I’m not sure what the dobs cost I just know bigger shock body is a good thing…
Bilstein 6112 Dilemma on GX470...not as low cost as I thought (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter HomersCanyonero
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- Thread starter
- #22
Bigger shock body holds more fluid and prevents shock fade in washboard situations like desert racing.
I don’t do that, so don’t need racing shocks, but I do like the fronts to be between 2.2” to 2.6”
The 8112s front kit you mentioned is pricey like $1850 for the pair/kit per-assembled with coils and a hat.
The dobinson ims in 2.2” can be purchased individually (just shocks, just coils) or pre- assembled as a kit with hats. So, if the shock fails, you buy the shock rather than be forced to buy a kit like Bilstein 6112s.
Dobinson front kit is like $500 for pair of shocks, $220 for pair of coils, and $100 for pair of hats. Maybe $820 for the kit/pair preassembed.
I don’t do that, so don’t need racing shocks, but I do like the fronts to be between 2.2” to 2.6”
The 8112s front kit you mentioned is pricey like $1850 for the pair/kit per-assembled with coils and a hat.
The dobinson ims in 2.2” can be purchased individually (just shocks, just coils) or pre- assembled as a kit with hats. So, if the shock fails, you buy the shock rather than be forced to buy a kit like Bilstein 6112s.
Dobinson front kit is like $500 for pair of shocks, $220 for pair of coils, and $100 for pair of hats. Maybe $820 for the kit/pair preassembed.
- Thread starter
- #23
This is top end and seems to be more expensive than 2.5” kings
What do you mean? 920
Shipped for a pair. Basic kings are 1500
- Thread starter
- #25
Link? I saw the 8112 kit for like $1900
I was referring to the iron man foam cell pro shocks that are 2.8” diameter.
…post 19, sorry, should have been a single
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I have the Ironman FCP kit and have been very happy with it. Rides and handles great with plenty of articulation. They are heavy, beefy shocks and have been great on lots of different surfaces. Since they arent pressurized they should be less prone to blowing out and can be rebuilt as a diy.
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NMBruce
SILVER Star
I put Ironman foam cells on my 2020 Tacoma, love them. I did have to pull a rear leaf to smooth out the ride
Wheel every weekend on Instagram speaks very highly of the bilstein 8100 series stuff.
Contact Bilstein. As I recall, most of their stuff is lifetime guaranteed.
Not all "coilovers" are the same.
When talking rebuild-ability the shocks made in the USA have support stateside and readily available parts and multiple service shops to do the work, besides just the manufacturer. I have been factory trained by Sway-a-way, ICON in house by their engineers in CA and Ironman 4x4 in Australia to rebuild their one "rebuildable" shock. The Ironman 4x4 Foam Cell Pros have no support stateside for rebuilding (parts or service) that I know of, and due to the all steel construction I doubt they will come apart once used in most typical US states. (Ask @woody if his IM4x4 Foam Cells ever had a rust issue) Due to their low cost it's just cheaper to just buy a new one anyway and probably why I have never seen a rebuild kit offered for them in the US. The Dobinsons, like the Ironman 4x4 product line they are all made in China. The Dobs too I have never seen a rebuild kit for to be offered.
Built in the US:
Bilstein 8100 (The main machine shop the builds most of ICON.....also makes parts for Bilstein)
Fox
KING
ICON
Radflo
Sway-a-way
FOA (used to be the budget line from King, but sold yrs ago)
All are built in the US, most using the same interchangeable seals, ware bands even the pivot bearings a lot of the time are the same. BUT most importantly all of these are fully serviceable including getting replacement parts from the OEMS, like new shafts, rod end, caps etc. The made in China products do offer a lower price point to get into them, just have to weigh how that works in the long run for your truck. A blown out well used set of ICONs still have value to the home rebuilder, easily getting $500-600 for a pair as cores.
Now with all that said, I have a set of OME BP51's on my GX470 and are loving them. We did a test run on them to verify fit for OME for the GX470 and would not hesitate to run them again. However for the $$ and the ROI, I probably would just go with a set of Remote Res. Radflo or ICONs personally. Again over the whole rebuild-ability issue as the BP51s are holding up, not rusting (alum bodies) but guarantee the rebuild for these suckers will be involved, costly and probably a little difficult due to the compression and rebound adjustments built in. Plus never seen a rebuild kit...
When talking rebuild-ability the shocks made in the USA have support stateside and readily available parts and multiple service shops to do the work, besides just the manufacturer. I have been factory trained by Sway-a-way, ICON in house by their engineers in CA and Ironman 4x4 in Australia to rebuild their one "rebuildable" shock. The Ironman 4x4 Foam Cell Pros have no support stateside for rebuilding (parts or service) that I know of, and due to the all steel construction I doubt they will come apart once used in most typical US states. (Ask @woody if his IM4x4 Foam Cells ever had a rust issue) Due to their low cost it's just cheaper to just buy a new one anyway and probably why I have never seen a rebuild kit offered for them in the US. The Dobinsons, like the Ironman 4x4 product line they are all made in China. The Dobs too I have never seen a rebuild kit for to be offered.
