. And then drives like a sports car on the way home.

[@mrza3terg779]

should I change my OEM rear sway bar links when going for KINGs 2.5s?

[@ShockSurplus]

if you plan on going pretty hard in the dirt we'd change the links, ball joints, tie rods, and other small connectors depending on your application.

[@GhettoFabulous670]

Is there a very noticeable ride quality with kings that have adjusters? I got the eibach stage 2 on my tacoma. All thought its a Sligh improvement and look over stock. I'd like my ride to be a lil more softer on the trails almost like stock, and firm on road driving. Everytime I take my truck out to the trails, and the eibach be too stiff at times where my interior rattles like it's falling apart.

[@ShockSurplus]

Most off-road focus suspension are going to firm for off-roading because you actually need to be firm. Unless you're building a full on trophy truck which is fully custom and designed to eat up everything very well. King is a good choice for daily and overall off-roading. Fox 2.5 are going to be good for speed. Bilstein 8112 are also good for speed. OME BP51 are good for daily and overlanding.

[@GhettoFabulous670]

@@ShockSurplus my tacoma doesn't have weight, maybe only the oem bed cover and bed mat. It is 90% daily driver, so about 10% off reading. And I like go quick on trails but almost maintain that plush like oem ride qaulity? But will also be able to adjust to firm settings and stay planted, so can kings me that? When u Saud my eibach are stiff, I'm talking about spacer stiff, control arms hitting the coilovers kinda harsh. I believe the rebound on these coilovers are too restrictive. Hense the harsh ride.

[@ShockSurplus]

Please reach our to our sales team directly so we can help clarify this better.

[@IMxiaozuo]

can you please make a version of OME BP-51?

[@ShockSurplus]

Sure thing! Good idea, thanks

[@aaronluis11]

do you carry anything for the new chevy tahoe that helps with the ride feel, while keeping it looking stock?

[@ShockSurplus]

What year is your Tahoe specifically and what sub model do you own?

[@aaronluis11]

@@ShockSurplus 2022 Z71, standard suspension

[@ShockSurplus]

The only parts we are finding are Bilstein 55100 but they are currently not in stock. 2 x 24-317467 and 2 x 24-317474

[@brandoncastro2052]

So the further down you pre load the collar of the coilover, the less lift you will get out of your vehicle?

[@ShockSurplus]

better defined as the less you preload the spring, the less lift you get. The more you compress the spring with the collar, the more height you'll gain.

[@brandoncastro2052]

@@ShockSurplus thank you so much!

[@88divinegrace]

How do the reservoirs/hoses deal with -20ºF temps?

[@ShockSurplus]

The reservoir and hose themselves are fine. The main issue would be the oil and it's freezer temperature.

[@88divinegrace]

@@ShockSurplus Good to know. Thank you.

[@LionRunner]

I wish you can test ELKA 2.5DC. 4x4shop recommended ELKA 2.5DC over King2.5A for onroad comfort and forest roads. Want to know the true / false factor.

[@ShockSurplus]

Elka has the DSC, not sure if you can custom tune the Elka by special order, but the range of soft/firm adjustment would be a bit more than King. With King though, you could custom tune it for that exact need, daily / road comfort + good handling on the easy dirt, especially if you dont need to tune for high speed offroad use. We're partial to a DSC adjustable shock though, really depends.

[@LionRunner]

@@ShockSurplus they (the 4x4shop near me) are just lift install shop. Do not offer any kind of tuning. Customers can only pick a kit and they will order the kit and install. Really wish you can get hands on them. Also love to hear about Dobinson, Ironman too..

[@ShockSurplus]

Dobinsons 3way adjustable shock is pretty good, not meant for extended high speed use though. With what you're considering and after, we'd heavily recommend the Old Man Emu BP51, really good comfort on the easy stuff because of the Internal Bypass, and then you have comp/reb adjustment which can drastically change the ride depending on the settings. (Super plush, super stiff, good load handling, high speed use). They hold up better than the race-guys, lots of people getting north of 70k miles with no leaks and still top performance.

[@98replay]

Is there any cons on fully front lifting 3”s the Toyota Tacoma 3rd gen with these king shocks?

