To slinky or not to slinky......that is the question

[dogfishlake]

I have spent so much time on this subject (overthinking it really), without decision, that I am reaching out to you all more experienced than I wheelers, and suspension gurus, for help.
I am hoping to buy a set of ICON 2.5 shocks with the cdc (compression dampening control) valve. That part I am pretty solid on. Choosing to stay with the springs I have or buying the slinky coils from Red Line is where my problem is. It is not that I don't want to buy them, it's just a matter of controlling the cost of this (for now at least). If I stay with my springs, the shorter ICON shocks match up well - about the same length as my current L shocks, 26.5" or so. If I go with the slinkys, I would need the longer ICON shocks, which are around 1.5" longer or about 28" extended.

Does anyone have an opinion on how much I'd be giving up just staying with the shorter travel suspension? I have what is pretty much a 3.5" lift. I think the difference would be mostly in droop.
Could I go with the longer ICON shocks and keep my springs and somehow retain the springs (cobble) until the time and $ comes to switch to the slinkys? This would be great but seems unlikely to work.
Should I sell a kidney and get both the longer shocks and slinky coils?

Everything else in my lift if done (bump stops, caster correction, sway bar drops, etc.), so it really just boils down to shocks and coils, and I like the ride I have now spring wise, the coils being FOR series 1; I just have less travel.

Thanks for any input I can get. I need to get off this fence!!

 

[GW Nugget]

Did you ever find out what your free height of those FOR front coils are?
Just for reference a 850J is very close to 20.25" & the Slinky front is 24".

 

[thatcabledude]

If it helps you any, I am interested in buying your FOR springs provided you get off the fence and buy the Slinkies.

 

[dogfishlake]

Did you ever find out what your free height of those FOR front coils are?
Just for reference a 850J is very close to 20.25" & the Slinky front is 24".

My fronts are right around 20" maybe a bit more, I measured those when it was up in the air and I could wiggle the coils but not pull them out. Rears are 19.5 ", I pulled those out pretty easy when I had the truck in the air to paint the rear end.
In a nutshell, the slinky has a lot more travel but don't know if I need it.

 

[dogfishlake]

If it helps you any, I am interested in buying your FOR springs provided you get off the fence and buy the Slinkies.

Duly noted, thanks!

 

[GW Nugget]

Only my opinion, but if you are currently happy with your FOR coils then keep them.

 

[dogfishlake]

Only my opinion, but if you are currently happy with your FOR coils then keep them.

I'm all for hearing opinions. Yes, I really like the springs I currently have, i just wonder what im leaving on the table not including the extra flex the Slinkys offer. Staying with my springs means shorter shocks and pretty much ends slinkys in the future because i doubt the resale on my shorter ICONs would be that great.
Again, I'm probably worrying about it too much because my use is more baja style than rock crawl, although there will be some crawling.

 

[Tapage]

To me the important question you need to ask ( yourself ) is ..

I'm happy with my actual lift / suspension height ..?

If so ... buy shocks ( not an small $$$$$ ) accordingly ..

If not whereas you want to go up or lower .. buy shocks accordingly ..

 

[baldilocks]

I grew up in Michigan and my opinion, mixed with the actual experience of living the fist 19 years of my life there, is that you already have more suspension than you will need for where you live. The icon shocks would make the ride more plush no doubt. I've never heard a bad thing said about the springs you currently run. Add lockers and you are golden.
One question that has crossed my mind a few times is: How far can stock 80 suspension components travel in comparison to the Slinky coil? Is the Slinky over kill for stock suspension parts?

 

[pkelly72]

Timely thread. Wondering the same.

