Icon vs. Fox vs. King vs. Dobinsons: Bronco Premium Shock Showdown

Welcome to PART 4 of our Bronco Suspension Buyer's Guide Series. There are few vehicles that rip as hard as new Broncos with nothing more than a good set of coilovers and UCAs. In this episode, Sean breaks down the best premium-tier suspension options: the shocks that don't just get you down the trail, they make you want to live on it. We tested seven different premium shocks across real-world conditions: trail crawling, desert running, high-speed whoops, daily driving, and technical rock gardens. Here's what we found. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 0:00 Intro 2:12 Icon 2.5 Internal Reservoir 5:21 ICON 2.5 Remote Reservoir 6:21 ICON CDCV 12:43 ICON CDEV 14:35 FOX 2.5 Performance Elites 19:09 King 2.5 24:44 Dobinsons MRR 34:21 Recap SHOP NOW: Icon 2.5 IR (Stage 3) https://www.shocksurplus.com/products... Icon 2.5 RR (Stage 4) https://www.shocksurplus.com/products... Icon 2.5 CDCV (Stage 6 CDCV) https://www.shocksurplus.com/products... Icon 2.5 CDXS (Stage 6 CDXS) https://www.shocksurplus.com/products... Fox 2.5 Performance Elite: https://www.shocksurplus.com/products... King 2.5: King Shocks 2.5 Shock Set – 2021-2026 Ford Bronco https://www.shocksurplus.com/products... Dobinsons MRR: Dobinsons MRA19-A104 MRR Shock – 2021-2026 Ford Bronco https://www.shocksurplus.com/products... FULL COLLECTION: Bronco Suspension Collection: https://www.shocksurplus.com/collecti... COMPLETE GUIDE SERIES: Part 1: Suspension Fundamentals & Factory Options → What you need to know about HOSS 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 systems https://www.shocksurplus.com/blogs/ne... Part 2: Entry-Level Shocks (Bilstein 5100, OME, Eibach) → Budget-friendly options that actually work https://www.shocksurplus.com/blogs/ne... Part 3: Intermediate Shocks (Bilstein 6100/6112, Icon 2.5 EXP, Dobinsons IMS, Fox 2.5 HTO) → The sweet spot for most people https://www.shocksurplus.com/blogs/ne... Part 4: Premium Shocks (This Video - Write-up Coming Soon) → Maximum performance without electronics Part 5: Position-Sensitive & Electronic (Video and Write-up Coming Soon) → Fox 3.2 Live Valve, Bilstein 8112, Icon CDEV, and more KEY TAKEAWAYS: Icon Lineup (IR → CDCV → CDXS): ✓ Most travel (11.5" front / 14" rear) ✓ Best for heavy loads and prerunning ✓ Firmest unloaded, rewards weight ✓ CDXS has superior dual-speed design ✗ Can overheat in extreme use (RR recommended) Fox 2.5 Performance Elite: ✓ Easiest to drive at the limit ✓ Most communicative feedback ✓ 37" ready out of the box ✓ Excellent handling balance ✗ Least travel (10" F / 11" R) ✗ Poor bump stops, punishes big errors King 2.5: ✓ Softest ride at low speeds ✓ Exceptional high-speed desert performance ✓ Lowest lift option ✓ Simple single-speed adjusters (optional) ✗ Dangerous gap at middling speeds ✗ "Pin it and pray" factor—requires experience Dobinsons MRR: ✓ Most adjusters (dual compression + rebound) ✓ Best on-road comfort ✓ Excellent technical trail capability ✓ Second plushest ride ✓ 60k+ service life ✗ OE bushings cause NVH at high speed ✗ Finicky installation QUICK RECOMMENDATIONS: Heavy Build / Prerunner → Icon 2.5 CDXS Daily Driver / Tech Trails → Dobinsons MRR Bolt-On Easy / Handling Focused → Fox 2.5 PES Comfort + Speed → King 2.5 FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS? Call us: (213) 433-3616 Questions about fitment, setup, or which option is right for you? Our team is here to help. THANKS FOR WATCHING If this helped you make a decision, hit like and subscribe so you don't miss Part 5 when we dive into position-sensitive and electronically controlled suspension options that push the limits even further. #BroncoSuspension #FordBronco #ShockSurplus #SuspensionGuide #OffRoad #Coilovers #ShockComparison #iconvehicledynamics #foxshocks #kingshocks #dobinsons