Drill King's heavy-duty shock subs sit directly above the DTH hammer, absorbing impact energy and harmful vibration before it reaches the rotation head, drill rods, and joints — built in the USA from mill-certified steel, for air and water drilling alike.
DTH (Down-the-Hole) shock absorbers, or shock subs, are precision-engineered components installed directly above the DTH hammer in the drill string. Their job is simple but critical: absorb and dissipate the impact energy and harmful vibration generated by percussive drilling before it travels up the string toward the rig’s rotation head, boom joints, and drill rods. Left unmanaged, that vibration leads to premature wear, thread damage, and costly downtime on what is usually the most expensive component on the rig.
Drill King’s shock subs are built from U.S. mill-certified steel, with increased internal drive splines for higher torque handling and wear resistance, and are engineered to work across both air and water DTH drilling applications. They’re available in eight sizes — 3″ through 18″ OD — with API REG threads to seamlessly fit Drill King hammers as well as most competitor models.
One design platform engineered to perform in dry compressed-air drilling and water-driven DTH applications alike, with no compromise on either.
Increased internal drive splines improve torque handling and wear resistance, extending service life between rebuilds.
Manufactured in Mansfield, Texas, from the toughest domestically sourced steel to withstand high-impact, abrasive ground conditions.
Industry-standard API REG pin/box connections mean every Drill King shock sub bolts straight onto Drill King hammers — or your existing fleet.
Reduced vibration transfer means fewer rotation head repairs, longer rod life, and fewer unplanned trips out of the hole.
Simple eight-part construction with a dedicated XT Pro series soft pack kit, designed for fast field rebuilds with standard wrench-flat tooling.
Transfers rotation — carries torque from the rig down through the sub while allowing controlled axial movement under impact.
Secures the assembly — locks the upper connection. Break-out is always performed on wrench flats, never on the top nut itself.
Holds the stack together — keep internal components correctly positioned and provide wrench-flat surfaces for field servicing.
The wear components in the assembly, replaced as a complete soft-pack seal kit on a routine service interval.<br />
Connects to the hammer — API REG box connection threads directly onto the top of the DTH hammer below.<br />
Foundation and civil drilling programs.
Production and development drilling.
Energy drilling drill string protection.
Blast-hole and bench drilling operations.
Municipal, agricultural, and geothermal well construction.
Mineral exploration and sampling programs.
Eight models covering hole sizes from compact exploration and water-well rigs through large-diameter construction and mining setups. All dimensions per Drill King technical brochures.
| Model | Assembly P/N | Thread Connection | OD (in/mm) | Eff. Length (in/mm) | Weight (lbs/kg) | Make-Up Torque (lb-ft/N·m) | Rotation Torque (lb-ft/N·m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DKSA30 | DKSA3-2.38PXB | 2-3/8” API REG | 3.35 / 85 | 18.2 / 463 | 36 / 16.3 | 2,000 / 2,712 | 500 / 687 |
| DKSA40 | DKSA4-2.38PXB | 2-3/8” API REG | 3.86 / 98 | 18.2 / 462 | 51 / 23.1 | 2,000 / 2,712 | 500 / 687 |
| DKSA50 | DKSA5-3.5PXB | 3-1/2” API REG | 4.76 / 121 | 19.4 / 493 | 77 / 35 | 4,500 / 6,102 | 725 / 983 |
| DKSA60 | DKSA6-3.5PXB | 3-1/2” API REG | 5.59 / 142 | 21.6 / 548 | 121 / 55 | 4,500 / 6,102 | 725 / 983 |
| DKSA80 | DKSA8-4.5PXB | 4-1/2” API REG | 7.16 / 182 | 25.6 / 650 | 233 / 106 | 7,000 / 9,492 | 1,750 / 2,373 |
| DKSA10 | DKSA10-6.63PXB | 6-5/8” API REG | 8.9 / 226 | 27.2 / 691 | 360 / 164 | 12,000 / 16,272 | 3,000 / 4,068 |
| DKSA12 | DKSA12-6.63PXB | 6-5/8” API REG | 10.2 / 259 | 29.7 / 754 | 555 / 252 | 12,000 / 16,272 | 3,000 / 4,068 |
| DKSA18 | DKSA18-8.63PXB | 8-5/8” API REG | 16.0 / 406 | 32.4 / 823 | 1,473 / 670 | 20,000 / 27,120 | 10,000 / 13,560 |
Need help matching a shock sub to your hammer size or thread spec? Request a quote and our team will confirm fitment before you order. Downloadable technical brochures available for each model on request.
Match the shock sub’s thread connection and OD to your hammer’s shank size, not the hole diameter. Drill King’s shock subs run from 3″ (2-3/8″ API REG) up to 18″ (8-5/8″ API REG) — check the specifications table, or send us your hammer model and we’ll confirm fitment.
Yes. Every Drill King shock sub in this range is engineered for both air and water DTH drilling applications, so you don’t need a separate tool when switching drilling mediums.
Replace soft packing with the DKI XT Pro series seal kit every 180 days or 500 drilling hours, whichever comes first, and inspect splines and pin connections before every run.
In most cases, yes. Drill King shock subs use industry-standard API REG pin/box threads, so they’re designed to fit Drill King hammers as well as most other major manufacturers’ hammers of the equivalent size.
None — the terms are used interchangeably in DTH drilling. Both describe the same in-string component installed above the hammer to absorb vibration and impact energy.
The percussive core of the drill string, matched in size and thread to every shock sub above.
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Tungsten carbide button bits engineered for penetration rate and durability across all hammer sizes.
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Simultaneous drill-and-case solutions from 5.5” up to 36”, often paired with a shock sub for added protection.
View More →Thread adapters, stabilizers, and fishing tools to complete your drill string configuration.
View More →Tell us your hammer size and application, and we'll confirm the right shock sub for your drill string — built to perform, engineered to last, made in the USA.
Built tough enough for the unpredictability of job sites, our equipment minimizes costly downtime and re-drills.
Every hole counts, and our tools are built to keep penetration rates high even in unpredictable, mixed formations.
Engineered for open-pit and underground alike, our tools lower per-meter drilling costs without sacrificing performance.
Engineered for the rigors of well-site conditions, our hammers and bits extend service life while reducing per-foot drilling costs.
Less downtime, fewer bit changes, more material moved. That's the Drill King difference for quarry operators who can't afford to slow down.
From residential wells to large-scale geothermal fields, our tools are trusted to get the job done right the first time
