King 3.0 or BP-51

[Milaad]

Need some advice. I am running OME suspension currently and want to go a little higher. My primary goal is to do the suspension once more with the best equipment and be done. I have two criteria that I want to be met. (1) I want the absolute most comfortable ride, I rarely Offroad but drive my truck daily and use it for long family road trips and want the ride to be butter. (2) something that will last forever without needing to be rebuilt.

Generally I have found the more expensive something is the better the quality which would make the Kings the natural choice but my concerns are whether the two criteria I have will be met with the kings. I don’t do any high speed Offroad driving that would warrant the need for such sophisticated shocks but if they would provide the most comfortable ride I’m happy to go with them.

In theory the bp-51 seem to check all the boxes but I want to make sure I won’t regret not paying the extra for the Kings.

 

[Mogwai]

Any of the higher end suspensions will need a rebuild, IIRC ~50k mile intervals (includes both the King and BPs). Between the two systems though I'd say the BPs are probably more what you're looking for.

 

[Whiskerz]

I would think the BP would be the better option. There was supposed to be a Bilstein suspension kit coming for the 200 series but as we sit today it is vaporware.

 

[Reckless]

Personally, I'd go kings. Bp51s are much smaller. I have Icons and sometimes wish for kings when slow speed bump handling. Icons are very good for high speed. Coilovers drive like new all the time whereas springs/shocks start feeling old after awhile. Coilovers can last longer than 50k esp when not abusing them.

 

[bloc]

Plus, road miles will be a whole lot easier on them than off-road, in terms of forces and contamination.

Still, it’s hard to beat OEM with regard to life expectancy until failure.

 

[ohsix]

I have BP-51s and I would go with something else. I don't like the way they handle small bumps and I feel like they need more rebound dampening.

 

[Gazziza]

King's. Watch the video starting at 12:20

 

[Yeti White]

Kings! I have the 2.5 and love them. The 3.0 might be overkill if you rarely off-road, although if they were available when I purchased mine, I probably would have gone that route. Also- both options are great....you will be happy either way.

 

[drftsub]

While I dont have a 200 yet, I can say that in every other comparison I have done I would go with Kings (and run them on my current rig). Order from a reputable source (Filthy , Downsouth Motorsports, etc) and make sure they are aware of what your driving style / surfaces are. They can tune the internal valving for you to get as close to ideal as possible, the adjuster will make the final adjustments on the fly assuming you get that (I think standard on the race 3.0's) .

 

[AnthonyLC]

The King's 2.5 is the comparison to the BP-51 in the $2500 range. The King's 3.0 are $6000 (requires upper control arms) and is spec'd as a full race shock / hours of continuous off-road at high speed. If budget is no concern then King's 3.0. Since you're considering going with a race shock I would reach out to the vendor and tell them exactly what you want, "butter". You can request custom valving. Another very important consideration is the spring rate.

 

[Milaad]

Thanks all! I think I will be going with the Kings. My initial hesitation was that I would need to rebuild often and that they would be more geared for high speed Offroad driving but it appears as though I can adjust them to how id like.

Since you have all been so awesome, anyone know of a good exhaust for the 200 series LC?

 

[DasKeyserSoze]

are you able to keep KDSS with 3.0s?

 

[Forrest Murphy]

I have run both on the 200- I have 2.5 Kings- Love them.

 

[Union]

If you run with the Kings and want to spend that money, I'd work with them on custom valving based on the terrain/speed you'll be covering. Same goes for the spring rate. Good luck!

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Kings, without a doubt.

 

[hickuptruck]

Is this a serious post? You don't off-road, but want the comfiest ride and want.....Kings?

Kings nor BP51s are comfy on the road. I am telling you. Between the spherical bearings and the poly shock bushings, you will feel it more in the cab, and small bumps on the road will be transmitted more into the cab. Street use can be downright jarring at times..

Kings and these high end coilovers, wear out faster. So 30-50k miles, you will have to send them in for a rebuild, meaning down time on your rig.

Like Porsches or performance vehicles, you don't put track coilovers for a street ride.

 

[Union]

Yea I retract my previous statement. Since you rarely offroad and don't do any fast stuff I'd get neither. Maybe stay with ome with a different spring or go with ironman?

 

[drftsub]

Like Porsches or performance vehicles, you don't put track coilovers for a street ride.

Eh.. while I get what you are saying here, I think the more accurate statement is "You dont put track configured coilovers on your street ride" . Valved and sprung for the correct use, a high quality coilover will outperform a lesser unit on the street all day. I have done this on many a personal vehicle and have ran a high end (Ferrari, Porsche, etc) performance shop as well as a few different Motorsports shops in my time that have done the same.

That said, you will probably be leaving some ability on the table and certainly will not use Kings to their full potential being a primary street rig, yes they will need a rebuild eventually but not outside of what the replacement life span would be on many shocks anyway.

I DO feel that the original requirement of "do the suspension once more with the best equipment and be done" Kings are it. Servicing components shouldn't be a deal breaker in this scenario, and with street only use I would suspect they will have a much longer service life between rebuilds than suggested, but nobody will know that for sure.

Just my $.02

 

[nwfl4runner]

I’d call filthy or downsouth before you go 3.0 over 2.5 or decide to buy stock Kings. Talk to them about valving and springs depending on use/load. 3.0 are massive - can’t see any reason to buy them other than to stimulate the economy.

Evaluate your actual uses, and go from there. If 90% of the time is around town, I’d wager you’ll be displeased if you bought suspension for the 10%. Proper valving can make a HUGE difference and filthy or downsouth can help with that.

if you’re itching for the best do it. Just recognize that around town you’ll probably be underwhelmed or, at worst, disappointed. My 4runner is on 35s, Kings all around (coils, bypasses, bumps), and it’s like riding an Amish wagon on a brick road. Speed is another story, which is its purpose. I knew that, and accepted it. Just be prepared to do the same.

 

[Milaad]

Good points hickuptruck. I do offroading once or twice a year. But mostly my daily. Great analogy about the Porsche’s. I think I’m mostly interested in being able to adjust the rebound and compression to see how that works with a large piston. These aren’t offered in any of the other kits I have seen. Also, anything else than a coilover won’t give me the adjustability I want to have the car sit level since I have a bunch if additional weight on the car (roof rack, drawers, fridge, rock sliders, awning, front bumper etc.). I have OME already and have always done the intermediate step just to find I should have done the right thing in the first place. I assume the King’s would be the best of the higher end shocks (Fox, bp, icon). If you can give me your opinion on whether king 3.0 would be better than fox,bp-51 or icon that would be appreciated.