Those running Evo 4.5 or 6.5" coil springs: HD or Plush. Your experience?

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

The longest rear fox shocks you can get has a piston travel length of 13in. This translates to a wheel travel of about 18.5+

I may have my nomenclature incorrect, but do you mean travel as in both springs being compressed or extended simultaneously, or articulation where one is getting stuffed and the other is getting drooped?

Sponsored

 

[piroman683]

The shocks are on an angle so there's a positive ratio of the shocks relative to actual wheel travel. For example the shock might travel only 1 inch, but the actual wheel travel could be something like 1.5in for every inch of shock piston travel. This is tricky to properly calculate because the wheels swing along an arc so it's a little more involved.

The springs are a direct 1:1 correlation because the are nearly perfectly vertical. So every inch of comp or ext by the spring results in the same travel as the wheel.

 

[Teqsand]

I have a set of Evo 4.5in HD springs i ordered just in case. I am waiting for a RSI adventure cap now, and i have a DECKED drawer system already installed. I wont be overlanding but i will have a lot of off road/outdoor gear always loaded. Just the canopy and decked system is 387lbs, i have a Rock Krawler 4.5in lift now and just with gear in the decked system lowered my rear 3/4in. I will keep this thread posted on what i find out.

Get your cap yet?

 

[Dickster]

Get your cap yet?

I did in fact get it the cap and installed. It sat the truck down a touch more, with Rock Krawler 4.5in springs it wasn't bad. Those springs are super soft buy smooth as butter. Last weekend i Installed the Evo HD 4.5in springs and right out of the box they are 1in taller than the RK springs. They raised the back up 1 in and got the height back I lost. The ride is definitely stiffer than the RK springs but not horrible. They almost felt really springy on my first drive but after a good trip off road the seem to tone down and produce a nice ride. It's not a soft of a ride as the RK springs but IMO those were too soft for me even empty.

 

[Teqsand]

I did in fact get it the cap and installed. It sat the truck down a touch more, with Rock Krawler 4.5in springs it wasn't bad. Those springs are super soft buy smooth as butter. Last weekend i Installed the Evo HD 4.5in springs and right out of the box they are 1in taller than the RK springs. They raised the back up 1 in and got the height back I lost. The ride is definitely stiffer than the RK springs but not horrible. They almost felt really springy on my first drive but after a good trip off road the seem to tone down and produce a nice ride. It's not a soft of a ride as the RK springs but IMO those were too soft for me even empty.

Thanks....

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

I feel like Goldilocks. Can't find the combo that's "just right."

Hitting decent bumps with 300lb in the bed, I still can't get the rear suspension to utilize the last 3-4" of uptravel.

It may have to come down to custom springs seeing as no one that I've found is advertising single rate rear coils.

I don't think the front end could handle what it would take to get these to compress more than they have.

Evo 4.5 Plush are on their way for the fronts, but it feels like the front/ single rate, rear/ dual rate may be a backwards approach given the weight distribution of the diesel.

For what you say you want @Teqsand I don't think you could do any better than these 4.5" Evo HD rear coil springs. Plenty of spring and a very firm cushion at the bottom.

 

[Chief_jeep]

I feel like Goldilocks. Can't find the combo that's "just right."

Hitting decent bumps with 300lb in the bed, I still can't get the rear suspension to utilize the last 3-4" of uptravel.

It may have to come down to custom springs seeing as no one that I've found is advertising single rate rear coils.

I don't think the front end could handle what it would take to get these to compress more than they have.

Evo 4.5 Plush are on their way for the fronts, but it feels like the front/ single rate, rear/ dual rate may be a backwards approach given the weight distribution of the diesel.

