When it comes to off-road shocks, two of the most common names you may hear are Fox and King. Both are high-quality shocks on which many experts rely. Also, they can be modified based on your purpose.
Such flexibility and popularity often lead most people to an obvious question- Who will win in the battle of Fox vs. King shocks?
I know you have the same question in mind as you’re looking for the best shock for your vehicle. In such a situation, I can help you.
I’ve checked and installed several shocks from both brands for my clients. They’ve discussed their performance and problems with me. Also, I’ve experience of using both. Thus, I have a deep understanding of these shocks.
From my experience and understanding, I will help you compare them and conclude the debate. In this article, I’ve compared them face to face so that you can decide which is going to be the best pick to fulfill your purpose.
Let’s start by knowing a bit about both brands.
Overview of Fox Shocks
Fox is a suspension specialist brand that designs and builds shocks for mountain bikes, UTVs, snowmobiles, trucks, motocross, off-road vehicles, etc.
The brand focuses on offering maximum performance in extreme situations. That’s why you’ll find some undoubtedly high-quality shocks under this name. By challenging its ability, Fox focuses on continuous improvement and offering maximum value.
Everyone behind the Fox brand believes in hard work and effective collaboration.
Overview of King Shocks
King is an off-road specialist shock manufacturer that mainly focuses on building performance shocks for racing. The best thing about King shocks is they are customizable and rebuildable.
Ensuring quality and innovation in design are two of its most focused areas. Everyone in this company has exceptional knowledge about shocks that help to offer value to the users. Besides, the performance of King shocks is popular among the racers.
Fox vs. King Shocks: A Quick Comparison Table
While comparing shocks from such strong brands, getting confused is common. Let’s see if I can help you somehow to get rid of the confusion.
| Criteria | Fox Shocks | King Shocks |
| Build Material: | Quality aluminum alloy with anti-rust coating | Quality stainless steel with anti-rust coating |
| Piston Rods: | Stainless steel rods | Carbon steel rods |
| Best Use: | Regular off-roading with occasional racing | Frequent off-road racing |
| Tuning: | Supports tuning | Supports tuning |
| Tuning Help: | Two days a month, mostly | Frequent tuning support program |
| Availability: | Frequently available | Available, but less than Fox shocks |
| Price: | Average price is around $950 | The average price is around $1,400 |
Fox vs. King Shocks: Details Comparison You Should Check
Build Quality
When it comes to off-road shocks, build quality is one of the primary concerns. You don’t want it to break in the middle of off-roading.
Fox shocks are made of aluminum body, while most King shocks are made of high-quality stainless steel. It makes King shocks more prone to rust and damage, especially in cold and salty areas. However, this can be handled with an anti-rust coating.
Some claim that the outside of King shocks may get rust, but the inside remains okay because it is stainless steel. On the other hand, Fox shocks are more prone to wear or tear on the inside as it is not stainless steel.
Again, most users who have used both have said that Fox has a better oil for winter use.
Thus, we can’t reach a valid conclusion at this point.
Piston Rods
Piston rods play a great role in the performance of shocks. So, strong roads are necessary indeed.
Most Fox shocks come with a stainless steel piston rod with chrome coating. This makes them strong and rust-resistant.
Maximum King shocks come with similarly strong piston rods, typically made with carbon steel and a coating over it. The coating ensures corrosion resistance.
So, from this viewpoint, both are almost similarly strong. None can be placed over another.
Performance
Most people who have used both said that King performs smoother than Fox. This is what helps a lot in off-road racing.
The reason might be the valving. King shocks come with smoother valving, even after customizing them.
Though some users claim that Fox performs better than King, a widely spread idea is that King is a way better performer than Fox.
Purpose
When it comes to off-road racing use, King is a very prominent name believed by many racers.
According to most racers, Fox also has dedicated off-road shocks offering performance, but they can’t perform like King.
