New Internal Bypass Shocks From King Off-Road
Bypass shocks are highly coveted in the off-road world. Why? Because adding an external bypass tube to a shock absorber makes it possible to control the flow of shock fluid as a result of piston position. When the shock is compressed and the piston is pushed down past a certain point, shock fluid can flow along more than one path. This means you can have variable shock tuning based on how hard the shocks are working.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ1nNv-cBjk[/youtube]
Check out this set of race bypass shocks from King – too many bypasses to count.
For all of us non-racers, external bypass shocks are desirable because they’re:
- Smooth and relatively soft on the road when the shock isn’t being compressed much
- Off-road, when the shocks really get worked, the external bypass is activated and suddenly the shock is tuned to be much firmer.
With a set of external bypass shocks, your Toyota Tacoma rides great off-road without compromising off-road performance. Of course, there is a downside to external bypass shocks…
External bypass shocks are often too big for stock vehicle suspension systems.
Bypass Disadvantages
If bypass shocks are the answer to a host of tuning problems, then why aren’t they standard across the aftermarket? The answers are:
- External bypass tubes are somewhat bulky, which can interfere with their installation on stock coil spring suspensions. This means that many bypass shocks are sold to be used with after-market coilover kits, which increases the cost of installation fairly significantly.
- They’re expensive!
King Off Road Solves Half Of The Problem
King Shocks has recently come out with a bypass shock absorber called the IBP or Internal Bypass. Instead of an external bypass tube, the King Shocks IBP monotube units make use of a second set of valving inside a billet aluminum chamber that allows for fluid to bypass the shock’s piston. A tapered shaft that juts down into the shock body while it is being compressed controls the flow of the fluid and the design also encompasses a hydraulic bump stop within the shock body itself.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPa1KrbiEZM[/youtube]
Together, the system is designed to allow for maximum off-road performance in an aggressive, race-style suspension setup without compromising on-pavement handling or smoothness. Not only that, but King Shocks claims that the design of the IBP shock absorbers creates endless opportunities for tuning the secondary valving, which is a truly useful attribute for anyone looking to custom valve their shocks for specific terrain or driving conditions. While they haven’t exactly solved the cost issue – if you have to ask how much you probably can’t afford it – these new internal bypass shocks are less expensive than many traditional kits.
King Shocks IBP Shock Absorbers Fit Within Standard Suspension Setups
Finally, and most importantly, King IBP shocks can fit into any existing stock suspension mounting. This is a great benefit for drivers who are working within relatively tight suspension design constraints. If you want want to run a more aggressive shock on your mostly stock Taco, but can’t sacrifice daily driving comfort or spring for exotic suspension kits or relocation hardware, the internal bypass shock might be for you.
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