icon vs king decision help

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Not really apples to apples. If you've got the cash the Kings are better due to the remote resi. I've heard the kings are softer on road and still great off. I find the icons to be a little stiff on road.

Closest to the King in your link would be thishttp://iconvehicledynamics.com/shop...er-0-35-suspension-system-stage5-tubular.html
But that's more than the King as it includes more rear components with that control arm.



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Get the Kings only through a groupbuy on here or sale. Then piece together better rear springs (maybe even the MT LT kit with King spec'd rear shocks) and cheaper UCA's.
 
I have the Icon setup with the cdcv I found quite a difference., funny my friend got in and said did I change the suspension he noticed within 20 min of driving ., on the other hand off roading I let my friend drive it during an off road trip and he said " this is like luxury off roading I knew I made the right choice and they adjust quite comfortably.
 

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I have used kings before and agree they are just about the best you can buy. I really want to buy a complete kit but if I have to piece it togethor I will. The only thing I will also be adding is air bags I do tow occasionally\
Swift, truck looks great what size tires are you running?
 
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Not sure if kings offer this, but icon will rebuild your coilovers if they ever blow for a fraction of the price of a new set. Just something to consider if you plan on keeping your 4runner long term.

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i would go with the icon kit simply because me and i know of multiple others that more than dislike the toytec superflex rear springs. honestly for that price you can get the full metaltech kit with the same icon front coilovers and their rear longtravel kit with probably the best springs for the rear of our trucks.
Metal Tech 4x4 FJ Cruiser Rear Long Travel Kit w/ Icon Coilovers

just add the upper control arms of your choice and youre set. now if we have another king groupbuy here go for those but my suggestion for the rear still stands.
examples:
Total Chaos UCA's, FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, 4Runner - Metal Tech 4x4
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 4Runner Tubular Uniball Upper Control Arms
or any of the multiple other UCAs available like JBA, SPC, The Ebay arms, ect.
 
JustSomeName said:
Not sure if kings offer this, but icon will rebuild your coilovers if they ever blow for a fraction of the price of a new set. Just something to consider if you plan on keeping your 4runner long term.

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Click to expand...

King also offers a fully rebuildable shock... most of the high end options are like that... For the money they better be.
 
[MENTION=141973]oldmansimek[/MENTION]

I have flip flopped over the King vs ICON in my own head many times. I did as much reading as possible about the valving differences, progressive vs digressive...

I think it really comes down to a few things for me, since I think I would really be happy with either one if I had adjusters.

I spend more time in the desert and want a plush ride. I feel the King would be better for me overall. The harder you push a progressive shock the harder dampening forces become.

I have found that I need to drive a digressive harder to blow thought that initial stoke of stiffness off-road to get it to open up, but often times I have found on larger higher speed terrain that if you blow though the stiffer valving there isn't much there to catch you until you get to your bumpstops.

I think digressive setup with some tuning capability would offer the best of both worlds for someone who wants a more street-centric tune/setup or for a car that might spend way more of its time on-road than off. Sometimes on the freeway its nice to have a stiffer shock.

Personally I want a 2.5" body, and I want to be able to tune it so the adjusters I feel is the last piece of the puzzle. Going this far down into the rabbit hole I might as well spend a little more and get the best bolt on stuff I could get.

I don't have King shocks yet, but I am pretty dang sure that's where I am going to end up. I am currently running a 6112/5100 combo.
 
I know nothing of your offroad activities but I will say that unless you're adding compression adjustment, you likely have no need for remote reservoirs. Compression adjustment is the bees knees. Total game changer. The haters that don't have it will tell you it does nothing. Those that have it will tell you it's amazing.

I'm not the guy that will knock you for buying them for looks. They look bad ass.

Hit up [MENTION=120150]TotalAutomotiveLV[/MENTION] for the best price on Icon. They will not be beaten.
 
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A.Wilson013 said:
I know nothing of your offroad activities but I will say that unless you're adding compression adjustment, you likely have no need for remote reservoirs. Compression adjustment is the bees knees. Total game changer. The haters that don't have it will tell you it does nothing. Those that have it will tell you it's amazing.

I'm not the guy that will knock you for buying them for looks. They look bad ass.

Hit up [MENTION=120150]TotalAutomotiveLV[/MENTION] for the best price on Icon. They will not be beaten.
Click to expand...

What are you going with your on GX470? Icon Again? I ordered Icon 2.5 extended, SPC UCA and Icon 2.0 rear for my 4th gen. Those compressors while nice are $$$. Might upgrade the rears to them in a year or two though.
 
masphx said:
What are you going with your on GX470? Icon Again? I ordered Icon 2.5 extended, SPC UCA and Icon 2.0 rear for my 4th gen. Those compressors while nice are $$$. Might upgrade the rears to them in a year or two though.
Click to expand...

