The FRF Shock Shootout! All pre event details and discussion here

[ktm505sx]

are the icons 3.0 the most expensive suspension for the raptor right now?

 

[Blind1]

Definitely following. Glad to hear Icon has signed up; hopefully the other competitors will follow suit. Good Luck!

 

[Maxx2893]

In the interest of simplifying this, I think stock leafs only.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

Right Greg. When I say "test" I mean 6 total runs (or more depending) per setup. 2 per driver skill level, at least.

I'm guessing 1 hour seat time per setup. So that's 3 hours per setup for all three skill sets.

9 setups * 3 hours seat time per setup = 27 hours total seat time
2 hours average per setup install (how long does it take to swap springs? An hour?) * 8 installs = 16 shop hours.

27 + 16 = 43hours. That's 3 or 4 days.

And that's just the parts we've already been promised. Add another 11 hours for each new shock setup we take in.

I think a line has to be drawn in the sand, that's a lot of testing and a lot of scenarios. I would take the stock leafs out. I really, really doubt anyone spending $5k on shocks is going to use them on stock leafs, even though Arron said he was thinking about it, I still think aftermarket rear leafs should be used. Especially since the leafs are not that expensive to purchase, especially if you package them with a bumpstop kit. The "average" demo of the Raptor owner that is going to spend the $ on 3.0s will also spend the little extra for new leafs/bumpstop kit.

One of the sayings i live by is "manage to the rule, not the exception". I think we need to put that into play at some point, otherwise the testing is going to get unmanageable. Because we can add in the SDHQ rear LT set-up too, that JakeY is running, and i'm sure a few others. Its not the rule, but it's an exception.

 

[ntm]

Ditch the stock springs. Very few people will be running stock springs along with bumps, 3.0" etc.
Only exception might be the icon 2.5", folks would use those on an otherwise stock truck.
And I would consider the nationals and deavers to be one in the same as long as their both close to the same arch (+2,+3, etc.)
All for the sake of being practical. 2 days of total testing is likely going to be the limit, no ?

 

[BlueSVT]

This is a shock shoot out... Not a setup or spring shoot out. The stock springs will still work well to feel the differences between shocks.

Getting waayyyyy too complicated.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

This is a shock shoot out... Not a setup or spring shoot out. The stock springs will still work well to feel the differences between shocks.

Getting waayyyyy too complicated.

Agreed on this point too, my point was exactly this. Lets keep it simple.

 

[Hockster]

Well, I am using all stock springs with upgraded shocks. I do plan on changing the halfshafts, upper control arms and tie rods at a later date but, I want the stock springs... If I can get great performance with just the shocks and not have to spend more for springs then thats what I am going to do. From what I hear these shocks really cut down the axle wrap. The snoball trip I will find out just how much they are helping and make my final decision from there.,

 

[pat'sRAPTOR]

yea J i would keep it simple and do stock leafs and if its a must do just one aftermarket leaf deaver or national. im showing my lack of knowledge here and saying that the two companies leafs cant really be that much different to have to test them separate right?? ive been wrong a few times today haha but to do a stock leaf spring and an aftermarker spring (deaver or national) would cut down the time a little

 

[pirate air]

Interesting idea! How dependent do you think that's going to be on the driver though, verses the shock performance itself? Seems like the numbers will be off by a lot even if the driver's only off by a few mph over the same obstacle?

The accelerometer would reinforce what the driver is feeling in the seat of their pants with measurable and comparable data. The whole driving test is going to be driver dependent and to me that fact brings a huge flaw to the test. What's the constant variable in this? Shouldn't speed be regulated as well as the course? Speed would be adjusted based off driver ability? I don't mean this against the drivers because we're only human and I doubt anyone doing the test driving is a professional driver or has done a whole lot of test driving like this before.

So, first day driver A steps up to the plate. There's probably going to be some nerves and adrenalin flowing as they prepare for sensory overload, mean while with a camera stuck in their face that they're possibly supposed to speak into about what their feeling. Priority should be on driving and not wrecking but you're asking them to do several things at once while not really focusing 100% on anything. So by the second, third, fourth, (whatever last day), day the nerves and adrenalin lessen and comfort level is raised because they know what to expect and in turn it may affect how their body is feeling things.

And what about the driving? Especially the novice driver? Practice makes perfect and with that comes speed. By the last day the driver may feel "y" set up is "fastest" but was it the shock set up that was fast or the fact that you're getting better at driving down the same course day after day? You're going to learn the course, know when to start braking, when to slide, when to accelerate, smoother steering wheel inputs, etc, and in turn gain speed (mph) which may or may not favor the results of the shock being tested. So, should speed be regulated? IMO yes, as well as the course driven should be replicated as humanly possible to give each shock a fair chance. Will some type of measuring instrument like an accelerometer aid in giving feed back on what the driver is feeling without forcing the driver to lose concentration devoted on trying to maintain control? I think so...