Ironman Foam Cell Pro
 

I have been seeing more and more people ordering the Ironman Foam Cell Pro lift but haven't seen a consolidated thread on the product. They are popular in Australia but don't have a strong foothold here in the US. Looks like they are gaining a little bit of traction with the 5th Gen 4Runner crowd. If you have the lift this is the thread to post in.

"A shock typically fades as the internal temperature increases, oil and Nitro-gas emulsify; under consistent use, this can lead to complete failure. Foam Cell technology removes the Nitro-Gas from the equation, filling the shock absorber with oil. More oil equates to increased cooling/dissipation of heat; our foam cell sleeve controls the dampening of the piston. The results are the optimal performance, specifically with heavier vehicles carrying accessories such as front/rear bumpers, winches, rooftop tents, work equipment, or when towing.

Foam cell technology also decreases the strain on the shock by removing the Nitro-gas, this removes internal pressure on the seals and increases the service life of the strut, allowing the Foam Cell Pro's to work at peak performance for much longer than any other suspension out there. When it is time for a service, the Foam Cell Pro shock absorbers are completely rebuildable."

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These are popular on ih8mud with the GX crowd as well. I've heard a lot of good things about them from others as well. Given the price point I think they slot between your basic Bilstein, Eibach, OME, Dobinsons setup versus a race shock like Kings, Fox, Radflo, Icon. They sound like a good option for those that want a good performing shock without necessarily the adjustability of a race shock. I'd like to hear more user experiences about them too.

Toyota 4Runner 2010+/Lexus GX460 Foam Cell Pro Suspension Kit - Stage 2

Actually have been eyeing them for my next set up. Local shop folks around here have them on their LC80/100s and love them!

With their 20% off and free shipping, plus another 15% on top of that I ended up getting their Stage 2 for $1360 shipped. Not a bad deal with UCA's. Unfortunately they are backordered till at least May 4th.

If an extra 15% off will push you over the edge, I have a coupon code for you.

I've been running the Foam Cell Pro's since May 2017 (40k+ miles). I have had exactly zero issues with them. At the time, I really couldn't find many people who ran them on their 4Runner.

I was looking for something adjustable, but also very low maintenance and robust without overpaying for racing shocks that I didn't need; the FCPs really fit the bill here. I read too many anecdotes about Bilsteins leaking or the shaft pulling out of the eyelet. OME seemed to ride harsh and wasn't adjustable. I had no desire for the extra complexity of monotube racing shocks with external reservoirs.

These things are hefty in size and weight. I also appreciate the 360 weld around the eyelet. I've been on two 6,000-mile National Park road trips out west with a good amount of off roading with no issues. They are comfortable enough for a daily driver as well. I chose firm valving up front, soft in the rear with comfort springs up front and Icon 52700 springs in the back.

I will absolutely stick with this same setup if I do it all over again.

does that code work for other things on the site?

meh....a monotube shock has the oil and gas separated by the piston... also the gas provides the pressure for rebound. So the shock is all oil, whats creating the pressure to extend the shock? Seems like a great way to having a bucking bronco. (yes i know springs are pushing down but springs hold the weight, shocks control the movement)

what happens when the foam cell gets cooked from one long stretch of a dirt road? IDK, foam bumpers inside my shocks seems like a step backwards.

Everything has an application.

These seem to be liked by guys running some heavy ass vehicles on technical trails.

I don't know exactly how it works, but they seem to have very positive reviews from people running it in Australia. So I assume it would be running pretty cool in such a hot environment like Australia. Land Cruiser guys are giving the company positive views as well. The Foam Cell is supposed to provide superior cooling over normal gas/oil shocks since there is more oil in the shock. According to Ironman they are supposed to recover better than normal gas/oil shocks. They are also fully rebuildable.

Not sure. You can try it though. Coupon code:THE-IRONMAN-CALVARY

yea i read the ad. Questions still stand.

You could always email or chat with them. Their customer service is top notch. I have yet to hear a negative thing about them from the LC guys. I also don't desert run my truck, if you do might not be the best choice for you obviously. I doubt 99% of the people running remote Resi's run their shocks hard enough for them. These are supposed to have added cooling over standard shocks. I guess probably around the Dobinson IMS applications. Increased cooling but for people who don't need remote resi

Thanks for the feed back!

Pretty sure the gas pressure is to reduce foaming, and adds no appreciable rebound. Shocks need no pressure to extend, the springs do all of that.

ETA:

"When a twin tube shock is gas charged, the purpose is to minimize aeration of the hydraulic fluid, this occurs when the shock is working hard and heating up. The nitrogen gas pressure compresses air bubbles in the hydraulic fluid, which prevents oil and air mixing (foam). Without aeration, the shock is able to function more efficiently and reliably."

* * *

"Foam Cell Twin Tube - A foam cell shock uses a compact foam sleeve inside the twin tube body, taking the place of a nitrogen gas charge. The foam cell is more compact than the nitrogen gas in terms of volume, leaving more room for hydraulic shock oil, which is the main cooling agent of the shock. Many foam cell shocks are developed for high heat environments, as they typically do better than Nitrogen Gas charged shocks in resisting fade through heavy use."

So it sounds like they are designed with heat in mind. I suppose should the foam get cooked, then aeration could follow, but I presume they selected foam to withstand the heat. I don't know why foam would cook before seals, o-rings, etc.

Shock Absorber Designs - Emulsion, Foam Cell, Nitrogen Gas, Monotube, – Shock Surplus

Thats what i was thinking. I know nitro shocks can add a little to spring rates but not sure the pressure is enough to aid in rebound. Kings are pressured to i think 200-250psi.

uh by that logic there is no reason for valving in shocks if you think the spring does it all.