Icon coilover question and thoughts

[3rdgenfan]

Needed to upgrade my front suspension. The bumper and winch are starting to take there tool. Looking into the icon coilovers. I noticed I can get the standard and extended travel for the same price. Might as well get the extended travel.

If you have these installed on your rig can you post pictures. Your experience positive or negative.

 

[JayRolla]

Needed to upgrade my front suspension. The bumper and winch are starting to take there tool. Looking into the icon coilovers. I noticed I can get the standard and extended travel for the same price. Might as well get the extended travel.

If you have these installed on your rig can you post pictures. Your experience positive or negative.

The extended have a little more travel and they recommend uni ball uca's to take advantage.

 

[3rdgenfan]

The extended have a little more travel and they recommend uni ball uca's to take advantage.

Plan on picking some of those up as well. Just seeing people who run gen them if they enjoy them or not.

 

[JayRolla]

Plan on picking some of those up as well. Just seeing people who run gen them if they enjoy them or not.

From what I know most people get extended. Either way the limiting factor of the stock geometry is going to hold you back before you can fully extend the icons. I believe normal is 9.5" travel and extended is 10.5". My brother runs Icons on his 4th gen and its a very nice setup. They are soft and ride good on the road. They wont fade offroad and can take a beating. You are not going wrong with Icon.

 

[A.Wilson013]

I've had Icon coilovers for quite some time and really like them. In fact, I like them so much that I bought them again. I will say, however, that with my larger battery, skid plates, bumper, and winch, the 650lb springs are getting their butts kicked. They do ride much better than the 700lb coils I had on my old coilovers, however.

I started with extended travel coilovers with 650lb springs, then jumped to 700lb springs. I sold those coilovers and upgraded to the extended travel with remote reservoirs and CDC valving, and am running the 650lb springs again.

DSC_0063 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

If you get the coilovers, I highly recommend upgrading the shocks at the same time. I have the remote reservoir w/ CDC valve shocks, but even the 2.0 series are a huge upgrade over bilstein.

 

[3rdgenfan]

I've had Icon coilovers for quite some time and really like them. In fact, I like them so much that I bought them again. I will say, however, that with my larger battery, skid plates, bumper, and winch, the 650lb springs are getting their butts kicked. They do ride much better than the 700lb coils I had on my old coilovers, however.

I started with extended travel coilovers with 650lb springs, then jumped to 700lb springs. I sold those coilovers and upgraded to the extended travel with remote reservoirs and CDC valving, and am running the 650lb springs again.

DSC_0063 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

If you get the coilovers, I highly recommend upgrading the shocks at the same time. I have the remote reservoir w/ CDC valve shocks, but even the 2.0 series are a huge upgrade over bilstein.

I am for sure going with the 2.5's. Just debating on spending the extra coin for the remote res ones. One sick looking rig you got.

 

[NWFL4Runner]

Have the 2.5 extended, love them. Also, can upgrade to remote resi for $645 later (including rebuild) if you're on the fence. I also run stock UCAs (for now) and haven't had any issues.

 

[3rdgenfan]

Have the 2.5 extended, love them. Also, can upgrade to remote resi for $645 later (including rebuild) if you're on the fence. I also run stock UCAs (for now) and haven't had any issues.

Nice to know you can add it later. How do you set them to the 3" of lift? Do they come with instructions for that?

 

[NWFL4Runner]

Yup - wrench it if you want to adjust (Icon sells the wrench, not sure if there's generic equivalent). Bit more detailed than this, but you get the gist.

 

[SDmtnbkr]

I've had Icon coilovers for quite some time and really like them. In fact, I like them so much that I bought them again. I will say, however, that with my larger battery, skid plates, bumper, and winch, the 650lb springs are getting their butts kicked. They do ride much better than the 700lb coils I had on my old coilovers, however.

I started with extended travel coilovers with 650lb springs, then jumped to 700lb springs. I sold those coilovers and upgraded to the extended travel with remote reservoirs and CDC valving, and am running the 650lb springs again.

If you get the coilovers, I highly recommend upgrading the shocks at the same time. I have the remote reservoir w/ CDC valve shocks, but even the 2.0 series are a huge upgrade over bilstein.

I've heard that the suspension is hard at slow speed and get softer the faster you go (digressive valving) , can you comment on your experience with that? Are rocks and bumps just jarring at slow speeds? Or does the suspension soak it up, but just not as well as at high speeds?

 

[A.Wilson013]

I've heard that the suspension is hard at slow speed and get softer the faster you go (digressive valving) , can you comment on your experience with that? Are rocks and bumps just jarring at slow speeds? Or does the suspension soak it up, but just not as well as at high speeds?

It's not jarring, but you can feel the bumps around town. To be honest, I can not tell any difference around town in my 4Runner vs. my buddy's 3rd gen w/ King Coilovers which are progressive.

But yes, as you get going faster and the piston starts moving more quickly, it does soften up.

I've had friends and family (not 4Runner people) comment on how much better my 4Runner rides than they expected. Obviously stiffer than stock, but nothing even remotely uncomfortable.

 

[infamousRNR]

I've had Icon coilovers for quite some time and really like them. In fact, I am running the 650lb springs again.

DSC_0063 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

If you get the coilovers, I highly recommend upgrading the shocks at the same time. I have the remote reservoir w/ CDC valve shocks, but even the 2.0 series are a huge upgrade over bilstein.

dude!

this thing is beautious maximus. i love trolling your build thread and then crying myself to sleep

 

[JayRolla]

I have a hate/Jealously relationship with A.Wilsons rig. I wish I could have all that cash to go all out on my rig!!!! LOL.