But Fox has some great shocks for regular drivers, too. They assist off-road drivers better than many other shocks.
So, we can conclude that King is a better performer when it comes to off-road racing. But for regular off-road driving, Fox is a great choice.
Availability
Fox is widely available. It is distributed by several vendors and selling points. Also, Fox shocks come in a wide price level. There is plenty of information available online, too.
Compared to Fox, the availability of King shocks is a bit low. Also, they are not available in every price range. If you have a huge budget, you can get them easily.
Tuning Support
Both brands offer tunable shocks and tuning support. But King is well known for this. They have frequent tuning sessions offered in several places. You can contact them and join the session to get the shocks tuned for your next race.
Fox tuning sessions are arranged on Wednesdays only- either the 1st and 3rd Wednesday or the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, based on the location. You can contact them and get help with tuning.
Experience
Fox is focused on shocks for different types of vehicles, including cycle. On the other hand, King is dedicated to designing and building for four-wheelers only, that too only off-road focused.
This is an important fact to keep in mind. Focus and expertise matter when it comes to picking a performance product.
Price
Compared to Fox shocks, King shocks are more expensive. Where the average price for 4 Fox shocks is around $950, King shock’s average price is around $1,400 for a set of 4.
It is a clear difference. Though price shouldn’t be among the primary considerations when performance and safety matters, it may greatly influence your choice.
Top 2 Product Review Comparison from Fox and King
Fox 980-24-658 Performance Series Smooth Body IFP Shock
It is a performance shock from Fox that ensures satisfactory ride quality and enhanced control over the vehicle, especially on off-roads. Even in the harshest conditions, you can depend on it.
It is built using aluminum alloy, with zinc plating to ensure rust resistance from the core. The silver-painted exterior aids the protection from rust and offers a great look. The chrome-plated and heat-treated alloy piston is extremely reliable.
The high-flow piston design has also made it a good choice for occasional racers. Application-focused valving allows you to receive maximum performance. Besides, its mono-tube reservoir design doesn’t need too much space.
It costs around $200 per piece, which is reasonable compared to the performance it offers. The exceptional damping control system ensures smooth performance both on and off-road, even in extreme conditions.
Overall, this is a good pick for off-roaders who race occasionally. It’s not a huge investment for most people, but the difference you’ll see is huge.
King Shocks 25001-143 Performance Coil Over Shock Kit
King Shocks is the actual king when it comes to off-road racing shocks. A perfect example of this statement is this shock from King. This Coilover front shock with adjustable valving opportunity is what you need in an extreme race.
Its body is made of quality stainless steel with silver zinc plating over it. Thus, you can be sure that it’ll serve you for a long time without any rust attack. However, maintenance is necessary for any shock. Paring with this, a high-strength piston ensures durability.
This shock comes with multiple features that help it to be a perfect pick for off-road racing. For example- you can count on the high-tensile chrome silicone coil. Besides, it works smoothly on regular drives, too. You won’t face any issues in on-road driving.
Installing this King shock is easy as it offers bolt-on installation on compatible vehicle models. Also, you can increase the ride height up to 25%.
A pair of this cost you around $1900, which is indeed a huge investment. But you’ll experience a huge performance improvement, too. I think this is a worthy investment. If you’re a frequent off-road racer looking for a perfect pair of front shocks, get these Kings.
How to Install King Shocks
Final Verdict
The Fox vs. King shocks debate will never stop, I guess. But if you can perfectly identify your purpose, deciding what to pick will be easy.
I suggest picking Fox shocks when you’re an off-roader but not into frequent racing. They are built to support you in off-roads, even in extreme environments. So, you can bet on them.
But King is a better pick than Fox if you’re a frequent off-road racer. King shocks are built to take the pressure of regular off-road racing. They may cost you a lot, but you’ll enjoy a lot while using them.
I guess you’ve concluded already. Still confused? Take your time, evaluate them carefully, and decide.
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