[@ShockSurplus]

If you can get there without coil bind the truck will be topping out constantly. 3rd gens sit on the same architecture as 2nd gens but sit an inch higher than the factory, so you really should not be trying to push any coilover passed 2" on a 3rd gen. With that said your average 3g at 2" will sit at the same height as a 2g at 3".

[@98replay]

@@ShockSurplus Awesome man, thank you

[@josephkaufman8022]

How much will a set of king shocks coast 2011 Silverado 1500

[@ShockSurplus]

www.shocksurplus.com/products/king-shocks-2-5-performance-coilovers-w-remote-reservoir-rear-reservoir-shocks-set-for-2007-2018-chevrolet-silverado-1500-4wd?variant=39667985547313 It varies on which version you would like.

[@loganfurst3010]

What is the cost of the rebuild and that should have been a topic you discussed thanks

[@ShockSurplus]

Cost is typically $175-200 per shock depending on whether its a basic oil+seal service, or if shafts need replaced, or mounts, bushings, etc.

[@bpphan4293]

Nice hair Shaw!

[@ShockSurplus]

Sean's bedhead is legendary 🤡

[@javierclavell]

Hi, i have a toyota tacoma 2021 offroad 4x4 and already have king shock 3” but i want to lift a little more, what i need to do it? Thanks.

[@ShockSurplus]

If you are saying it has 3" of lift, that is already passed what a King should be set for on a 3rd gen Tacoma. Those coilovers are really only happy with 2" of lift. If you want more you either are going to need to cut off the front crossmember and do a full drop bracket lift or go long travel. We almost never recommended running drop bracket lifts though, in fact if the goal is to go higher, you are better off running a bigger tire and trimming if need be. If you are saying you have King 3.0 coilovers and want a little more performance your best bet might be going up to something like Camburgs Trail Series long travel with the slapper arm bump stops, or adding on an Icon S2 shock kit with a secondary omega Bypass shock.

[@javierclavell]

@@ShockSurplus Forgive me, I didn't give you the complete information. but looking closely, I think they are 2.5”. Now, I have spc uca, pinchweld, C4 BMR, 35” Tires, Fender trim, ARB medium Leafsprings. I only want 1” more. LOL

[@ShockSurplus]

Yea you really are out of adjustment at the coilovers and you can not run anything longer without binding the CVs. You are either going to have to switch to a drop bracket lift which will require you to modify your front crossmember and take away about 2" of clearance, or you could go to a long travel set up like the Camburg that increases the track width.

[@cdsantx]

Why do my king shocks creek when going over a dip? Sounds like the springs crunch loud, They are OEM Kings and they are on stock height

[@ShockSurplus]

What vehicle?

[@cdsantx]

@@ShockSurplus I have a Silverado 1500 2wd

[@ShockSurplus]

I would check the bearings on the lower mount and try adding a touch of preload to see if that fixes it. Could be a little light on the preload meaning the spring is rattling/unseating

[@cdsantx]

@ShockSurplus thank you for the info 👍🏻

[@09-ombhosale55]

How to order coustom coilover from Kings

[@ShockSurplus]

Give us a ring and we'll make it happen

[@jackpixley3696]

I had my shocks rebuilt and when I got home I noticed the JIC fitting was loose leaking oil. When I go to tighten, it just stops. How tight do the JIC fittings go? It feels like I can’t tighten it much. And I’m gonna guess I’m going to need to add more oil to it now.

[@ShockSurplus]

We have been speaking to you and emailed you the details recently.

[@jeromeburrasca6710]

Could you please put your address on your about page??? I’m here in SoCal and will need a new installation soon.

[@ShockSurplus]

We do not do installation services here but we can provide you some local shops we work with. We offer a rebuild service but we don't remove or install shocks.

