Need suggestions: OME 895 to Toytec or Icon?

[albertomc]

Before anything happens ive been searching for days. The only one that might be able to help me is ARK and possibly TEPUI but I was looking for some more opinions...

Ok, so like the title says I think im over the OME 895 ride quality. Im pretty sure my problem is the rear coils... I ran the OME 884 and 895E combo with 5100s all around. I have a complete roof rack and have some weight ocasionally, tow ocasionally and use a motorcycle reciever hitch ocasionally. Those three things combined will happen at most 2 times a month.

Ive been reading around and I think the most logical solution to not having bad ride quality is going with either the Toytec's or the rear Icon springs and adding airbags for the ocasional leveling problem.

My question is, how many have done this... I bought the lift from Toytec and they warned me, but I didnt listen. Who else fell for this mistake and how did everyone correct it? I want on road manners, ride quality and comfort more than anything else. This is more of an expedition vehicle than anything else and will likely never get to see a real trail, just dirt roads and my countries (Colombia) horrible "paved" roads.

Will the Toytec be OK or should I spend a little more on the ICONS and do it right the second time. :doh: I have no plans for front or rear bumpers, no plans for rear drawers and the ARB fridge comes in every once in a while.

Suggestions, experiences? Thanks for the help!

 

[88mustanggt]

OME 884 and 895E and 5100 all around here as well. (v8) the front seems fine but the rear does seam a little bouncy. when I load the truck up it feels great.
I would love to find a good solution as well.

 

[ebg18t]

I never thought the Bilsteins were a great match for the 895 springs. They are just too stiff. The superflex's spring would be a better match.

 

[88mustanggt]

Even the 895e ?

 

[ebg18t]

Even the 895e ?

895E is the same rate as 895, just shorter. The spring rate IMHO is pushing the dampening of the Bilstein's limits. They work with bilstein, but just not perfectly/properly matched & balanced

Keep in mind I might be a tad picky as I ran OME dampers and springs, Bilstein dampers and now Fox. I run custom valved Ohlins on my bike and car. Both have been thru several revalvings a to get them just right.

I am still running 895's right now on my custom valved Fox's. But when I do my next rebuild I am going to up the valve platform just a tad.

With the bilstein dampers I think the softer superflex's from toytec would be a better match. If you don't need the load carrying capacity of the 895's I don't think people should really run them. Maybe I am just getting old, but I want the softest, properly matched suspension that I can get away with.. Again this is just my 2 cents

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I want on road manners, ride quality and comfort more than anything else. This is more of an expedition vehicle than anything else and will likely never get to see a real trail, just dirt roads and my countries (Colombia) horrible "paved" roads.

Will the Toytec be OK or should I spend a little more on the ICONS and do it right the second time. :doh: I have no plans for front or rear bumpers, no plans for rear drawers and the ARB fridge comes in every once in a while.

I would do either the Superflex coils or maybe even stock FJ coils. The FJ coils won't really support the weight, but since you mention adding air bags, they would do the job and keep ride quality good for when you are are not loaded down. Either would suit your off road use, and since you have no plans for constant weight such as drawers or bumpers, they should do well.

 

[BuckRunner]

Wondering same thing. I have been leaning toward the Toytec Ultimate recently.

 

[albertomc]

I would do either the Superflex coils or maybe even stock FJ coils. The FJ coils won't really support the weight, but since you mention adding air bags, they would do the job and keep ride quality good for when you are are not loaded down. Either would suit your off road use, and since you have no plans for constant weight such as drawers or bumpers, they should do well.

Awsome advice, and it is what i thought it would be. I think I am leaning toward the Toytec as well, FJs might be a little short and I wouldnt want to add spacers if I already got the longer shocks.

What do you think of an Icon spring and 5100 setup? Ive heard only good things about the Icons and wouldnt want to look back later thinking I should have spent those 50 additional dollars.


ebg18t

I couldnt agree with you more, i was looking for the specs on the billies as well as the OME 895s but couldnt find them anywhere. Im looking for the most comfortable ride and with the airbags i will get level any time i need to...

Thanks for your imput. What would be your ideal setup for a comfortable T4R? Have you tried Icons or Radflo?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Awsome advice, and it is what i thought it would be. I think I am leaning toward the Toytec as well, FJs might be a little short and I wouldnt want to add spacers if I already got the longer shocks.

What do you think of an Icon spring and 5100 setup? Ive heard only good things about the Icons and wouldnt want to look back later thinking I should have spent those 50 additional dollars.


ebg18t

I couldnt agree with you more, i was looking for the specs on the billies as well as the OME 895s but couldnt find them anywhere. Im looking for the most comfortable ride and with the airbags i will get level any time i need to...

Thanks for your imput. What would be your ideal setup for a comfortable T4R? Have you tried Icons or Radflo?

One thing to remember is that coils aren't nearly as complicated as shocks. You have a static rate and length and that's really all the matters. If you're going to use 5100's either way, I doubt you'll see a noticeable difference in ride quality between Superflex and Icon coils.

