What is the strut version? I thought they were all coil overs?
The simple answer is if you spend more you will get more if running it off road...
But, if you have a street queen it shouldn't matter save your money with the cheaper set up.
Thanks.
BDS has three versions of their 4" kit, and I did get some answers from them, too...
- Strut - It's a strut made by Tenneco that is just the shock without the spring. You would use your OEM spring on this strut. Tenneco is the same company that makes Monroe and Rancho shocks. I got an answer from BDS on this version of the kit, and they said the ride would be more like stock.
- Fox 2.5 Remote Reservoir Coil-Over - BDS said the Fox coil-over is a performance product, and they react to changes way faster than your standard strut. Some people see this as firmness, but in reality, it is controlling the suspension a lot better.
- Fox 2.5 Remote Reservoir Coil-Over Coil-over with Dual Speed Compression Adjuster (DSC)- BDS said the DSC this coil-over will only go as soft as the standard coil-over but has the ability to add dampening
The price difference between the Fox coil-overs is about $300. The coil-over without the DSC is about $1600. In my opinion, if I were to spend this much, I might as well pay for the DSC, too, since it is just a few hundred more.
I may get more offroad if I spend more on the Fox coil-overs, but I will likely lose more on the streets - there is no free lunch.
I was also looking at their UCAs, too. Interestingly, one BDS tech told me he recommends using the stock UCA because all the corrections have been done with the cross members and knuckles on their kits. I was under the assumption that the stock UCAs should be upgraded to allow more wheel travel, but maybe that is no longer a concern.
Anyway, the bottom line is that I will still have to use my Tahoe to commute to work and towing a boat - it will see a lot of pavement time. However, I do want it to be more capable off-road. Right now, I am trying to find that balance, also without feeling like I am passing a kidney stone every time I hit a bump on the pavement.
I suppose I could get their strut version and see how it does off-road. If, after use, I see that the Tahoe needs more control, I could always upgrade to the Fox coil-overs later. Too bad there isn't a test track to test out these options. But, I will have to rely on others' opinions.
Part of me thinks that the strut version will be OK for off-road use. If I were traveling at high-speed off-road, then the Fox coil-overs would make more sense. But then again, I have no experience or observations with these performance coil-overs to say that my opinion is valid or not.
I would like to hear more opinions about stock like struts on a lift compared to performance coil-overs like the ones Fox offers. For example, if you regret having gone with the stock like struts with your lift and wishing you had spent the $$$$ for the performance coil-overs
