The Ultimate Ford Bronco Suspension Guide - Part 3: Best Intermediate Coilovers & Struts
Posted by Sean Law-Bowman on
Introduction
In This Article
What is the best intermediate coilover or strut option for your Bronco? That is the whole question for this installment, and the answer is more interesting than it sounds.
Our favorite thing about these new Broncos is that they run coilovers at all four corners, which makes a suspension upgrade about as easy a decision as it gets. For the majority of owners, the upgrade is just shocks.
This is Part 3 of our multipart Ford Bronco Suspension Buyer's Guide. If you want the foundational stuff — factory heights, when you actually need upper control arms, how to read your OE suspension, and tire clearance — start with Part 1. If you are shopping the lower end of the market, Part 2 covers the entry-level options.
With that out of the way, let's get down to brass tacks.
What We Mean by "Intermediate"
In the previous episode we talked about entry-level options, with the caveat that entry-level does not always mean cheap — it is a descriptor of intended purpose more than a price bracket.
Today's chapter is a little different. These shocks all offer at least the bare minimum performance to handle about as big a tire as you can fit, and to get you as far down a tough trail as anybody in their right mind would push their rig — without the price tag of what we will cover in the next episode.
There are plenty of higher-priced options that will get you down that same trail in more comfort and with a lot more speed. They will not necessarily get you any further. That is exactly why we think this tier is the sweet spot for most people.
The other nice part: most of these options land close enough in price that you can focus on picking the right one for you, rather than the one that squeezes the most value out of your dollar.
How These Compare to Your Factory HOSS Setup
If you are on HOSS 1.0 with the black Hitachis, or HOSS 2.0 with the yellow Bilsteins, expect a huge improvement in almost every department from anything on this list.
HOSS 3.0 owners running the factory Fox internal bypass shocks should wait for the next episode. While the options here can give you some lift and may even have more travel, none of them are position sensitive — or at least not as position sensitive as the stock stuff — which means a marked loss in comfort and support over what you already have. That is a downgrade dressed up as an upgrade.
Got it? Good. Let's get to the good stuff.
Comparison Table
| Shock | Ride Character | Travel | Height Adjustment | Max Tire Size | Service Interval | Rebuildable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilstein 6100 / 6112 | Firmest; sporty, strong under load | Lowest: near stock length | Circlip presets | 35" | Very long: often outlasts the truck | No |
| Icon 2.5 EXP | Comfortable and fast; best all-around | Most: approx. 11" front / 13" rear | Circlip presets | 37" with Icon bump stop spacers | 40,000 miles | Yes: $200 per shock |
| Dobinsons IMS | Comfortable at trail speeds; best under added weight | High: near Icon extended length | Threaded body, infinite in range | 37" with a bump stop washer | 60,000-80,000 miles | Yes: $200 per shock |
| Fox 2.5 HTO | Softest: best small-bump compliance | Similar to Bilstein | Threaded body (spring compressor needed) | 37" out of the box | 50,000 miles (new red oil may extend this) | Yes: easiest of the group |
Bilstein 6100 & 6112
We just said price shouldn't be the deciding factor at this tier — and then here come the Bilstein 6112s and 6100s, which we would argue are the best value strut option on the market, bar none.
Like most of the options on this list, they use big 60mm pistons in 2.6" bodies, and they offer circlip ride height adjustment just like their lesser 5100 siblings — at a significantly lower price than everything else here. They are also almost guaranteed to outlast anything else in this group. They are not serviceable like the rest of this list, but you get a lot more miles for less money up front.
What's the Catch?
Two things: length and firmness.
On length, the 6112s and 6100s are nearly identical to the stock Sasquatch Bilsteins. You are still better off than you would be on the stock HOSS 1.0 Hitachis, but since they are no longer fully extended than the stock Bilsteins, they sit shorter when set up for lift. That means more topping out, and they will not articulate as well as the other options here.
Because they also match stock length fully compressed, you cannot bolt on a set of 37s as easily as you can with the rest of this list. Combine that with their limited overall travel, and even a longer bump stop or bump stop spacer leaves you with less tire clearance than stock. They are great for 35s and smaller. Going bigger gets difficult.