For what you say you want @Teqsand I don't think you could do any better than these 4.5" Evo HD rear coil springs. Plenty of spring and a very firm cushion at the bottom.

how big of a bump and how fast are you going? I’m no suspension expert but I wouldn’t expect to get into the bottom of travel by hitting decent bumps at average speed. What happens when you hit a big bump going fast? You’re going to blow through that travel so fast. Unless you’re running hydraulic bump stops and want to use all your travel frequently.
It could also be the valving on your shocks, not the coil springs.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

how big of a bump and how fast are you going? I’m no suspension expert but I wouldn’t expect to get into the bottom of travel by hitting decent bumps at average speed. What happens when you hit a big bump going fast? You’re going to blow through that travel so fast. Unless you’re running hydraulic bump stops and want to use all your travel frequently.
It could also be the valving on your shocks, not the coil springs.

Testing it out on some jumbo speed bumps with a bed loaded with tools gives a good idea. My current shock setup is temporary and they are not as soft as the factory foxes, but they're not firm either. The Rough Countrys are a decent road shock. For the last 20k+ miles I've had Falcon adjustables and while springs provide a basis whether soft medium or firm, the shocks really determine the ride, especially if you have lighter springs and firmer shocks which is why I run gas springs up front. If I can get the springs through a max available range of travel, then I can tune the ride with the shocks. I had this down well with the other setup but I want more with this and it's basically starting from scratch.
IOW, if I had bottomed out pushing these shocks, there was plenty of room to dial that out with the adjustables and still have a maximum range of travel. Yes there's always a bump here or there that's a little extra and that's what the beefed up bump stops are for.

With the other system, I slowly, gently, and methodically worked my way up to learning its capabilities and limitations and was able to drive it at that level and within its limitations. It was very fun but I wanted a little more out of it and I know the platform is capable of giving it without being overstressed. We're not talking about jumping it or racing in the Baja 500, just running trails with a suspension system that takes the dips bumps turns and whoops so smoothly and controlled that inside it feels like you, the trail and truck are one and riding on a rail. It's a completely different game than crawling up mountains and if the day comes where I run into an IFS guy running out there (cough*Raptor*cough) I want to be ready for him.

 

[piroman683]

I feel like Goldilocks. Can't find the combo that's "just right."

Hitting decent bumps with 300lb in the bed, I still can't get the rear suspension to utilize the last 3-4" of uptravel.

It may have to come down to custom springs seeing as no one that I've found is advertising single rate rear coils.

I don't think the front end could handle what it would take to get these to compress more than they have.

Evo 4.5 Plush are on their way for the fronts, but it feels like the front/ single rate, rear/ dual rate may be a backwards approach given the weight distribution of the diesel.

For what you say you want @Teqsand I don't think you could do any better than these 4.5" Evo HD rear coil springs. Plenty of spring and a very firm cushion at the bottom.

There are no aftermarket springs at that lift height that will enable you to utilize the total shock travel. I've pulled my hair out over this which let me to custom springs. The spring with most travel for available aftermarket are Synergy 3in springs. They allow for enough compression to utilize the full up stroke of the shocks, but you'll never reach full ext without springs falling out

 

[Chief_jeep]

Testing it out on some jumbo speed bumps with a bed loaded with tools gives a good idea. My current shock setup is temporary and they are not as soft as the factory foxes, but they're not firm either. The Rough Countrys are a decent road shock. For the last 20k+ miles I've had Falcon adjustables and while springs provide a basis whether soft medium or firm, the shocks really determine the ride, especially if you have lighter springs and firmer shocks which is why I run gas springs up front. If I can get the springs through a max available range of travel, then I can tune the ride with the shocks. I had this down well with the other setup but I want more with this and it's basically starting from scratch.
IOW, if I had bottomed out pushing these shocks, there was plenty of room to dial that out with the adjustables and still have a maximum range of travel. Yes there's always a bump here or there that's a little extra and that's what the beefed up bump stops are for.

With the other system, I slowly, gently, and methodically worked my way up to learning its capabilities and limitations and was able to drive it at that level and within its limitations. It was very fun but I wanted a little more out of it and I know the platform is capable of giving it without being overstressed. We're not talking about jumping it or racing in the Baja 500, just running trails with a suspension system that takes the dips bumps turns and whoops so smoothly and controlled that inside it feels like you, the trail and truck are one and riding on a rail. It's a completely different game than crawling up mountains and over big rocks.

