Camburg Coilover update

[asjch3]

I've got about 700 miles on my Camburg coilovers, so I think I can adequately describe my experience with them on my 04 Access cab. I've got them cranked so that the front is level with the rear, about 2 inches higher than stock. They rode like crap at first and they settled about 3/4 of an inch after about 200 miles. After they broke in, the truck rides very smooth in combination with the Bilstein 5100 shocks in the rear. Highway travel is absolutely pleasant and the truck rails the corners instead of diving like it used to. They are very responsive to the road, and allow the suspension to articulate like it should. Installation was very easy, although it was nice to have a strong friend nearby to pry the lower control arm down while I got the lower mounting holes lined up. I kept my stock upper control arms, as I didn't see the need for the uniballs if only going up 2 inches. I haven't crawled underneath yet, but I can't see any indication of leaking CV boots from the wheelwell point of view. I do have a Diff drop. Im running 265-70-17 BFG All-Terrains on FJ rims.

The Camburg coilovers are definately made for higher speed prerunning and bombing down fireroads. They can handle a lot, and make quick work of studder bumps. That said, I think they absolutely suck as far as low-speed compression goes. Under 30 mph, you can feel every bump and crack in the road. However, they do rebound well at all speeds. Speed bumps and raised crosswalks don't even phase them. I will say that the Bilsteins are too soft when compared with the Camburgs, especially in big offroad hits. But for on-road, they respond really well and are very smooth.

I'd recommend the Camburgs for anyone looking for a tough shock built to handle some serious off-roading. While spendy, they are worth every penny. If your pockets are deep enough, a more progressive spring pack and some piggy-back shocks in the rear would match the Camburgs very well and make for one hell of an off-road package.

[se7enracing]

The camburgs are setup for higher speed, bigger hits, bumps etc. Correct?
Have you ridden in any trucks running the Icon/Donahoe CO setups to compare?

For people who don't know much about compression etc; here is a little info..

EXAMPLES OF SITUATIONS THAT AFFECT THE LOW-SPEED COMPRESSION

Body roll when cornering
Rear-end squatting under hard acceleration
Front-end diving when braking
Riding over whoops at moderate speed
Undulations and elevation changes in the terrain

EXAMPLES OF SITUATIONS THAT AFFECT THE HIGH-SPEED COMPRESSION
Landing big jumps
Harsh or sudden square-edged impacts
Riding at high-speed over whoops
Vibration when riding at very high speed or when riding over choppy terrain and tire tracks

[DevinSixtySeven]

Originally Posted by se7enracing

The camburgs are setup for higher speed, bigger hits, bumps etc. Correct?

Yup

Give the shop a call and ask for Scott. I can't explain well enough ..

-Sean

[jamesjr4750]

I have the original Donahoe Racing coilovers (now ICON). I think the Valving cannot get any better, Tried stock.. sucked, Bilstein 5100s... Sucks

Mine DR shocks have lasted over 2 1/2 yrs of hard driving (jumping railroad tracks, curbs, sidwalks, ) and abusive offroading (Mud, clay mud with lots of iron in it, no rusting on the cans or shaft, no pitting either.) around 45 - 60mph tops with no jarring/aggressive rebounding of the shock throughout the suspension or the throughout the steering wheel thus losing straight forward tracking of the front wheels in 2wd at a setting of 2.5" of exposed threads. This was all done on washed out roads with 6" - 10" holes. I tried the 3" setting, it became too rough a ride for me even with the ARB bumper and winch combo. 2.5" is perfect on the Extended Length Donahoe Shock. I feel you don't get the lift like you'll get on the Camburg coilovers but you will have an even 5" uptravel / 5" wheel downtravel at that setting. I have measured mine and thats what you get. 10" is The maximum amount of wheel travel you can possibly achieve with the stock IFS setup using the Donahoe Extended Length Coilover using Aftermarket Total Chaos or Camburg Uniball A-Arms allowing for the extra droop travel and upward extension of the Upper Control Arm without any binding like the Stock Ball-Joint Upper A-Arm encounters. Plus you won't have to use straps like the Camburg Coilovers making sure they don't over extend putting tension on the spindle. The ICON shocks have internal limiting straps to avoid this. Mine have 1/2" of room between where the uniball and spindle connect to the spindle and still yield 10" of wheel travel not putting any unessecary tension on suspension parts like tierods/steering rack, spindle, lower balljoint, etc. This is all why I chose the coilovers I have.

I would have to say the Camburg valved coilover for the Tundra ( Sway-A-WAy/Racerunner shock) will gain more lift if thats what you're looking for in the 2.5" body shock but you will lose your down travel.. It takes 5" ( 6" fully due to low tire pressure and the heavy front end using 33's) of jacking the truck the truck up before the wheel even starts to lift off the ground. People with SAW coilovers on SoCal Tundras.Com said they had almost zero down (also called droop travel by some) and you can verify this with Camburg if you're going to start cranking down on that collar to compress the coil spring gaining extra lift.

I've just sent my coilovers in for a rebuild and will be able to share how they've held up (Seals, nitrogen still in them, etc.) by next week for 2 1/2 yrs of hard use. They were already IMO perfect, but I just wanted to get them rebuilt to make them last for years and years to come. Plus I am getting an upgraded/updated coil spring ( Released March 08' ) because of all the weight up front and to see "If" the Springs sagged at all. I've got lots of steel up front so I'm wanting to see if the 650 lb spring rate is enough. There's 3 skidrow skidplates, ARB bumper (heavy) and a winch, plus I will be adding sliders next for even more weight.

Thats my take on the DR shocks and what I know about the Camburg Shocks. Check out SoCalTundras for more discussion/topics and facts about the two coilovers from those who have put them to the test in the desert/jumping.