Which Dobinson Lift Springs (2.5 Linear, 3.0 linear, 3.0 flexi)

[BigSh00ts]

Hey guys - I may be keeping my 80 series instead of selling it, and have decided on 35s (got a good deal on a set thanks to a mud member).

Anyhow, i'm pretty set on a Dobinson lift because 1) they get great reviews and 2) they are local to me (about 30 min drive).

So, on their website, they list a "1.75 to 2.5 inch" kit, and a "3.0 inch" kit, and within the 3.0" kit, they have linear and progressive rate. Each going up slightly in price. This will be mostly an adventure and travel/camping rig, and my daily driver. Just curious what you guys would choose and why.

 

[Delta VS]

Definitely recommend variable/progressive springs, 100%. Having that little bit of softer spring to deal with makes the ride much more enjoyable. Don't forget to spend as much money on shocks as you can as well, since those are what really make a noticeable difference in ride quality and handling. Their new IMS shocks seems to be getting great reviews, and are quite cost effective.

 

[BigSh00ts]

Definitely recommend variable/progressive springs, 100%. Having that little bit of softer spring to deal with makes the ride much more enjoyable. Don't forget to spend as much money on shocks as you can as well, since those are what really make a noticeable difference in ride quality and handling. Their new IMS shocks seems to be getting great reviews, and are quite cost effective.

Thanks. i'm looking at their more basic kits, but maybe i'll wait and put some cash away instead. my stock suspension is pretty shot, so that's one of the upgrades i was hoping to do sooner.

 

[Delta VS]

Thanks. i'm looking at their more basic kits, but maybe i'll wait and put some cash away instead. my stock suspension is pretty shot, so that's one of the upgrades i was hoping to do sooner.

Well, shocks are certainly plenty easy to add/replace later on down the road.

 

[BigSh00ts]

Well, shocks are certainly plenty easy to add later on down the road.

That's true. i was going to get the kit with springs and shocks, but their basic kit. I may just wait and "spring" for the more expensive kit if the IMS shocks are that much of an improvement.

 

[Delta VS]

That's true. i was going to get the kit with springs and shocks, but their basic kit. I may just wait and "spring" for the more expensive kit if the IMS shocks are that much of an improvement.

IMS will be significant improvement over the gas struts

 

[Delta VS]

BUT, and this is a BIG but, the IMS will need maintenance. You will likely need to rebuild them about the same time you'd want to replace the gas struts. Gas struts are "disposable" shocks, the IMS are rebuildable. IMS/RMA/Icon/King/Fox/ADS/whatever can all be considered "lifetime" shocks, but do require rebuilds.

 

[BigSh00ts]

BUT, and this is a BIG but, the IMS will need maintenance. You will likely need to rebuild them about the same time you'd want to replace the gas struts. Gas struts are "disposable" shocks, the IMS are rebuildable. IMS/RMA/Icon/King/Fox/ADS/whatever can all be considered "lifetime" shocks, but do require rebuilds.

that doesn't seem too bad though, assuming the re-build cost is similar to or lower than the cost of new "disposable" shocks. I don't see that as a downfall.

 

[Delta VS]

that doesn't seem too bad though, assuming the re-build cost is similar to or lower than the cost of new "disposable" shocks. I don't see that as a downfall.

That is correct (not a downfall). I like that much more than just tossing old shocks in the trash. Plus, you can adjust them as the rig changes. How they respond to different weights, etc.

 

[BigSh00ts]

That is correct (not a downfall). I like that much more than just tossing old shocks in the trash. Plus, you can adjust them as the rig changes. How they respond to different weights, etc.

welp... i suppose i'm sold. haha i will put a few more pennies away and get the IMS kit witht he progressive 3" coils.

Any pitfalls to goign 3" over teh 2.5"?

 

[Delta VS]

welp... i suppose i'm sold. haha i will put a few more pennies away and get the IMS kit witht he progressive 3" coils.

Any pitfalls to goign 3" over teh 2.5"?

THAT is a loaded question, and a good one directly for the guys at Dobinsons. Having actual weights of your vehicle and future mods planned are necessary to address how to set up springs. If you don't have access to a scrap yard or something with a big drive on scale that you can get front and rear axle weights separately, just expect to maybe need some little "trim packers" (nylon spring spacers) to get your rig leveled out once the lift is on.

