Icon lift kit or ToyTec lift kit?

[DEKA3]

I did some research for myself also, and this is the best that I could find:

Rebuildable Shocks? - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

I guess if you do a lot of off-roading, you will blow the shocks/struts more often than an on-roader. I guess rebuilding them is cheaper than replacing them, hence the benefit. But I may be wrong...
IMO, from what I have read, you cant go wrong with ToyTec & Bilsteins. As a matter of fact, a ToyTec lift will be my next mod...hopefully sooner than later.

Would somebody please be so kind as to expand on this in more detail?

If I were to go with Icon what exactly does "keep up" mean?

 

[harper7]

Would somebody please be so kind as to expand on this in more detail?

If I were to go with Icon what exactly does "keep up" mean?

I think he means "Keep up" as in when/if the seals get worn and start to bypass or seep you have to send it in to Icon to have them replaced. Where Toytec or maybe Bilstein since it's actually their shocks,warranties the shocks for life and will just replace them since they are not rebuildable.

I have Icons and still love em with 30k miles and counting on them.

 

[phillyd2]

Ok. There are comments out there on the internets that they need to be rebuilt every 12-24 months.

 

[joneseyyy]

Ok. There are comments out there on the internets that they need to be rebuilt every 12-24 months.

Again, my guess is "your experience will vary". Big variance in the amount of use people put these through. My guess is frequent high-speed, large % of max travel use will drive a significantly shorter rebuild window compared to mostly on-road, and lower speed wheeling.

I've had mine for nearly 15K miles and no complaints, still feel like they did brand new. I'll have em looked at in another 15K miles.

 

[phillyd2]

I have Icons and still love em with 30k miles and counting on them.

I've had mine for nearly 15K miles and no complaints, still feel like they did brand new.

How much and what kind of off roading have you guys done during those miles?

 

[tlflow]

For gas shocks/stuts (most of the time) shaft damage nicks or from road salt will result in seal damage or dust/tiny grit will accumulate and damage the seals/shaft. If the shafts are protected and you keep them clean, they can last a very long time, until the seals get hard and leak.

Shocks that have oil in them require oil to be replaced due to 'wear' from heat and shear stress on the oil. Motocross bikes have oil, normal riding requires rebuild 1/year, racers 2-3X. However, most people can't tell the difference, so they neglect the maintenance and ride to failure (I blew a seal and covered my front brake with fork oil, I figured this out going into e left-hander at the end of a long straight ... puckered-up I was, for a week!).

Most people can't tell the shock/strut is gone, you see them driving down the road one tire hopping up and down, or the whole car bouncing.

they all will all fail at some point

price and performance - pick what you like the best, you'll be happy

 

[joneseyyy]

How much and what kind of off roading have you guys done during those miles?

Probably 90-95% of my miles are on-road, but a large part of those are commuting around the DC area, so not nice, smooth highway. I get on the trails on avg. about once per month, and that wheeling is mostly lower speed (never really above 25, and usually slower) on terrain that can mostly be done in 4-high. Your typical East Coast wooded (and often mountainous) trails.

 

[phillyd2]

Probably 90-95% of my miles are on-road, but a large part of those are commuting around the DC area, so not nice, smooth highway. I get on the trails on avg. about once per month, and that wheeling is mostly lower speed (never really above 25, and usually slower) on terrain that can mostly be done in 4-high. Your typical East Coast wooded (and often mountainous) trails.

Thanks! BTW, sorry if I missed it but which system did you go with? Do the snow / beach pics in your album have it installed?

Great looking truck!