 

[1973Guppie]

Here's my opinion. Take it or leave it. I really don't get spending such large amounts of $$ on the suspension on these rigs. I guess it comes down to how you are really going to use the truck. Most of us are not desert racing for hours on end and need remote reservoir shocks. I am not convinced that the slinky setup will really give all that much more of flex and travel, from what I have read a few inches. So for me when I look at the expense compared to the standard OME setup and shocks I just don't see the expense being worth it. I am really happy so far with my OME heavy springs and shocks. I personally would rather put that $$ into something like regearing the axles which I will see the benefit almost all the time, on and off road. I just don't see the extra flex being something that will actually be utilized very often for my purpose. Yes I do wheel but most of my time the truck is used exploring dirt roads and family camping trips. Consider whether you are purchasing the object for the "cool" factor OR if the benefits of said object will actually be utilized.

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

Just like gears, good suspension also is something you get to use every time you drive the truck.

Your underselling the whole ideal to think its just about the extra travel.

Having said that, you should also buy what you want, and need, because no use having buyers remorse at the other end, and spending twice to be happy.

I would suggest riding in one, to help you decide, and buy what you really want, what ever that is.

Heres one of our latest customers to post to our facebook, he came from another well known brand into this package.

 

[dogfishlake]

My rig is regeared, supercharged, lockers on 35" tires. Where i wheel is usually very rough trails and large sandy whoops. I can bottom out and slam my suspension against the bumpstops pretty easy, and i'd love to go faster over the terrain. For this stuff, the OME shocks I have pretty much suck. Good shocks would be all I need for this, but I also will use my truck for some crawling type stuff - orv parks and Drummond Island in Michigan, and at least one trip per year west (planning a CO trip for early August now).
I believe the slinky kit is probably the best there is, and if i had nothing but stock I would have already bought it. My dilemma is that what I have is pretty darn good, sans good shocks.
I love the opinions, thanks to all.

 

[dogfishlake]

Is there any way to get by on the longer ICON shocks with my shorter springs (the actual lift is the same) until I can swing buying the slinky coils later? One major flex and what I have now is coming out on its own!

 

[1973Guppie]

Just like gears, good suspension also is something you get to use every time you drive the truck.

Your underselling the whole ideal to think its just about the extra travel.

Having said that, you should also buy what you want, and need, because no use having buyers remorse at the other end, and spending twice to be happy.

I would suggest riding in one, to help you decide, and buy what you really want, what ever that is.

Heres one of our latest customers to post to our facebook, he came from another well known brand into this package.

no disrespect meant, just my thoughts based on my needs, needs may vary, I am sure your product is an excellent one for those with the need......cheers!

 

[Corbet]

You can bolt on the longer shocks but will probably have to limit the up travel to prevent bottoming out the shock unless it has an internal bumpstop that can handle the abuse? Have to do the same anyway with taller springs. I'm currently in the same boat but working with different hardware.

 

[pkelly72]

Silly question but could you use L-shocks or similar with the slinkys and replace later, as necessary?

 

[Qball]

Everyone's opinion and setup is different so it will be wise to ride in a similar weight rig with your desired setup to see if it is good to you. I thought hard about the 3 inch slinky springs but can't pull the trigger because I really like how my TJM spring rides.

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

If you keep your coils captive at the diff end they wont fall out until your ready to do them with the longer shocks would be my suggestion.

The rears need a 1.5" bump spacer, and we have those as a Toyota part No bolt in.

No front bump required for the 12" stroke shocks.

For the sand, these also have the built in bump zone for the last part of the uptravel, to smooth out those landings, especially when you have 12" of stroke to catch it.

Heres a sheet that helps with how that works, as the piston goes past the manifold on the body.

 

[GW Nugget]

@dogfishlake it sounds like you want the Slinky set up but you're just try to justify it. Either way you go I think you will be happy with the Icon 2.5 shocks. It just do you go 26.5" or 28"
You do have an offer to sell the FOR coils, so you can recover some of the cost.

As for coils falling out as long as you retain the coil at the bottom it won't fall out. Some tack weld them some box weld in a retainer... I have just used heavy duty zip ties. My coil drop out by 4" to 5".
Still waiting for my Slinky/Icon set up.