Skip to content
(619) 722-8555 7am - 4pm PST, M-F

Your cart is empty

Have an account? Log in to check out faster.

Continue shopping

Fox vs King vs Ride - The Great Shock Battle

Comparing Fox shocks, King shocks and Ride shocks.

September 4, 2024

How does the new kid on the block compare to the juggernauts of the suspension industry? Let’s take a deep dive into this subject as we compare each company’s features. 

For this article, we will be comparing shocks from Fox, King and Ride Shocks for the 2005-2023 Toyota Tacoma. 

Fox is one of the biggest names in the off-road suspension world, building shocks for everything from mountain bikes and snowmobiles to UTVs, trophy trucks, and factory-equipped vehicles like the Ford Raptor and Jeep Rubicon.

King Shocks is one of the most recognized names in the off-road industry. Family owned and operated since 1996, every King Shock is 100% designed, manufactured, and assembled in the U.S.A. Their high-performance shocks are trusted by top race teams around the world.

Ride Shocks are designed, engineered, tested & assembled by the Team at AccuTune Offroad in San Diego, California. Although Ride Shocks brings a new name to the suspension industry, it comes with 19+ years of combined experience from a dedicated team of off-road enthusiasts. Learn more about Ride Shocks here.

FRONTS
Fox Shocks Tacoma 2.5″ dia Coilovers, 1-3″ lift

SKU: FOX-883-06-178
Extended Length: 22.42″
Compressed Length: 17.19″
Travel: 5.23″

FRONTS
King Shocks Tacoma 2.5″ dia Coilovers, 0-3″ lift

SKU: KRS-25001-119A-EXT
Extended Length: 22.60″
Compressed Length: 17.30″
Travel: 5.32″

FRONTS
Ride Shocks Tacoma 2.5″ dia Coilovers, 1.5-2″ lift

SKU: 525412389
Extended Length: 22.60″
Compressed Length: 16.60″
Travel: 6.00″

– How Front Coilover Measurements Are Made –

Measuring coilover shocks from Fox, King and Ride Shocks

REARS
Fox Shocks Tacoma 2.5″ dia Shocks, 2-3″ lift

SKU: FOX-883-26-113
Extended Length: 26.00″
Compressed Length: 16.45″
Travel: 9.55″

Please Note: The extended and compressed lengths have been adjusted for accurate comparison between Fox, King, and Ride shocks. Fox measures their shock travel differently, as shown in the diagram below, so these numbers have been standardized for an equal side-by-side comparison.

REARS
King Shocks Tacoma 2.5″ dia Shocks, 1.5-3″ lift

SKU: KRS-AT52121-01A
Extended Length: 25.25″
Compressed Length: 15.50″
Travel: 9.75″

REARS
Ride Shocks Tacoma 2.5″ dia Shocks, 1-2.5″ lift

SKU: 525412789
Extended Length: 25.61″
Compressed Length: 15.73″
Travel: 9.88″

– How Rear Shock Measurements Are Made –

In this diagram, you can see that Fox measures their extended and compressed shock lengths from the top of the shock body. King and Ride, on the other hand, measure from the center of the bushings. To provide a fair comparison across all three brands, we’ve adjusted Fox’s measurements in the specs above.

Measuring smooth body shocks from Fox, King and Ride Shocks

Shock Bodies Wrap Up

Aluminum shock bodies resist corrosion better and dissipate heat more efficiently than steel. A one-piece design offers simplicity, while a two-piece design provides modularity—individual components can be replaced if damaged. Two-piece designs are also more compact and often feature a decorative cap.

Shocks with a reservoir bridge can be rotated, allowing for special installation needs or to keep the hose clear of frame components.

Both Fox and Ride shocks are hard-anodized, meaning their aluminum bodies will naturally fade over time rather than flake or rust like coated steel shocks.

Shock Shafts Wrap Up:

Fox and Ride shock shafts are made from hardened medium carbon steel, giving them better resistance to rock chips than the softer 4130 steel used by King.

Rod end design and quality also play a key role in the longevity of shock components. Ride incorporates an offset rod end design for improved vehicle fitment. Both Fox and Ride use USA-made FK Bearings on their coilovers, which are top-of-the-line components, while King uses lower-quality rod end bearings.

