SmokingRocks
hopelessly addicted to Cruisers
I'm saving up for a set. Need to replace my OEM L's that are beat up and ride rough.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
That's great!!UPDATE: just got back from the first trail ride. About 80 miles on dirt fireroads and some slightly choppier dirt trails, in slushy, mud and snow, and about 200 on the highway, and 80 miles on twisty back country roads. Fully packed out with two kids, food water, gear, etc.
Initial impressions from above hold true, only its better. Off road there was nothing remarkable to say, the rig just felt planted and confident. The ride was not jarring, there was zero fade, hitting the unexpected rut or bump at speed was absorbed well and did not translate into a shockwave like it did on my old suspension. Ride at highway speed was as good if not better than stock height. I'd like to think that some of the ride quality also has something to do with the @Delta VS arms too. Twisty mountain roads were actually fun vs a nail biter. The rig stayed pretty level in turns, I didn't notice any wallowing or dive. I think Dobinsons nailed this kit. Happy camper here.
Still waiting on an ETA from production. No date at this point unfortunately@crikeymike
What’s the status of getting IMS59-60683 front shocks back in stock?
The springs won’t settle enough to make a difference. I run the same springs 4 years now with 1” front and 30mm rear spacers on top. Needed new shocks recently and would have gone with the IMS but with my spacers I was running the Dobinson yellow 6” shocks up front to take advantage of that long spring. I ended up buying Ironman foam cell pro shocks because Dobinson won’t make the IMS in a 6” version and Ironman does. So far I’m satisfied with the new shocks.I had the 3" tapered coils and IMS shocks for the rear but 3" flexicoils and Fox shocks for the front. Yesterday, I replaced the front springs with 3.5" tapered and IMS shocks to match all around and took the truck out last night for some testing. Thanks @crikeymike
Moving from 3" flexi to 3.5" tapered resulted in a 1.5" lift (or more) up front. This in turn screwed up my perfect caster and caused the steering to be a bit vague on road. I'm hoping that the springs settle and bring the caster back closer to 3*. If not, then I'll look at modifying the radius arm mounts on the frame for correction.
While the steering is a bit vague, the vehicle felt more planted with less side to side roll on the street. I could tell that it was more of the front providing this effect since the rear was tight before but now felt a bit looser. On road, the truck was just as smooth as the flexicoils but settled quicker after small bumps. The extra control from the tapered coils and IMS shocks is very subtle and gives more confidence in the ride but there's no doubt it still feels like a lifted truck.
My test road is a unfinished gravel section of road about 3/4 mile long with some nasty corrugations and sweeping turns. Last night I hit this section of road at 45mph and the effect of the new coils and shocks was immediately apparent. The ride was quiet, softer, and smoother. Everything about the vehicle felt damped. The road descends down into a low section and then climbs back up with corrugations and sweeping turns. With flexi and Fox, I reached the grip limit of the tires quicker and drifted around the corner. Corrugations caused the truck to jump and bounce on the edge of control. With the new suspension, grip limit increased every so slightly but the corrugations disappeared. I was blown away at how good the IMS shocks handled this. Typically I slow down to maintain control however this time I kept pushing to go faster. I was being a bit too reckless and did ultimately have to back off.
This was an expensive upgrade for me. $1800 in springs and shocks. I was hoping that the ride height would be closer to 3.5" front and 3" rear but I am very pleased with the ride.
I've had three different suspension setups:
3.5" Frankies offroad with Bilstein yellow shocks (came with the truck) - While the Frankies front coils are very good, the linear rear coils were way too soft. I bounced off the bump stops every time I was offroad. The Bilsteins were completely blown out.
3" Flexi front/4" Flexi rear with Fox shocks ($1000) - A very good budget setup for a light Cruiser. Doesn't handle weight well but a lot of suspension for the money. I put 4" springs in the rear for camp gear. Empty the truck did great, with people and gear it wallowed on road and off road.
3.5" Tapered front/3" Tapered rear with Dobinson IMS shocks ($1800) - Very impressed but need a variety of conditions to really test them.
TL;DR - Tapered coils and IMS shocks are really good.
I like to have 50% up travel and 50% down travel. My rear shocks are perfect however my front shocks have a lot of shaft exposed. My up travel on the front is 6" or 7" but down travel is much less. I was considering a shock extension but will take some measurements and do some research before I commit.The springs won’t settle enough to make a difference. I run the same springs 4 years now with 1” front and 30mm rear spacers on top. Needed new shocks recently and would have gone with the IMS but with my spacers I was running the Dobinson yellow 6” shocks up front to take advantage of that long spring. I ended up buying Ironman foam cell pro shocks because Dobinson won’t make the IMS in a 6” version and Ironman does. So far I’m satisfied with the new shocks.
You need longer shocks. With the front set up I mentioned before and 6” lift shocks up front, I have 7” up and 5” down travel. Even with Delta arms 5” down is enough.I like to have 50% up travel and 50% down travel. My rear shocks are perfect however my front shocks have a lot of shaft exposed. My up travel on the front is 6" or 7" but down travel is much less. I was considering a shock extension but will take some measurements and do some research before I commit.
They're getting made!!Bring on the 6” IMS shocks...
Too late! I’m on Ironman FCP now. 6” front 4” rear. Happy so far. ThanksThey're getting made!!
Dobinsons has announced they're going through production, so I've just added the specs and details to the first post of this thread, and added them up on the website to take advance orders for them. Still waiting on an ETA, probably 2+ months out still.
Front for 6" of lift: IMS59-60684 - 728mm extended, 420mm compressed - Dobinsons IMS59-60684 IFP Front Shocks for 80 Series (6" lift)
Rear for 6" of lift: IMS59-60685 - 730mm extended, 432mm compressed - Dobinsons IMS59-60685 IFP Rear Shocks for 80 Series (6" lift)
Yeah, but since you asked me 50 times about them, I figured you should be the first to know!!Too late! I’m on Ironman FCP now. 6” front 4” rear. Happy so far. Thanks
I agree with you ……Yeah, but since you asked me 50 times about them, I figured you should be the first to know!!