 

[BigSh00ts]

THAT is a loaded question, and a good one directly for the guys at Dobinsons. Having actual weights of your vehicle and future mods planned are necessary to address how to set up springs. If you don't have access to a scrap yard or something with a big drive on scale that you can get front and rear axle weights separately, just expect to maybe need some little "trim packers" (nylon spring spacers) to get your rig leveled out once the lift is on.

fair enough.

 

[tacocat]

welp... i suppose i'm sold. haha i will put a few more pennies away and get the IMS kit witht he progressive 3" coils.

Any pitfalls to goign 3" over teh 2.5"?

Generally speaking, the higher a radius armed rig goes up in height, the amount of corrections or adjustments needed increase.

A stock vehicle can fit 33” tires and can almost fit 35ers.

 

[BigSh00ts]

Generally speaking, the higher a radius armed rig goes up in height, the amount of corrections or adjustments needed increase.

A stock vehicle can fit 33” tires and can almost fit 35ers.

yeah i like a low center of gravity. my philosophy is "as little lift as possible to fit the desired tire size" but in this case, the 2.5 do not (at least that i'm aware) come in progressive rate, which would mean that i wouldn't be able to follow Delta VS advice unless i went with a 3" lift.

 

[lumbee1]

I didn't read the other responses.

Definitely progressives, either flexi or tapered. Light Cruiser then go with Flexicoils. Medium to heavy, then go with tapered. I have Flexi in the front and tapered in the rear. I previously had Flexi in the rear but a 4x4 labs rear bumper, spare tire, kids, dogs, and fridge was too much for the Flexicoils. Eventually I will install IMS shocks and tapered springs in the front but the Fox and Flexi are fine for the front right now.

In addition, Dobinson specs their springs WITH weight added. A 3" flexi assumes some weight. A tapered coil in a very light Cruiser will ride very high and will lift 5" or higher.

BTW, skip linear.

 

[BigSh00ts]

I didn't read the other responses.

Definitely progressives, either flexi or tapered. Light Cruiser then go with Flexicoils. Medium to heavy, then go with tapered. I have Flexi in the front and tapered in the rear. I previously had Flexi in the rear but a 4x4 labs rear bumper, spare tire, kids, dogs, and fridge was too much for the Flexicoils. Eventually I will install IMS shocks and tapered springs in the front but the Fox and Flexi are fine for the front right now.

In addition, Dobinson specs their springs WITH weight added. A 3" flexi assumes some weight. A tapered coil in a very light Cruiser will ride very high and will lift 5" or higher.

BTW, skip linear.

oh great to know! thanks. i really don't want much lift at all, just want to fit the 35s, but yeah their smallest progressive spring is the 3" flexi. I'll have to peruse their website again as i don't remember seeing tapered options.

 

[Delta VS]

The C97-146/7vt springs are really nice and will keep you fairly low.

 

[BigSh00ts]

The C97-146/7vt springs are really nice and will keep you fairly low.

interesting that they're lower in the back. is that to level out the rig?

 

[sxp]

I currently am running C59-170's and C56-185's for coils with their yellow shocks. The setup rides nicely. They are marketed as 3" lift coils (plus 220 lbs extra weight), but I am higher than that. The higher you go, the more mods you will need to do. I have an adjustable front panhard with Delta 4" arms. Out back, I have a Delta lift bracket and OME upper adjustable control arms. I also needed front sway bar drop brackets (no sway bar out back), and lspv lift kit. My front driveshaft is janky (angles are off), and will need something done about it at some point soon.

I replaced a worn out OME coil kit with Fox shocks. The Fox shocks were no longer rebuildable after being exposed to beach and winter salt. With the addition of a Marlin hd steer kit, the truck drives like it was brand new.

 

[BigSh00ts]

I currently am running C59-170's and C56-185's for coils with their yellow shocks. The setup rides nicely. They are marketed as 3" lift coils (plus 220 lbs extra weight), but I am higher than that. The higher you go, the more mods you will need to do. I have an adjustable front panhard with Delta 4" arms. Out back, I have a Delta lift bracket and OME upper adjustable control arms. I also needed front sway bar drop brackets (no sway bar out back), and lspv lift kit. My front driveshaft is janky (angles are off), and will need something done about it at some point soon.

I replaced a worn out OME coil kit with Fox shocks. The Fox shocks were no longer rebuildable after being exposed to beach and winter salt. With the addition of a Marlin hd steer kit, the truck drives like it was brand new.

Yeah I'd like to avoid having to do too much correction to the geometry so I don't know that I want to do that big a lift. I really just want to fit 35s. I'll contact them back and see what they say.