who hates the stocks raptor suspensions

[Maxx2893]

They incorporate a lot of design features that make the shock ride incredible well on the street, while also performing incredible off road. The front shocks in particular really blow me away! You simply CAN NOT bottom these babies out, causing the old skid plate smash that I was so accustom to with my stock shocks, or even a few trucks I've been in with Fox's or Kings... The internal hydraulic bump really works well, it's amazing. They're easier to adjust... they're SILENT (you don't hear the bypass valves).

On top of that, their customer service has been above and beyond anything you will EVER get from King... and that is an undisputed fact. The guys are active on the forums, answer any questions you have, and respond to customer issues and complaints immediately.

Just my opinion... although keep in mind I've been around Raptors that are without a doubt being used and abused harder than any others, and spent seat time in each setup.

Thanks for the feedback. I know Rick put Kings on his street truck. Curious what he has to say about Icon vs. King

 

[RPG]

Remember all shocks are measured by the external diameter of the shock not the internal diameter of the piston. Technically a shock converts kinetic energy into thermal energy. The volume of oil is the same no matter if it’s a King 3.0 vs. Fox 3.0 or Icon 3.0. The dissipation of thermal energy is proportional to the volume of oil.

There is no better test case of internal bypass technology than looking back at both Robby Gordon’s and Ivan Stewart’s earlier trophy trucks from the late 90’s early 2000’s. Those trucks were designed with a confined space in mind that didn't call for a dual shock setup. When the options were weighed, Internal Bypass Technology, even though running a smaller piston than a non-internal bypass, out weighed the cons of using the smaller piston because of the shock tuning capabilities offered. Only until RG changed his truck to a dual shock setup did he switch to an external by-pass setup, much like every setup you see today on unlimited cars. However, the one common theme is he never veered away from bypass technology because of the tuning capabilities that come associated with it. Raptors only have a minimal amount of room to work in up front, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons much like RG and PPI did when those trucks were designed. They were in it to win races, and if a velocity sensitive shock only with a compression adjuster was the answer, they would have gone that route, but they didn’t because there is no substitute as of right now for bypass technology, regardless if it’s an internal or external setup.

Any way you look at it, tuning a velocity sensitive only shock will be less than both a velocity and position sensitive shock. When you simply add a compression adjuster to a velocity sensitive shock, you are chocking off oil volume into the reservoir to achieve a firmer compression feel (think of pinching off a garden hose). Anytime you force shock oil through a narrow chamber you will see shock temps rise, with heat being the major enemy of shock life, hence why you don’t see compression adjusters on off-road race-cars.

Inside of a Fox Internal Bypass setup, you have multiple points through the shock that has ports along the inner sleeve that allows the fluid to flow through and bypass the piston to actually increase damping forces at that point in the stroke without having to choke off fluid flow to the reservoir. Because the shock is a bypass, you get a much better ride in the slow speed wash board/ daily driving type of situation than you ever will with a velocity sensitive only style shock. Without bypass technology you simply cannot achieve these same results. As everyone knows, off-roading isn’t just series of 90mph whoop sections, but rather a multi terrain environment that calls for different damping forces for different sections, hence why race cars run bypass setups on their race vehicles. With Fox’s patented Internal Bypass Technology, you will be able have a shock setup on your personal Raptor that is closely related to some of the most successful race trucks the SCORE series has ever seen.

Long story short, I will put our setup against anyone’s any day of the week. The shock is powerful when it needs to be, yet subtitle and comfortable when you are on the road or just cruising in the slow speed stuff.

 

[Humvee21]

Remember all shocks are measured by the external diameter of the shock not the internal diameter of the piston. Technically a shock converts kinetic energy into thermal energy. The volume of oil is the same no matter if it’s a King 3.0 vs. Fox 3.0 or Icon 3.0. The dissipation of thermal energy is proportional to the volume of oil.