Built in the US:
Bilstein 8100 (The main machine shop the builds most of ICON.....also makes parts for Bilstein)
Fox
KING
ICON
Radflo
Sway-a-way
FOA (used to be the budget line from King, but sold yrs ago)
All are built in the US, most using the same interchangeable seals, ware bands even the pivot bearings a lot of the time are the same. BUT most importantly all of these are fully serviceable including getting replacement parts from the OEMS, like new shafts, rod end, caps etc. The made in China products do offer a lower price point to get into them, just have to weigh how that works in the long run for your truck. A blown out well used set of ICONs still have value to the home rebuilder, easily getting $500-600 for a pair as cores.
Now with all that said, I have a set of OME BP51's on my GX470 and are loving them. We did a test run on them to verify fit for OME for the GX470 and would not hesitate to run them again. However for the $$ and the ROI, I probably would just go with a set of Remote Res. Radflo or ICONs personally. Again over the whole rebuild-ability issue as the BP51s are holding up, not rusting (alum bodies) but guarantee the rebuild for these suckers will be involved, costly and probably a little difficult due to the compression and rebound adjustments built in. Plus never seen a rebuild kit...
- Thread starter
- #33
Thanks for the post. In terms of serviceability, the main paint point for us consumers is the downtime in weeks/months and the cost. Assuming the shocks don’t get rusted out or banged up to the point that you can’t open then up.
At current prices in 2021, rebuilding coilovers that were made to be rebuilt cost like $350/pair plus the cost to re-assemble with top hats and re-install on our GXs which can add another $300/pair.
Not all of us can assemble and install the coilovers. I suppose I can buy the coilovers already assembled and install myself, but that’s only saving a couple hundred at most.
Anyways…I keep thinking how easy it was with my basic OMEs in my 80-series. They are 15 years old and 175k miles…LOL. Those were easy to install and replace!
At current prices in 2021, rebuilding coilovers that were made to be rebuilt cost like $350/pair plus the cost to re-assemble with top hats and re-install on our GXs which can add another $300/pair.
Not all of us can assemble and install the coilovers. I suppose I can buy the coilovers already assembled and install myself, but that’s only saving a couple hundred at most.
Anyways…I keep thinking how easy it was with my basic OMEs in my 80-series. They are 15 years old and 175k miles…LOL. Those were easy to install and replace!
- Thread starter
- #34
I wonder why Bilstein doesn’t sell the 6112 shocks individually.
My dilemma wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to spend extra $200 ordering the coilover kit with shocks and coils.
At least sell existing customers whose Bilstein 6112s are leaking a replacement set of just the shocks. Greedy SOBs!
This reason by itself (not being able to just buy the 6112 shocks) is making me want to switch brands.
I want to switch to a brand that sells just the shocks or springs in case of future damage or failure.
My dilemma wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to spend extra $200 ordering the coilover kit with shocks and coils.
At least sell existing customers whose Bilstein 6112s are leaking a replacement set of just the shocks. Greedy SOBs!
This reason by itself (not being able to just buy the 6112 shocks) is making me want to switch brands.
I want to switch to a brand that sells just the shocks or springs in case of future damage or failure.
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Did you ever decide which shocks you were going to get? I'm kind of torn between the Foam cell Pro and Dobinson IMS too.
- Thread starter
- #36
Unfortunately, I stuck with the 6112s and took the opportunity to get the HD 700 lbf/in coils.
They’ve been working great and just a tad stiff because no extra weight up front. I have a good 6112 shock as a spare (the one that wasn’t leaking) and spare 600 lbf/in coils.
I have the Foam Cell Pros and have been really happy with them, but I hear Dobinsons are great too (I'll be helping a buddy install a set of IMS's on his Tundra in the next month or so). FCP's are nice because they are a 2.8" shock and are home-rebuildable. You probably can't go wrong with either option.
I've got 6112 in front w/650 spings (had 700 but was a bit stiff with no front weight) in front and Dobinson IMS rear. I've very pleased with both.
The 6112s have about 45k and have gone through one set of eye bushings. easy enough to replace, but they don't last more than about 20k-30k depending on how hard you use them.
The 6112s have about 45k and have gone through one set of eye bushings. easy enough to replace, but they don't last more than about 20k-30k depending on how hard you use them.
- Thread starter
- #39
My previous set of 6112s lasted about 55k miles and only 1 was leaking. I did wheel them a dozen times in intermediate trails and dirt roads. So, they had some wheeling including several washboard stretches in Death Valley.
Anyways, I think if you can order them with 650 lbf/in coils…that’s the best setup for an empty front.
I just need to add a hidden winch and my 700s will be perfect
Gotcha. I presently am still running my bilstein 5100s with Moog 81108 springs which allegedly are 650 ish lb/in so I am right there too. My current setup isn't bad by any means but upgrades get you looking further and further down the rabbit hole. My only beef is that I still get some brake dive and body roll that I was hoping to have minimized more than I did. I guess I'm spoiled by my Miata and big ole suv's will just have lots of body roll and brake dive no matter what.
I've been leaning more toward Dobinson just due to proximity since they are a few miles away from me.
Either way, I think for the time being I gave up on shock upgrades for now and will enjoy what I have and reassess down the road.
I've been leaning more toward Dobinson just due to proximity since they are a few miles away from me.
Either way, I think for the time being I gave up on shock upgrades for now and will enjoy what I have and reassess down the road.