Pair that with the firmer ride and reduced articulation, and they are probably the weakest option on this list for technical trails.
That said — they will let you get away with things at speed off-road that will surprise you, and they are still more comfortable than the stock HOSS 1.0 and 2.0 suspensions. If you are not looking to lift much over stock Sasquatch height, you are not rock crawling but still having fun in the dirt, and you have some towing, hauling, or variable load to contend with, they are great. Firmer than most things here, but a lot of people genuinely prefer the sportier feel.
6100 vs. 6112: What's Actually Different?
It comes down to springs, and nothing else. Both use the exact same strut — the 6112 comes with springs, the 6100 does not.
Bilstein optimized the 6100 to work with the stock springs on HOSS 2.0 models, which makes it a killer replacement for when the reservoirs invariably fall off your stock Bilsteins. HOSS 1.0 models use a different taper spring that does not work on the 6100, so Bilstein sorted out a spring package that does — and that package picks up another half inch of lift.
Plenty of HOSS 2.0 owners still go 6112 just to get that extra lift. We will build them for you so you do not have to risk your life with a spring compressor.
Want the deeper dive on the differences? We wrote a full breakdown: Bilstein 6100s vs 6112s for the 2021+ Ford Bronco.
Bilstein
6112 / 6100
2021+ Ford Bronco
Icon 2.5 EXP
We have said it in more than a few videos: if we did not work here and had to buy a setup with our own money, we would run — not walk — to the Icon 2.5 EXPs, a good set of upper control arms like Icon's Delta Joint Pros, some 37s, and a set of tie rod sleeves to keep it all alive.
The Bilsteins give you the most value. The Icons give you the biggest jump in overall performance for the fewest parts and the least money we have ever experienced. We would love to give you flowery prose about the intricacies of their ride quality, but the honest description is simpler than that: they flat out work.
Handling was almost as good as the 6112s and 6100s. Ride was exponentially more comfortable, while still allowing higher speeds off-road.
The craziest part is the travel. We measured roughly 11" of clean travel up front and 13" in the rear — which essentially matches a gen 1 Raptor. Having driven both, we might take the Bronco, if we ignore the lack of sweet V8 noises. That is a big statement, and the idea that you can bolt on shocks and arms and go beat up on older Raptors is genuinely insane, but anybody who has tried these knows we are not lying.
All that extra travel is exactly why they can be both more comfortable and better performing than something like the Bilsteins. It also keeps you from waving a tire in the air out on the trail, and brother, we can't have none of that.
The Catch
They cost more than the Bilsteins, and they have less than half the service life — 40,000 miles between rebuilds. The good news is that they can be rebuilt, and that is a service we offer at $200 per shock. We are fully aware that scares some people off. We also think this juice is more than worth the squeeze.
Tire Clearance
Icon did the best job of anyone here. They built the EXPs to run 35s, then developed the exact bump stop spacers you need for 37s. Because you have so much travel to begin with, you still end up with more clearance than stock even after spacing things out.
We did not run the spacers, and without fender flares our tires only just buzzed at full compression — so they may not be a must-have for everyone. But there is a lot to be said for a shock that gives you all the travel it can for those who can cycle it, and an inexpensive, easy-to-install answer when you want bigger tires.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
2.5 EXP
2021+ Ford Bronco
Curious how the EXP compares to Icon's threaded-body coilover? See our Icon 2.5 IR coilover ride review.
Dobinsons IMS
Icon is not the only company that big-brained its mid-range option for these Broncos. We are real big fans of the Dobinsons IMS.
Look at them as the middle ground between the Bilsteins and the Icons on a number of fronts: nearly as much travel and comfort as an Icon, nearly as good under load as a Bilstein, and with far more preload adjustment plus multiple spring options to tailor the setup to the weight you have actually built into the vehicle.
Dobinsons set the springs up to do the majority of the lift while still leaving you that big range of preload adjustment, so these are often a setup that can grow with you and your rig — you have the range to offset a fair amount of sag as you add weight. They also took the time to build different spring options for each engine and door count, which really helps get things right the first time.
That spring package does come with a price bump. If these are the right shock for you, it is worth the extra change.