There is no better test case of internal bypass technology than looking back at both Robby Gordon’s and Ivan Stewart’s earlier trophy trucks from the late 90’s early 2000’s. Those trucks were designed with a confined space in mind that didn't call for a dual shock setup. When the options were weighed, Internal Bypass Technology, even though running a smaller piston than a non-internal bypass, out weighed the cons of using the smaller piston because of the shock tuning capabilities offered. Only until RG changed his truck to a dual shock setup did he switch to an external by-pass setup, much like every setup you see today on unlimited cars. However, the one common theme is he never veered away from bypass technology because of the tuning capabilities that come associated with it. Raptors only have a minimal amount of room to work in up front, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons much like RG and PPI did when those trucks were designed. They were in it to win races, and if a velocity sensitive shock only with a compression adjuster was the answer, they would have gone that route, but they didn’t because there is no substitute as of right now for bypass technology, regardless if it’s an internal or external setup.

Any way you look at it, tuning a velocity sensitive only shock will be less than both a velocity and position sensitive shock. When you simply add a compression adjuster to a velocity sensitive shock, you are chocking off oil volume into the reservoir to achieve a firmer compression feel (think of pinching off a garden hose). Anytime you force shock oil through a narrow chamber you will see shock temps rise, with heat being the major enemy of shock life, hence why you don’t see compression adjusters on off-road race-cars.

Inside of a Fox Internal Bypass setup, you have multiple points through the shock that has ports along the inner sleeve that allows the fluid to flow through and bypass the piston to actually increase damping forces at that point in the stroke without having to choke off fluid flow to the reservoir. Because the shock is a bypass, you get a much better ride in the slow speed wash board/ daily driving type of situation than you ever will with a velocity sensitive only style shock. Without bypass technology you simply cannot achieve these same results. As everyone knows, off-roading isn’t just series of 90mph whoop sections, but rather a multi terrain environment that calls for different damping forces for different sections, hence why race cars run bypass setups on their race vehicles. With Fox’s patented Internal Bypass Technology, you will be able have a shock setup on your personal Raptor that is closely related to some of the most successful race trucks the SCORE series has ever seen.

Long story short, I will put our setup against anyone’s any day of the week. The shock is powerful when it needs to be, yet subtitle and comfortable when you are on the road or just cruising in the slow speed stuff.

I don't understand!!!

 

[RPG]

I don't understand!!!

Ok, how can we help?

 

[Humvee21]

Ok, how can we help?

I appreciate you offering help but I just don't know enough about these things to understand. I will keep quiet ...

 

[BigJ]

I appreciate you offering help but I just don't know enough about these things to understand. I will keep quiet ...

Hum, you're among friends. Nobody's gonna make you feel bad for trying to learn. Truth is if you are confused or have a question, there are probably 10 others who are just as confused but who don't bother to ask.

So fire away! If I can help, I will. If not, someone else certainly will. Its not often you get manufacturers like Icon, King or Fox and/or their reps in the same room... even if it is a virtual one

 

[Maxx2893]

Exactly first off do you know how our stock shocks actually dampen? There's oil in there. As the shock compresses, it pushes the oil thru little valves in the side. As the compresses, the piston will pass valves. When it passes the valves oil can not flow thru it anymore, making the shock stiffer. So at the bottom the shock is much easier to compress then at the top.

This is my very basic understanding of bypass shocks. Some of these other members can help you with more.

 

[BigJ]

Here's a pretty good shock fundamentals video. Its a little heavy on the marketing but Hum, watch this and make sure it makes sense. If it doesn't ask questions. If it does, we can then start talking about the more advanced stuff that makes an Icon and Icon, a Fox a Fox, a King a King etc.

 

[Nimrod]

Hate is a pretty strong word for the stock suspension. It's only a few thousand more than an FX4 F-150 but light years ahead in suspension.

True it's not a prerunner but for a factory warranted truck they are pretty dang cool!

 

[dataustin]

I think Humvee was being sarcastic....