[@ahmadalanjary2020]

more machine work on fox shocks , and better paint /coatings . I mean just look at the reservoir can of a king shock. It looks like they just chopsawed a short piece of tubing and called it a day. look at the extra layer of detail that goes into the shock eyes on Fox. Fox shocks, you can swivel the entire shock body to re-orient the bypass tubes at the top shock eye. tuning bypass tubes is a lot easier on Fox versus very old-school bypass Allen lock nut adjuster design on kings. The upper coil spring collar is also double ring lock on a fox coil over not Alan clamp collar like a king the lower spring perch on a fox shock is much lower profile. Meaning you get a little bit extra spring length on the same travel shock . Also main shaft seal on fox leaks less and fox snap rings are insanely big (in case you accidentally use your shock as a limit strap). I’m sure king “race series” shocks are a lot better, but the ones most people buy the “pre-run series”/factory are cheaper for a reason much less machine, less detail in the shock, body and design. King customer service might be better. Which is important for most stupid Bros, who don’t have any mechanical ability and have never opened up a shock in their entire lives and just trust “kings bro gnar gnar”

[@ShockSurplus]

They have very different business models but Fox's attention to detail is definitely very noticeable. A lot people talk about King customer service, but nobody talks about their 90 day warranty compared to the year you get with Fox vehicle specific shocks.

[@DEEDSGARAGE]

Why do some kings extend on thier own and some don't

[@ShockSurplus]

Most kings should, maybe not emulsion shocks, which are very niche. If the shock has a decent nitrogen charge, then they should extend on their own

[@808kman]

"eventually you can't smell your own farts"........LOL

[@ShockSurplus]

😂😂😂

[@trdrockwarrior_sport4432]

What you are saying it would be more believable if you had a fox piston my friend

[@ShockSurplus]

We do run Fox on a couple of our vehicle like Jeff's 2015 Tacoma with a custom Fox 2.5 DSC all around.

[@gscomLB]

Mine won't turn ?

[@ShockSurplus]

What part is not turning?

[@gscomLB]

@@ShockSurplus the red knobs

[@ShockSurplus]

Lots of times debris gets under the knobs so try backing off the knob, cleaning everything out and put it back on

[@pierstonsalinas940]

Mega brain

[@ShockSurplus]

thanks friend

[@BrinkleyMonchunski]

Cost for 2.5 coilovers rebuild (King)?

[@ShockSurplus]

You can see them here: www.shocksurplus.com/pages/shock-service

[@fotomotoxxiii]

I regret getting them.

[@ShockSurplus]

Say more

[@fotomotoxxiii]

@Shock Surplus they were for a 3rd gen 4runner. I got 2.5 front coilovers and 2.5 rear shocks. They're too stiff. I had bilstein 5100s prior and went with king to make it more fun in the desert and they're much stiffer than need be I feel. 600lb front springs. I have bumpers and sliders and roof rack so I do have the right weight for them. I just expected more for the $$

[@bschuske]

More holes mean's nothing. If your argument is that more flow is better then 4 large wholes is better than 6 small holes. This video is pure speculation based on no math or any other logical data

[@ShockSurplus]

We actually have videos of dyno charts comparing Fox and King soon, with flow data and the works, but this video was intended to be more simple and palatable to the average person to answer our most frequently asked questions. If you are interested in getting into the nitty gritty on that front, then that video will be for you, but this was just meant to be a simple explanation for the average buyer.

[@bschuske]

@@ShockSurplus Nice, I look forward to checking those videos out. I currently have fox 2.5 DSC but that wasn’t because I thought Fox was better. I got my suspension during Covid and King was experiencing mfg delays and I couldn’t get it if I wanted. But I will say that I didn’t think one was better than the other, however, that was based on no math or other logical data either;) I will be interested to see how they stack up. I will say I love my Fox. The difference from stock is off the charts here in the CA desserts. I look forward to seeing your video.

[@ShockSurplus]

Yea we definitely do not think Fox or King are better than the other either. Different strokes or shocks for different folks as they say. We personally prefer the Fox since they are firmer and more supportive on our own rigs, but we know plenty of people who prefer something soft or cushy like the Kings. A higher flow piston does not mean it is necessarily better, especially when you are leaving potential dampening force on the table, but it does mean more free bleed through the piston which almost always equates to small bump sensitivity. You definitely will be surprised by the dyno graphs, especially the Fox.

[@poke777890]

If kings changed the color they would sell more products. Blue just looks ugly in a shock

[@ShockSurplus]

Color is very subjective but King has no issues pushing their products as Blue. However you can also have them custom make any color you would like as well for an additional fees.