Threaded Bodies
Unlike the Bilsteins and Icons, the IMS uses a threaded body, so you get far more finite ride height adjustment within the recommended range. Instead of choosing between a couple of preset heights, you can land just about anywhere between their recommended minimum and maximum.
How They Drive
Despite being strong in the travel department, they are not as optimized for smashing down a trail at speed as some of the others here. Dobinsons tuned them for traditional technical trail use and moderate speeds on fire roads — which, frankly, is how the majority of people actually use their vehicles.
Service life follows the same middle-ground theme: 60,000 to 80,000 miles, far longer than the 2.5 EXPs, and unlike the 6112s and 6100s they are easily rebuilt. So they may not last as long as a Bilstein, but they are not far off, and when they do wear out you are not forking over the cost of a complete replacement. We charge the same $200 per shock to rebuild these.
Tire Clearance
They sit a little longer fully compressed than the Icons or Bilsteins, so you may still see some rub at full compression on a 37" tire. If you are not having us or Dobinsons assemble them for you, it is no big deal to throw an extra or thicker washer under the included bump stops and sort it out. They are still about as long as the Icons fully extended, so even if you have to limit travel to fit those tires, you are ahead of a stock Bronco.
Of the three options covered so far, these are the friendliest to daily driving — more comfortable than the Bilsteins, lower maintenance than the Icons, happier at lower speeds on the trail, and easy to keep happy as you add armor, overland gear, and the rest.
We won't say they let you have your cake and eat it too, because they are not perfect. But brother, you definitely get a few bites of that sweet, sweet chiffon with these bad boys.
Not sure which spring rate fits your build? Call us at 213-433-3616 and we will spec it against your actual weight.
If you want to see where Dobinsons goes at the top of their range, read our Dobinsons MRR review on the 2021+ Bronco.
Fox 2.5 Performance Series HTO
"Fox 2.5 Performance Series Hydraulic Top Out Shocks" is a hell of a name, which is why we just call them the HTOs. And that HTO part of the name is exactly what makes them so good.
Like a number of shocks released in the last few years, these use a secondary piston to provide progressive support at the end of the stroke and reduce harsh top-outs. In our testing on similar applications, that has consistently been the key to far superior comfort across a wide range of conditions.
Where a lot of shocks punish you with harshness for driving too slow, or make you seasick with floatiness for going too fast down a washboard road, having rebound this well controlled lets them stay happy almost regardless of speed over the small stuff. On the big stuff, controlling top-outs helps you skim over successive hits — which usually nets more speed.
These came out long after our Bronco left the building, so we have not tested them on this platform ourselves. Customer feedback has been consistent, though: they may be the softest riding option on this list, albeit with the most unwanted body motion. Far more composed than stock, and if you are after a soft, cushy ride with enough support to get through harder trails and keep big tires on the ground, they are a strong contender.
Design and Adjustment
They are similar to the 6100s and 2.5 EXPs in that they are meant to run with your stock springs, but like the IMS they come with a threaded body. The aluminum body means you need a spring compressor to make adjustments, but the threads let you set the exact height you want rather than picking from presets.
Travel and Tire Clearance
Travel is right in line with the Bilsteins, which puts them below the Icons and Dobinsons — but that is by design. Fox optimized them out of the box for 37s, so you can bolt them up without spacing things out or cutting fenders. We still think Icon's approach is the best of the bunch, but there is real value in being able to bolt on big tires without another thought.
Tuning and Service Life
Fox likes to tune to a sweet spot, making their shocks applicable to most conditions, and a linear piston helps with that. You get the best small-bump compliance on this list with big-bump support comparable to everything else here. The only real sacrifice is a little handling sharpness versus the stiffer options.
Fox also just updated their oil from the venerable red JM92 to a blue oil with more Teflon impregnation. They have not changed the recommended 50,000-mile service interval, but we are reasonably confident more shocks will actually reach that 50k mark before a rebuild, with many going further under the right conditions. The change is new enough that we cannot give you an exact number, but expect them to land somewhere between an Icon and a Dobinsons — not a terrible compromise. Of everything on this list, they are also the easiest to rebuild.
