After two decades of racing experience and building high-end suspension components, Dirt King finally brought a shock offering to the market.
The new coilovers and rear shocks took over 2 years to complete. From design, engineering, manufacturing, and testing, Dirt King wanted to ensure this was the best “out-of-the-box” solution ever built for the 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra.
So what makes these shocks special? Both the internals and externals. Let’s start with the internals.
Find It Online
- DK 2.5″ Series Shocks: Check Price
Table Of Contents
Internals
For the internals, Dirt King partnered with a Toyota Engineer who specializes in tuning and valving OEM shocks for Toyota trucks. Their collective vision was to engineer the most optimized progressive shock ever created as the best “out-of-the-box” solution tailored for 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra owners. Their goal in manufacturing was to achieve optimized performance for moderate to severe off-roading without sacrificing daily driving. To sum it up, they wanted to create the best ride quality, unmatched by any other aftermarket shock on the market.
The Dirt King shocks are tuned specific for each model. Part of their process includes performance and stability tests with added weight. The progressively valving delivers unparalleled comfort over small bumps while seamlessly transitioning to a firmer response when hitting bigger bumps at speed to prevent bottoming out, or g-outs. These shocks were designed to ensure a plush ride for everyday driving, yet possess the perfect valving to withstand substantial impacts without bottoming out.
The 2.5″ coilovers and rear shocks also feature DCA (Dual Speed Compression Adjusters) with a wide adjustment range, allowing you to control the high-speed and low-speed compression independently. With the DCAs, you can easily fine-tune the ride quality for your weight and driving style.
The internal piston, shaft, oil, progressive shim stacks, and all hardware components were tested and tweaked for over 2 years by Dirt King in San Diego, CA.
Externals
Dirt King and their partner from Toyota prioritize performance and have partnered with Elka for manufacturing. Together, these three experts bring over 60 years of combined experience, which is what makes a Dirt King shock truly exceptional.
The shock body is hard anodized aluminum which is corrosion-resistant and dissipates heat much better than steel. Other manufacturers like Fox and King feature zinc-plated steel which corrodes over time causing rust on the shock body. Dirt King shocks also feature improved seal materials which enhance durability and longevity. If you live in a location prone to severe elements like salt and extreme moisture, a hard-anodized aluminum shock body with high-quality seals is the way to go.
Key Features
Expert Engineering: With critical guidance from a Toyota OEM shock valving/tuning engineer, you know the 2.5″ DCA Series coilovers will stand out as the peak of Toyota shock performance for both on and off-road performance.
Progressive Valving: These coilovers offer a plush ride over small bumps while stiffening as travel is utilized, ensuring minimal bottom-out and superior performance across diverse driving conditions.
Tailored Performance: Designed to excel in both off-road and daily driving, these coilovers are the perfect balance between comfort and capability.
Premium Construction: Built to withstand the elements, the coilovers feature 2.5″ hard-anodized 6061 aluminum bodies and induction-hardened 3/4″ shafts, ensuring durability and reliability.
Specifications
To maintain optimal ride quality, it is essential to avoid excessive preload, which may compromise performance. For superior comfort and performance, Dirt King recommends adhering to the recommended lift height of 3″.
- Provides up to 3” of lift (must be paired with aftermarket UCA)
- 2.5″ hard-anodized 6061 aluminum bodies
- Induction-hardened 3/4″ shafts
- Maxima custom oil blend for optimal performance in high operating temperatures
- Cold wound, high-tensile alloy steel coil springs for consistent rate and ride height
- Completely rebuildable and serviceable with all necessary tools and replacement parts available from Dirt King
- Fully adjustable
Final Thoughts
This suspension system embodies Dirt King’s decades of expertise in manufacturing suspension components, fused with the insights of an OEM Toyota shock engineer. Together, they’ve built a shock designed for the best possible OE spec ride quality, setting a new benchmark in aftermarket shocks.
We have yet to put these shocks to the test, but will follow up with a review post once we get these shocks on the trail and start daily driving with them. We’re beyond stoked to see what kind of performance these shocks offer.