FJ: ~5% stiffer than stock, 1/4" lift
Superflex: ~10% stiffer than stock, 2" lift
Icons: ~15-20% stiffer than stock, 2" lift
OME: 45% stiffer than stock, 2" lift

So you can see, either Superflex or Icon coils will be much lighter than the OMEs and not as harsh. I'd run Superflexs since they are lighter and the air bags will help when you're loaded. That said, I love Icon products. I've had Radflo in the past and was quite disappointed, but so for my Icon front seems top notch and I'm very pleased. I just think the coil rate of the Superflexs would be plenty for what you need and keep the smoothest ride possible.

 

[ebg18t]

Awsome advice, and it is what i thought it would be. I think I am leaning toward the Toytec as well, FJs might be a little short and I wouldnt want to add spacers if I already got the longer shocks.

What do you think of an Icon spring and 5100 setup? Ive heard only good things about the Icons and wouldnt want to look back later thinking I should have spent those 50 additional dollars.


ebg18t

I couldnt agree with you more, i was looking for the specs on the billies as well as the OME 895s but couldnt find them anywhere. Im looking for the most comfortable ride and with the airbags i will get level any time i need to...



Thanks for your imput. What would be your ideal setup for a comfortable T4R? Have you tried Icons or Radflo?

If it were me and I had Bilsteins I would just get the superflex's and call it a day. I honestly doubt the Icons would be very noticeable difference. We know the superflex's are good with the 5100's and are $50 less.

I liked the 895's load capacity so I had shocks valved to work with the spring rate. My ride quality is super smooth and plush, but I also spent $750 + valving on just the rear shocks. Neither the bilstein or the OME provided me the ride control & quality I wanted, thus the custom valved shox.

Shock valving is the most important, but overlooked variable in control and ride quality.

 

[albertomc]

One thing to remember is that coils aren't nearly as complicated as shocks. You have a static rate and length and that's really all the matters. If you're going to use 5100's either way, I doubt you'll see a noticeable difference in ride quality between Superflex and Icon coils.

FJ: ~5% stiffer than stock, 1/4" lift
Superflex: ~10% stiffer than stock, 2" lift
Icons: ~15-20% stiffer than stock, 2" lift
OME: 45% stiffer than stock, 2" lift

So you can see, either Superflex or Icon coils will be much lighter than the OMEs and not as harsh. I'd run Superflexs since they are lighter and the air bags will help when you're loaded. That said, I love Icon products. I've had Radflo in the past and was quite disappointed, but so for my Icon front seems top notch and I'm very pleased. I just think the coil rate of the Superflexs would be plenty for what you need and keep the smoothest ride possible.

I guess that toytec recomended wasnt them trying to sell their product after all. Im not really interested in swapping brand new 5100s in the rear but next time i will definitely give ICON a shot. Thanks for all your help. Hope the Toytecs dont sag and give me the ride quality I am looking for since I do have some additional weight due to the roof rack.

If it were me and I had Bilsteins I would just get the superflex's and call it a day. I honestly doubt the Icons would be very noticeable difference. We know the superflex's are good with the 5100's and are $50 less.

I liked the 895's load capacity so I had shocks valved to work with the spring rate. My ride quality is super smooth and plush, but I also spent $750 + valving on just the rear shocks. Neither the bilstein or the OME provided me the ride control & quality I wanted, thus the custom valved shox.

Shock valving is the most important, but overlooked variable in control and ride quality.

Thanks for the suggestion, I think I am going to bite the bullet and get the superflex's with the additional airbags.

Your reasoning behind valving is spot on, Im going to have to look into it next time I upgrade my rides suspension.... along those same lines, what is the valving for the 5100s compared to the OME 60004? I asume they provide a better ride with the 895s, correct?

This is my first time mixing and matching brands of lift kits and after lurking for quite a while on this site I can honestly say there is much more to learn. Thanks alot guys!

 

[zimm]

I'd go with Icon stage 1. I pull a 5000lb Grady 226 and it handles and rides perfectly. Here you can see it hooked up with no sag and no air springs required. The only time I had the rear squashed down was with a hitch mounted motorcycle carrier and 500 pounds hanging off it.

The ride is phenominal, you wont regret it.

 

[chmura]

I would go Icon as well.

I have seen several threads of people not happy with their OME suspension and than going with an Icon setup.

I never seen a thread of a person not being happy with a Icon setup and ditching it to go with an OME setup.

 

[aviator31]

I'm not sure that there would be a big difference in performance/ride quality between running the 5100s and Toytec coils compared to ICONS. But there is a LARGE difference in cost. Just my $.02.

 

[chmura]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1435033-post8.html

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Also, do not get the standard airbag kit for the 4runner. Since you are lifted, you will need a longer air bag. See these threads for details/part numbers.

Airlift 1000 installed - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
Toytec Superflex rear coils with Air Lift airbags - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

 

[albertomc]

ARK,

Thanks for the links, I think toytecs are likely the way to go to fix this issue and I will add airbags even though I have seen some negative experiences. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[88mustanggt]

Did you ever switch springs out?