Icon vs Toytec?

G

gadgetguy1288

New member
Seeing the sale prices on the Icon kits got me thinking...... I was planing on going with the Toytec Ultimate kit w/ LR UCA's, but the Icon stage 2 kit w/LR UCA's is only a couple hundred more right now.


Other than price what is different between the two kits? I'm ASSuming that there is something about the Icon stage 2 kit that makes it worth the extra money, but is it?
 
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The toytecs are basically 5100's with an adjustable collar, which is completely fine. The icons are are available in ext. travel, giving you and extra 7/8 of an inch down travel at the shock. They're digressive and have #650 springs. Unfortunately for some reason they use shorter coils, which means they require a bit more preload than king or fox coilovers. They have also had issues with their top plates cracking. I'm not to sure about the valving and springs on the toytecs, but either are fine for some weekend adventures.
 
Icons are completely rebuildable, custom valving available, whereas the Bilsteins are not. Like what mgrande said, the Toytec Ultimate kit is basically a 5100-series shock that is more of a stock replacement than a performance shock. The Icons are also available as long travel. Also the piston diameter on the Icons are 2.5 vs the Toytec 2.0- not much of a difference if you're not planning on offroading but it's much better for the high speed stuff through washboards etc.

Bottom line is if you're not doing any offroading, you'll be fine with the Ultimate Lift Kit or even the base Bilstein kit (which is the same as the Ultimate Lift Kit without the Toytec collars). But if you are, I'd spring for the Icon kit :)
 
I am in a similar situation as Gadgetguy right now. I have the Daystar lift right now and have been increasingly disliking the quality of the lift. It's time to quit messing around and install either the ToyTec Ultimate or the Icon stage 1. And with the sale Metal Tech has going right now, the difference in price is less than $200 (Icon is literally that close in price to the ToyTec)! My question is that I drive 35,000 miles a year. And it's my understanding that the Icon's require some maintenance and upkeep throughout their years (rebuilding the shocks ect). I think I understand the difference between the two kits, but really am curious which kit better suits my driving style (lots of highway driving and realistically 2% truly offroad). The DayStar fit my 275/60-20's without rubbing. I'm hoping I can get away with either the ToyTec Ultimate or Icon and not have to purchase new UCA's. I guess what I'm asking is which kit would you go with? I know this seems like a complete noob question, but please trust that I have been on here literally for years (always researching and searching some more before I ask questions on here). And I think I'm overanalyzing it at this point (being it's my third time messing with the suspension!). Thanks so much guys as I really do appreciate the input!!
 
Where exactly have you found such a good deal on the Icon to where it's only a cuple hundread more than the TT Ultimate? I just checked and the Icon stage 1 (no UCA's) cost more than the TT Ultimate w/ LR UCA's and spanner wrench.
 
mgrande said:
The toytecs are basically 5100's with an adjustable collar, which is completely fine. The icons are are available in ext. travel, giving you and extra 7/8 of an inch down travel at the shock. They're digressive and have #650 springs. Unfortunately for some reason they use shorter coils, which means they require a bit more preload than king or fox coilovers. They have also had issues with their top plates cracking. I'm not to sure about the valving and springs on the toytecs, but either are fine for some weekend adventures.
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In my experience the pre-load is about the same, I would think that the King would require more since they use a 600lb spring versus the 650lb (Icon, Fox, Radflo, etc). Sway Away uses a 700lb spring which only needs about 3/8 - 1/2" of pre-load and the Icon takes about 1.75 - 2" to get a level ride height.
 
LT said:
In my experience the pre-load is about the same, I would think that the King would require more since they use a 600lb spring versus the 650lb (Icon, Fox, Radflo, etc). Sway Away uses a 700lb spring which only needs about 3/8 - 1/2" of pre-load and the Icon takes about 1.75 - 2" to get a level ride height.
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I have to disagree. IIRC icon uses 13" coils at #650, king and fox use 14" coils at #600. The shorter coil needs more preload to get the same lift as the longer ones. Here's a picture of my kings set at a full 3" of lift.