“We have yet to put these shocks to the test, but will follow up with a review post once we get these shocks on the trail and start daily driving with them.”
Very interested, any ETA?
We should have the truck back on the ground soon. I have some other stuff going on which is why its taking a little longer. Should have a follow up review out in a month or so.
Can they be fitted with the KDSS system?
They are not KDSS compatible, unfortunately.
They dont have plans for KDSS??
It’s been killing me so I gotta ask… How do these Dirt Kings stack up against the OME BP-51 system?
So far on-road it’s very plush but so was the BP-51. The OME MT64s seem to be a bit stiffer than both the Dirt Kings and the BP-51s – which some people like. The Dirt Kings seem to handle the speed bumps and dips much better at speed than the BP-51s and the MT64s. We’re heading out for a 5 day wheeling trip today, so i’ll continue to report back.
Not sure. I don’t believe at this time…
No mention of spring rates? Looks like Elka is taking their “quality” to another manufacturer after Toytec recently switch to SDI with the Midnight Alumas. I’ll be curious to see if these have the same reliability problems and awful parts availability as the Elka-Toytecs (2-3 months for shock bushings? C’mon guys). Dirt King is one of the best out there though so hopefully they’ve specced these out to be more reliable for more than a daily driver.
Hey Rob, Dustin here from Dirt King.
Our Tacoma and 4Runner shocks use 700lb springs. We increased the spring rate from the common 650lb to 700lb for a few key reasons:
It’s important to note that a stiff ride is usually due to shock valving, not the springs.
Regarding quality and parts availability, we’ve thoroughly researched manufacturers and found Elka to align best with Dirt King. There’s no one company where we agreed with everything they did, that’s what we value with Elka. We’re able influence certain areas to get the quality and consistency that we’re known for. We also have a strict internal QC process to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Many companies struggle with parts availability, but we maintain an inventory of replacement parts and are working on making them easy to purchase from our site. We’re enthusiasts committed to delivering products with the best performance, durability, and support!
When I ordered my Elka RR with adjusters I had given them the axel weights and additional information and they used this to tune the shocks for my ride.
Wouldn’t it be better to order from Elka and get the custom setup versus the 90% that the article mentions?
Hi Josh, my name is Dustin, and I’m with Dirt King. We have taken the approach of tuning our shocks to meet the expectations of the vast majority of our customers. This doesn’t mean we make compromises; instead, we spend significantly more time than other manufacturers perfecting the ride quality for each model. The reason for this is that any slight variation in valving or nitrogen pressure after a vehicle is tuned can dramatically impact performance. Our front and rear shocks are designed to complement each other, and changes to either can throw off the balance.
so basically just the Elka 2.5 DSC rebranded and in a different color…..Elka also makes the Toytec Boss Aluma series. Just buy the Elka’s
100% correct. Get ones from Elka tuned to YOUR rig.
Parts are available through Elka’s two US service shops.
i love mine and fantastic customer support. A+!
Josh, I can assure you a Dirt King shock is not a rebranded shock. We work closely with Elka but our development processes are separate. Elka was recently at our facility using our 2024 Tacoma for development, they choose their own lengths and valving.
Very basic take. They will perform very differently due to major differences in valving. That’s just the surface, too.
You clearly didn’t read the post. A Toyota Engineer who works on OEM shock valving and tuning worked with Dirt King on the internal shim stack, valving, and tuning which are completely different (obviously) than anything else on the market. Buy it, don’t buy it. Just read the post next time before you chime in with your 2cents.
The important part of the article is “we have yet to put these shocks to the test” so you (obviously) don’t know that these are completely different in any substantive way. All you’ve done is posted some marketing material given to you by the manufacturer with no data or experience to back it up, then got upset when someone didn’t buy it.
Damn, you’re confused too. No one is upset. The point is Dirt King worked with a Toyota engineer on the internal design, valving, and tuning – which would lead any man with common sense to believe that they are, in fact very different than most aftermarket shocks.
Well written. These look like game changers…