Put simply: if you are the type who is going to call in and ask about getting a Cadillac-like ride, skip the call and order these right off the site.
More on the technology itself: Fox 2.5 HTO Shocks - Mid Tier Performance.
Which One Is Right for You?
Bilstein 6100 or 6112: if you want to keep it as cheap as possible, do not mind a firm ride, are not exceeding a 35" tire, and want something that will last as long or longer than the Bronco itself with next to no maintenance.
Icon 2.5 EXP: if you want something that does a little bit of everything well and do not mind servicing it by the 40k mark. They punch well above their price point, they are extremely versatile, and they offer the most travel plus the cleanest solution for clearing bigger tires.
Dobinsons IMS: if you are building a heavier rig, spend most of your time on technical trails and fire roads rather than at speed, and want threaded-body adjustment plus a spring package matched to your actual weight. The easiest of the group to live with day to day.
Fox 2.5 HTO: undoubtedly the softest and most comfortable option, while still offering all-out performance similar to the Icons. If comfort is the goal, these are the way to go, especially as tire size increases.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most people, the Icon 2.5 EXP. It delivers the most travel of the group — roughly 11" front and 13" rear — with a big comfort gain over the Bilsteins and handling that is nearly as sharp, plus a purpose-built bump stop spacer solution for 37s. The tradeoff is a 40,000-mile rebuild interval.
The strut is identical. The 6112 includes springs; the 6100 does not. The 6100 is optimized for the stock springs on HOSS 2.0 Broncos, which makes it a great replacement when the reservoirs fall off your factory Bilsteins. HOSS 1.0 models use a different taper spring that will not work with the 6100, so Bilstein developed a spring package for the 6112 that also adds about a half inch of lift. Many HOSS 2.0 owners choose the 6112 anyway just to get that extra height.
Not to anything on this list. The factory HOSS 3.0 Fox internal bypass shocks are position sensitive, and none of these intermediate options match that. You may gain lift or even travel, but you will give up comfort and support. HOSS 3.0 owners should look at the high-end tier instead.
With three of the four, yes. The Fox 2.5 HTO is optimized for 37s out of the box. The Icon 2.5 EXP uses Icon's own bump stop spacers to clear them and still leaves you with more travel than stock. The Dobinsons IMS may rub at full compression, but an extra or thicker washer under the included bump stops solves it. The Bilstein 6100 and 6112 are the exception — because they match stock compressed length and have limited travel, spacing for 37s leaves you with less travel than stock. Stick to 35s with those.
The Icon 2.5 EXP is rated for about 40,000 miles between rebuilds, the Fox 2.5 HTO for 50,000, and the Dobinsons IMS for 60,000 to 80,000. We rebuild all of them at $200 per shock. The Bilstein 6100 and 6112 are not rebuildable, but they routinely outlast everything else here by a wide margin.
The Dobinsons IMS. They offer multiple spring options broken out by engine and door count, the springs do most of the lifting, and you still get a wide preload adjustment range on top of that — so the setup can absorb a fair amount of sag as you keep adding weight. The Bilstein 6100 and 6112 are the other strong choice under load, though with less adjustability.
Everything but the Bilsteins should be paired aftermarket upper control arms regardless of lift height. Stock arms can work on the Bilsteins for up to around 1.5" over stock Sasquatch heigh, 2" over Badlands, or 2.5" over base height. We cover when you actually need them, and when you do not, in Part 1 of this series. A set of tie rod sleeves is cheap insurance regardless.
The Fox 2.5 HTO, based on consistent customer feedback. Its hydraulic top out piston keeps rebound controlled across a wide speed range, giving it the best small-bump compliance on this list. The tradeoff is slightly more body motion than the stiffer options here.
Ready to Go Further?
These are the sweet spot for most people — but there are options out there that blow this middling tier out of the water, and that is exactly where the next installment goes.
In the meantime, if you are interested in any of these shocks or anything else for your Bronco — or whatever you are whipping — Shock Surplus is your one-stop shop. Browse the full 2021-2026 Ford Bronco lift and coilover selection, or call us at 213-433-3616 and talk to someone who has actually driven the thing.
We will see you out on the trails.