It sounds like you'd enjoy spending a day with a shock tuner and really getting it dialed in. Maybe even a coilover setup if it's in the budget and you're really trying to use full travel.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

but you'll never reach full ext without springs falling out

Teraflex makes as spring retention kit.

The springs I'm testing in the rear in 2-3 weeks are single rate, 7.5in compressed height, 25.5in free length. (160 and 150 lbs rate)

How is this going?

It sounds like you'd enjoy spending a day with a shock tuner and really getting it dialed in. Maybe even a coilover setup if it's in the budget and you're really trying to use full travel.

I'm happy with my shocks (except for washboards.) It's really a spring issue right now, and coilovers are not in the equation ($$$) though I'm sure they'd fix the problem.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

I have a trail running JTRD with Falcon adjustable shocks and (previously) 3.5" lift and 37" KO2s, now 40" Patagonias.
I don't overland and usually run solo with <200lbs in the bed.

I was happy with the previous setup with the exceptions that:
Washboard roads were rough (I attribute that to digressive shock valving) and the suspension would occasionally bottom out on bigger whoops/ ruts (3.5" Skyjacker gas coil springs.)
Everything in between was superb. The handling on moderate trail runs was incredible with the suspension neither over or under reacting.
There's a fair amount of negative opinions on digressive shock valving (teraflex, icon) but from my experience they really perform when pushed so I'm reluctant to switch.
What I think can be benefited from is a bit more suspension travel (particularly uptravel, previously at 4") and/ or an ever so slightly firmer front coil spring.
Evo is slow to respond (Teraflex was very candid about their coil spring rates) so I'm asking for user experience.

I know what you're thinking and coil overs are not the answer right now. (Likely later tho.)

My choices are 4.5 or 6" springs. Travel is limited to about 10" total per the shocks and I want to make the most of that range.

I am going to throw my opinion in the mix from an off-road perspective with thoughts of a gladiator.

Coilovers in the front are a good idea- the weight stays consistent, therefore when tuning the springs and valving the weight changes are minimal in the front and allow for the suspension to stay in optimal.
The rear- the same thought can apply if you don’t ever change the rear weight. Otherwise I think it’s going to be a matter of change for daily, change for off road (spring weight/compression- not valving).-find a spring height and rating you like with the rear, and get the adjustable shocks tuned for the weight you run the most often. Then as you change weight you can dial up or down as needed when off road.

Adding hydro bumps is a win win upgrade. Can help right now with your current setup and have no negative effect with changing the front to Coilovers and whatever you choose in the

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

-find a spring height and rating you like with the rear, and get the adjustable shocks tuned for the weight you run the most often. Then as you change weight you can dial up or down as needed when off road.

Adding hydro bumps is a win win upgrade. Can help right now with your current setup and have no negative effect with changing the front to Coilovers and whatever you choose in the

Not completely following...
I have adjustable shocks. I'm content with them where it matters most except if I could adjust in the cab. We'll see about that.
Right now, as with piroman, I want more travel from the coils. I think the single rates on their way may fix the front. Coilovers are great but an unaffordable luxury at this point.
Hydraulic bumps- they'd be nice and I can think of a time or two I wish they were there, but I don't push my truck hard enough in the unknown, and getting a good, dialed in full range of travel will put me where I'd like to be. I think...

 

[piroman683]

The fox 2.5s I was running in the front had 11in of travel and I used 100% of the travel with the Clayton front 2.5in single rate springs. (188 lbs/in, 19.375 free length)

 

[Chief_jeep]

Teraflex makes as spring retention kit.


How is this going?



I'm happy with my shocks (except for washboards.) It's really a spring issue right now, and coilovers are not in the equation ($$$) though I'm sure they'd fix the problem.

Interesting. Washboard is basically non existent in my JT. What psi do you run off-road?

Sponsored