Shock boots are an important line of defense against dings and divots on exposed shafts, which are the leading cause of premature shock leakage. Ride Shocks equips all OEM smooth-body shock applications with a specially designed boot that has bottom holes for debris to exit and a grooved rod end to keep the boot securely in place. Fox offers shock boots as an aftermarket option, but their top-mounted holes don’t allow debris to escape as effectively. King provides plastic rock guards or shields on some smooth-body shocks and coilovers to help protect shafts from rock impacts.

Coil Springs Wrap Up:

Coil springs from all three manufacturers are essential for supporting your vehicle’s weight, but differences emerge in available colors, standard spring rates, and optional rates.

Fox springs come standard at 600?lb/in. Heavier rates are available for vehicles with added front-end weight or accessories, though they come at an additional cost. AccuTune can custom-tune the shocks to match.

King offers heavier spring rates—650?lb/in and 700?lb/in—but these must be special ordered. Again, AccuTune can adjust the valving to match the chosen rate.

Ride provides multiple spring rates (550, 600, and 700?lb/in) to accommodate different vehicle generations and additional weight. Each Ride shock is custom-tuned for compression, rebound, and adjuster settings to match the spring’s capacity, ensuring optimal performance and handling.

Ride Shocks linear piston
Ride Shocks come standard with 5/8" fittings and hoses
Fox Shock oil for shocks
King Shock oil
Ride Shock oil

Oil Wrap Up:

Shock oil is evaluated primarily on three factors: lubrication, viscosity stability with temperature (viscosity index), and resistance to cavitation (boiling).

All three manufacturers provide oils with excellent lubricating properties that work well with common seal materials and fulfill their primary function.

Shock fade occurs when the oil heats up and thins, reducing damping and protection of internal components. A viscosity index (VI) of 400 is considered gold standard, while 100 is below average. Fox sets a high standard with a VI of 375, Ride matches that at 375, and King’s oil is average at 150.

Cavitation is a major concern when oil boils, forming air pockets that damage internal parts and reduce damping. Fox oil boils at 496°F, King’s at 320°F, and Ride’s at 615°F. While all these temperatures are high, they assume atmospheric pressure; shocks don’t always operate under positive pressure, so boiling can become a limiting factor during hard use.

Fox JM92 oil is a conventional benchmark known for its performance and durability, particularly at high temperatures. Ride uses a newer fully synthetic blend that matches Fox in resistance to fading, surpasses it in cavitation resistance, and can withstand higher temperatures overall.

The Fox low-speed adjuster functions like a bleed valve. Turning it opens or closes a needle and seat, allowing a precise amount of oil to flow into the reservoir.

When oil reaches higher speed and pressure, it diverts through the large shim stack into the reservoir—this is called the high-speed circuit.

The high-speed adjuster controls the preload on the shim stack, determining the pressure at which oil begins to flow through the shims. Increasing this pressure raises high-speed damping, providing firmer control over larger, faster impacts.

King’s mid-speed adjuster functions like a large bleed valve, controlling how much oil passes through the piston as you turn the knob. Mid-speed compression adjusters behave like an oversized low-speed compression adjuster—they allow a large volume of oil to flow freely when fully open and restrict all flow when fully closed.

The Ride Shocks low-speed adjuster functions like a bleed valve, opening or closing a needle and seat to allow a precise amount of oil into the reservoir.

At low shaft speeds, oil flows through the low-speed needle circuit directly into the reservoir. As shaft speeds increase, oil begins flowing through the first piston, and then into the high-speed adjuster circuit.

When the high-speed adjuster is closed or stiffened, oil is forced through the second piston, which increases high-speed compression damping and provides firmer control over larger, faster impacts.

Adjusters Wrap Up:

Compression adjusters play a key role in ride quality, allowing the user to tune the shock for added weight or rough terrain.

Low-speed compression refers to the rate at which the shock shaft compresses during slower movements, such as cornering, braking, accelerating, or driving over rolling bumps.