IMG_20120809_155946.jpg
 
N2GLOCK said:
Where exactly have you found such a good deal on the Icon to where it's only a cuple hundread more than the TT Ultimate? I just checked and the Icon stage 1 (no UCA's) cost more than the TT Ultimate w/ LR UCA's and spanner wrench.
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Metal Tech has a great sale on them for a few more days. They posted the sale in a separate thread a few days ago. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ovember-december-2012-10-off.html#post1231682 They also throw in a free spanner wrench as well! So with all that said, are the Icon's what I want? :hatsoff:
 
ICONs are pretty slick and seem really well built. I have never had a set, bit if I was buying coilovers I would get ICONs.

The ToyTecs are simply Bilstein shocks you can get at any AutoZone and they add an adjustable collar and 600lb springs... This may actually attract some folks since they could be repaired easy, but for the price ToyTec sells these for, I'd save up for ICONs.
 
There was never a clear answer regarding maintenance and rebuild requirements with Icons. That seems to be the one possible downside. Especially since many of us DD our trucks. Anyone?
 
KCcarguy said:
There was never a clear answer regarding maintenance and rebuild requirements with Icons. That seems to be the one possible downside. Especially since many of us DD our trucks. Anyone?
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I keep up with maintainance on mine and have 50k miles with no problems whatsoever. Took them out to clean them up, inspect and lube the upper and lower spherical bearings a couple of weeks ago . The spherical bearings rotated a little looser then when they were new but no up and down play and should esaily make it to 100k miles before rebuild.

Seals have never leaked and I spray the rods down with dri-slide lubricant at every oil change with them extended.

I do live in an area with mild winters and they don't use salt or chemicals,just sand when the roads are bad.
 
Gary thanks for the detailed reply! Unfortunately I live in CT where I swear DOT robs salt factories just to spray it all over the roads. :mad: I hate re-posting these things as I often get frustrated when others get good answers and continue to re-ask the same things. This is my third go-around with the suspension and want to ensure I get it "right" this time... :boxer:
 
ThirdToy said:
Gary thanks for the detailed reply! Unfortunately I live in CT where I swear DOT robs salt factories just to spray it all over the roads. :mad: I hate re-posting these things as I often get frustrated when others get good answers and continue to re-ask the same things. This is my third go-around with the suspension and want to ensure I get it "right" this time... :boxer:
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Salt is hard on any suspension whether it's Toytec or Icon and you'll really need to keep up with maintenance for them to last. Icon's have cad plated bodies,ss spherical bearings and the shafts are nitro-plated so they won't rust. They do have some kind of Xtreme Weather Plating Option too but sure what all it entails and has to be special ordered.

Another member here I had been pming with,iron hourse is from NYC and he just special ordered some of the Xtreme Weather ones last week.
 
For a DD you won't need to rebuild them every year like the LT guys do. As for winter, you'll have to keep up with any suspension parts regardless of manufacturer.
 
OK, the decision has been made and the damage is done. Just got off the phone with LT over at Metal Tech. Just ordered:

2010-Current 4Runner Extended Travel Remote Reservoir Front Coilover Shock Kit
SKU: ICON-5-8747

FJ Cruiser/03+ 4Runner Light Racing UCA's
SKU: LR-25480

ICON 03-Current 4Runner 2" Lift Rear Coil Springs
SKU: ICON-5-2700

ICON 2003-Current 4Runner Rear 2.0 VS Series Shocks
SKU: ICON-5-6505

It was finally time to do this right! :gun6:
 
Awesome man, that's basically what I'm gonna do. Congrats!:cheers:
ThirdToy said:
OK, the decision has been made and the damage is done. Just got off the phone with LT over at Metal Tech. Just ordered:

2010-Current 4Runner Extended Travel Remote Reservoir Front Coilover Shock Kit
SKU: ICON-5-8747

FJ Cruiser/03+ 4Runner Light Racing UCA's
SKU: LR-25480

ICON 03-Current 4Runner 2" Lift Rear Coil Springs
SKU: ICON-5-2700

ICON 2003-Current 4Runner Rear 2.0 VS Series Shocks
SKU: ICON-5-6505

It was finally time to do this right! :gun6:
Click to expand...
 
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