Choosing the Right Suspension - Ironman 4x4 America
How do you know what suspension is right for you?
Like choosing the right tool for the job, getting the correct suspension system for your vehicle is a crucial part of the build process. Different systems have specific applications and understanding these can save you a lot of time, money and frustration.
APPLICATION
In the words of Dr. Phil, "get real." Before shopping around for suspension for your vehicle, you need to consider a few questions. First, what vehicle do you have? Second, what do you want to do with it? Lastly, what kind of weight will you have on your rig? Now for your suspension choice. Remote reservoir, mono-tube, and twin-tube suspension systems all have specific applications that you must consider during the process.
REMOTE RESERVOIR. YOU RALLY BRO?
Remote reservoir shocks are very good at what they do; dissipate heat in large travel situations and also racing applications. For the shock to perform correctly, the piston needs to travel large distances, as it does when flying over big whoop sections, and move oil from the shock body to the open-air-mounted reservoir to facilitate cooling. In an overlanding application, the vast majority of piston movement is small frequency, building heat in the shock body.
TWIN-TUBE VS. MONO-TUBE
A mono-tube shock is capable of providing more accurate tuning but much of this accuracy is wasted in road-going 4x4 vehicles. In an off-road or overland application, your suspension has soft body mounts, rubber bushings and you will often be varying the tire pressure. All of these factors add variability which reduces the effectiveness of any fine-tuning you have done to your shock. The Foam Cell Pro's feature a twin-tube design, which emphasizes oil volume, reliability, heat dissipation, and durability.
THICK AND JUICY, DON'T PILATE NOTHIN'
We truly believe the Foam Cell Pro shocks are the best overland suspension application, and we'll tell you why. At nearly 3 inches in diameter, the Foam Cell Pro's feature the largest shock body we could fit inside a coil. Big body = a lot of oil = thick and juicy = great heat dissipation. The foam cell technology prevents the shock from failing if you were to get a puncture in the 1/8 inch exterior wall. The shock is designed with durability in mind down to the eyelet design. The large eyelet allows for a bigger bushing that is better at absorbing high frequency vibrations.
DON'T GET RIPPED OFF
To bring everything full circle, knowing the application and what you want to do with your vehicle is so important when choosing a suspension system. Understanding the different options out there will save you money and frustration. For the durability and value, there isn't a better overland suspension option than the Foam Cell Pro. Plus, the Foam Cell Pro's are backed by our 3-year warranty, helping you stretch out the miles with peace of mind. Check out our youtube channel to learn more and hit like and subscribe to stay up to date on install videos and product reviews!