I am trying something new for the sake of trying something new. Working with ARB/OME to get a BP-51 setup for the KDSS GX470s. Just waiting on the driver coilover now...

Not sure it matters, but I also went with Camburg UCAs. Again, for the sake of trying something new.

Those SPC arms lasted about a year on my 4Runner. After about 10k miles (probably 1000 moving pretty quickly offroad) they had all sorts of play in the ball joint. Took them off and sold them to a friend for $100, replaced with Icon.
 
oldmansimek said:
i have used kings before and agree they are just about the best you can buy. I really want to buy a complete kit but if i have to piece it togethor i will. The only thing i will also be adding is air bags i do tow occasionally\
swift, truck looks great what size tires are you running?
Click to expand...

285/70/17
 
Kings or Icon either way it will be an improvement. I believe the only downside of King is they only give a 2-2.5 lift, and are not adjustable while installed on the truck. Icons can go up to 3" if I recall.
 
HOJeepster said:
Kings or Icon either way it will be an improvement. I believe the only downside of King is they only give a 2-2.5 lift, and are not adjustable while installed on the truck. Icons can go up to 3" if I recall.
Click to expand...

That is really unfortunate... almost to the point of being annoying if you want to fine tune the setup.

Does that still apply to other products they make too, for example the shocks used in a long travel setup?

I wonder if they OME is making the BP-51 for the 4th Gen? That thing really has my attention right now but being a desert guy its hard to not keep looking at king.

I dont think the ICON or the King are position sensitive internal bypass right? From my understanding the Icon / King shocks were shaft speed sensitive, not position like a true multi-way bypass.

BP-51 | ARB 4x4 Accessories

 
The 4runner is my girlfriends and I have a couple dedicated off road rigs the main goal for this is an expedition vehicle. I am leaning towards the kings I found this the other day.
https://wheelersoffroad.com/product...lover-camburg-uni-ball-control-arm-package-2/

I am thinking I will do this (adjustable) for the front then go with kings in the rear and whatever I can find for the best rear coils.
As for looks obviously I want it to look good (who wouldnt) but that is not why I want to do this I have kings on a 67 scout and they are incredible and they have lasted almost 10 years off road only and they get beaten pretty hard.
 
I got the Icons 2.5 adjustable reservoirs up front and back the second go around. I originally bought standard icons and they were not that great.

I will never look back. Being able to adjust the ride is very nice.

See build thread link.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/214334-hivel-jr-build-thread-5.html

It is personal preference like many have said. And it also comes down to cash. My main reason for going with Icon was the warranty/repair and i think it was Brian at MetalTech4x4 that talked me into them. I believe they are 100% made here in the USA as well, which is a big deal to some folks.

The whole setup was expensive, but so worth it.
 
Sorry, meant to say i had purchased the Stage 2 icon kit at first.

Then swapped out the coil overs and rear shocks for the adjustable reservoirs.

Also I would call these guys at Metaltech4x4 or what ever the website is you are looking at.

Most of them use this stuff and they will ask you how you plan to use it. I told Brian at metaltech i would use my ICONS to get groceries and he laughed and said "then you need the Icon stage 2 kit."
 
A.Wilson013 said:
I am trying something new for the sake of trying something new. Working with ARB/OME to get a BP-51 setup for the KDSS GX470s. Just waiting on the driver coilover now...

Not sure it matters, but I also went with Camburg UCAs. Again, for the sake of trying something new.

Those SPC arms lasted about a year on my 4Runner. After about 10k miles (probably 1000 moving pretty quickly offroad) they had all sorts of play in the ball joint. Took them off and sold them to a friend for $100, replaced with Icon.
Click to expand...

That ARB system does looks nice! Are they custom building it for you or will this be available to the 120 platform soon? Yes, there seems to be QC issues with SPC but they seem to have made improvements like the grease fitting to now lube that ball joint. Time will tell on them.

Anyway, this post has me in a tail spin again on suspension. I went with Icon again as they seem to make it the easier to shop for specific suspension tuned exactly for your rig. For instance I just tried searching for Kings via their site and a few others and can't find shocks for the 4th gen. I know there are kits out there but I want to see al-a-carte pricing and description. Plus I got a 25% off retail deal on the Icons so went with it again on my 4th gen. I also thought digressive would be better for higher speed desert runs but others thing progressive is better. I'm building this rig as a DD for my GF and our baby plus as an overland rig for long trips on dirt. Thus comfort and control are my primary concerns. My Icon does seem 'harsh' at times and it does suck sometimes having to bring it up to speed on shelf roads which we have plenty of in AZ. Maybe King would be better for me in the end? I just can't find their equivalent of a stage two ICON setup.
 
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