Mid-speed compression can influence both low- and high-speed feel to a degree. Adjusting low-speed damping primarily controls road feel, handling, and g-outs, while high-speed adjustment targets large impacts like whoops or curbs. A mid-speed adjuster affects both with a single knob, but the range of influence is smaller than having separate low- and high-speed adjustments.

High-speed compression occurs during very rapid shaft movements, such as hitting curbs, speed bumps, or whoops.

King shocks feature a simple, single mid-speed compression adjuster. This straightforward design is easy to operate, making it ideal for those who want quick tuning without extensive tinkering.

Fox shocks offer both high- and low-speed adjustment in a more robust design. However, they are valved for stiffer applications, and the digressive adjuster means low-speed damping increases disproportionately relative to high-speed damping. This can make small bumps feel overly firm.

Ride Shocks DPA adjusters have application specific valving for multiple use cases. The dual piston linear design makes the shock feel and perform more predictably to how it was set. It has also been designed with the most oil flow, that allows consistent performance throughout the entire spectrum of adjustment.

Seals Wrap Up:

Each manufacturer has dedicated extensive effort to developing their seal designs, each with its own benefits and trade-offs.

Based on years of servicing these shocks, we’ve observed a few key points:

  • Dirt intrusion is the second leading cause of shock leaks.

  • Boots are the most effective defense against dirt.

  • Multiple wipers provide the next best line of protection.

  • HNBR (Hydrogenated Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber) is more durable and performs across a wider temperature range than standard NBR.

  • U-cups are the most effective method for retaining oil inside a shock body, offering robust sealing across a wide range of temperatures and shaft speeds compared to o-rings.

Valving Wrap Up:

Design and oil flow are the first steps in creating a shock that performs well; the second is tuning it for the specific applications and conditions it will encounter.

Weight-band specific valving is key. Fox and King typically rely on a single tune developed for one application. Ride Shocks, on the other hand, uses a weight-band approach. By offering multiple SKUs tailored to different weight ranges—front and rear—they can deliver consistent performance across a wide spectrum, from a stock base model truck to a fully loaded overlander, and everything in between.

Fox performance elite series coilover shocks installed on a 3rd gen Tacoma

Appearance Wrap Up:

In any good comparison, color and design can play a role in your decision. Fox, King, and Ride Shocks have all crafted products that not only perform exceptionally but also look great. When it comes to aesthetics, you really can’t go wrong with any of these three brands. So, which shock color theme catches your eye the most?

Fox Shocks rebuild kit
King Shocks rebuild kit
Ride Shocks rebuild kit includes new seals and o-rings

Rebuild/Service Wrap Up:

At some point, rebuilding and servicing your shocks will become necessary. When comparing shocks, it’s important to consider service intervals and parts availability, as these factors can help determine which shock offers the best long-term value.

Fox, King, and Ride are all similar in this regard. For mild use—daily driving with occasional off-road trips—they recommend servicing every 50,000 miles. For heavier or more frequent off-road use, rebuild intervals may need to be shorter.

Fox Shocks installation Guide
King Shocks installation guide
Ride Shocks full color install guide

Install Guides Wrap Up:

When it comes time to install new shocks, the first step is to consult the manufacturer’s installation guide. These guides are carefully designed to help both professional installers and DIY enthusiasts complete the process efficiently and correctly. Most include images and diagrams to make each step clear.

Not all guides are created equal. Some may lack key details, forcing installers to search online for additional information—a time-consuming and frustrating process. A comprehensive, well-organized guide can make all the difference.

Fox, as the longest-standing company in this comparison, has set a high standard for installation guides. Their manuals are detailed and user-friendly, with clear instructions and helpful visuals.

King raised the bar even further by producing highly detailed guides with step-by-step instructions and color images, making it easier to follow along and reduce the risk of errors during installation.

Ride Shocks offers comprehensive guides that not only cover basic installation but also include extensive suspension setup information. This ensures users can properly adjust their suspension for optimal performance.

In short, the quality of an installation guide can greatly influence how easy and successful the installation process is. Before purchasing, it’s worth reviewing the guide to ensure you feel confident in your choice.

Final Wrap Up:

When weighing all the factors, specs, and features, who do you think provides the best overall product? The choice may be user dependent. Let us know what you think in the comments below.