To add, I drove my brothers 4th gen on Icon 650's for a good 1000 miles to Arizona this summer. I never once thought it was stiff on the road. It felt really good IMO. If anything it feels a little soft when turning, a lot more body roll than I would have expected.

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

look into Kings. and the 14" spring vs. the 13" spring helps. i currently run a King setup. 700lbs springs front and rear remote resi 2.5 shocks with 2.5 compression adjusters all around. probabbly going back down to a 650lb spring or a 600 lbs spring later on down the road to smooth the ride out more.

the icons are okay but with that money you are better off looking into companies elsewhere dont follow the icon hype. look into Kings, ADS, and radflo. all quality stuff and customer service is great. icon i can say to much for there service over the last 6 years. they have failed me to many times and have made excuses for everything they do.

A.wilsons current and last setups are both of mine of my rig. i really did like the basic when they were first released but the quality went down hill.

 

[SDmtnbkr]

It's not jarring, but you can feel the bumps around town. To be honest, I can not tell any difference around town in my 4Runner vs. my buddy's 3rd gen w/ King Coilovers which are progressive.

But yes, as you get going faster and the piston starts moving more quickly, it does soften up.

I've had friends and family (not 4Runner people) comment on how much better my 4Runner rides than they expected. Obviously stiffer than stock, but nothing even remotely uncomfortable.

Sorry, I should have been a little more clear, I don't really mean around town. I just bought an '02 that I plan to make a dedicated adventure rig. I kind of meant more on off-road trails where you rolling over smaller stuff. Like a trail full of baby head rocks where they are just a little too big to go fast on but you're not crawling. You just kinda bump around over them, if that makes sense.

I ask, because I'm in very serious negotiations with the other half about what modifications our new adventure rig needs. I'm building a case for full extension CDC coilovers/shocks front and rear! ray:ray: ....but if I sell it to her that it's a much smoother ride off road and I spend $4k on them and she's getting a concussion hitting those babyhead trails are slow speeds... well, let's just say daddy's privileges might be cut off. Like physically cut of :shocked:

Thanks for the help!!

 

[JayRolla]

Sorry, I should have been a little more clear, I don't really mean around town. I just bought an '02 that I plan to make a dedicated adventure rig. I kind of meant more on off-road trails where you rolling over smaller stuff. Like a trail full of baby head rocks where they are just a little too big to go fast on but you're not crawling. You just kinda bump around over them, if that makes sense.

I ask, because I'm in very serious negotiations with the other half about what modifications our new adventure rig needs. I'm building a case for full extension CDC coilovers/shocks front and rear! ray:ray: ....but if I sell it to her that it's a much smoother ride off road and I spend $4k on them and she's getting a concussion hitting those babyhead trails are slow speeds... well, let's just say daddy's privileges might be cut off. Like physically cut of :shocked:

Thanks for the help!!

No issues on the trail. We religiously run 12psi in our tires on all trails and his Icon rig does just fine, never noticed an issue. On the trail they work better. Even when going slow. The constant working of the shock allows it to soften the load. Its the single hard hits on the road that can be more stiff.

 

[Cat100]

I was running icons with their 700 spring since i have a heavy front end and it seemed to work great. It was stiff on small bumps on the street, like expansion cracks, and did seem to have more body roll in corners. But it did take big hits way better.

 

[ghostmoney]

Sorry, I should have been a little more clear, I don't really mean around town. I just bought an '02 that I plan to make a dedicated adventure rig. I kind of meant more on off-road trails where you rolling over smaller stuff. Like a trail full of baby head rocks where they are just a little too big to go fast on but you're not crawling. You just kinda bump around over them, if that makes sense.

I ask, because I'm in very serious negotiations with the other half about what modifications our new adventure rig needs. I'm building a case for full extension CDC coilovers/shocks front and rear! ray:ray: ....but if I sell it to her that it's a much smoother ride off road and I spend $4k on them and she's getting a concussion hitting those babyhead trails are slow speeds... well, let's just say daddy's privileges might be cut off. Like physically cut of :shocked:

Thanks for the help!!

I have the Icon Stage 5 kit and on those types of roads I have found myself going faster than I usually would with a different setup and the shocks just soak it up, but going slow it is still a great ride offroad.

 

[3rdgenfan]

Thanks everyone for there comments and @A.Wislon013 for the picture of his nice rig. Couldn't wait any longer and ordered a set of Icon 2.5 non res extended travels. I do plan on getting a set of tubular upper control arms. Ordered them from Toytec and they will be here tomorrow. Also had to get a spanner wrench. Find it crazy that you spend $1100 on some coilovers and have to pay $28 for the wrench.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Thanks everyone for there comments and @A.Wislon013 for the picture of his nice rig. Couldn't wait any longer and ordered a set of Icon 2.5 non res extended travels. I do plan on getting a set of tubular upper control arms. Ordered them from Toytec and they will be here tomorrow. Also had to get a spanner wrench. Find it crazy that you spend $1100 on some coilovers and have to pay $28 for the wrench.

Toytec is a great group of dudes, but [MENTION=118252]Chas of MRT[/MENTION] cannot (literally cannot) be beaten for prices on Icon... Make sure you contact him for future purchases to save some coin.



As for the "baby head" rocks... I go slow on stuff like that at 10-14psi typically. It's a bit rough, but in all the trucks I've been in, I've yet to find one that's making those things not be rough. I think you'd need some big ol' tires with monster sidewalls to smooth those things out.