No/Low Lift Icon Suspension?
- Thread starter Canazes9
- Start date
Canazes9
New member
I finally went for a real test drive today to check out the new suspension. As promised, here are my thoughts on the new suspension and a few pictures:
The suspension is noticeably more taut than the factory SR5 suspension. Body roll in cornering and nose dive in braking is virtually eliminated. You can feel more small bumps/surface irregularities than before. It is a firm connected to the road feeling, not harsh or rough. Big bumps/potholes the suspension soaks up much better than before.
I drove onto a local poorly maintained Forestry Service Road. There is a section that I can routinely drive about 25mph in my Tacoma lifted w/ Bilstein 5100's. The factory SR5 4Runner felt like it was pushing to hard over the same stretch at 20mph. Driving the same stretch with the new Icon suspension I was able to easily maintain 35mph with no comfort or control issues. Truthfully, I feel like I could have gone faster, but I also felt like I was already driving too fast for the road as far as dealing with other traffic so I didn't push it any further.
The Deaver rear coils at 15% stiffer than stock worked perfectly with Icon front coil overs and Icon rear shocks - exactly as Deaver had promised. They were spendy, but I feel like they were well worth it. The 4Runner has none of the rear suspension weakness that I sometimes notice w/ other leveled vehicles and at the same time it is not excessively rough or over sprung.
To my eye the 4Runner doesn't look "lifted", it just looks the way it should have from the factory. My wife and I are both very pleased with the ride and the lift. It was worth the extra money to us.
Obligatory poser shots:
A few cleaned up on the driveway:
Here is a video I shot of me testing the new suspension on one of the rougher sections of the aforementioned FS road. NO, I don't normally drive like this, nor will I make a habit of it in the future - I just wanted to push it a little to test the new suspension and I was well pleased:
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MwfDHawFCNc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
David
The suspension is noticeably more taut than the factory SR5 suspension. Body roll in cornering and nose dive in braking is virtually eliminated. You can feel more small bumps/surface irregularities than before. It is a firm connected to the road feeling, not harsh or rough. Big bumps/potholes the suspension soaks up much better than before.
I drove onto a local poorly maintained Forestry Service Road. There is a section that I can routinely drive about 25mph in my Tacoma lifted w/ Bilstein 5100's. The factory SR5 4Runner felt like it was pushing to hard over the same stretch at 20mph. Driving the same stretch with the new Icon suspension I was able to easily maintain 35mph with no comfort or control issues. Truthfully, I feel like I could have gone faster, but I also felt like I was already driving too fast for the road as far as dealing with other traffic so I didn't push it any further.
The Deaver rear coils at 15% stiffer than stock worked perfectly with Icon front coil overs and Icon rear shocks - exactly as Deaver had promised. They were spendy, but I feel like they were well worth it. The 4Runner has none of the rear suspension weakness that I sometimes notice w/ other leveled vehicles and at the same time it is not excessively rough or over sprung.
To my eye the 4Runner doesn't look "lifted", it just looks the way it should have from the factory. My wife and I are both very pleased with the ride and the lift. It was worth the extra money to us.
Obligatory poser shots:
A few cleaned up on the driveway:
Here is a video I shot of me testing the new suspension on one of the rougher sections of the aforementioned FS road. NO, I don't normally drive like this, nor will I make a habit of it in the future - I just wanted to push it a little to test the new suspension and I was well pleased:
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MwfDHawFCNc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
David
ImOnAPlain51
New member
:rockon:
Congrats on the new suspension, it looks great. Sounds like you are really pleased with it. The new suspension really alleviates some of the SR5 stock suspension problems doesn't it? I've really been happy with mine, have yet to really test it though. Maybe the next few weeks I'll get a chance.
D
dwc
Guest
David, you are *so* bad for my bank account. 
Can you post exactly what you ordered for the Deaver custom coils? Looks like that's another upgrade for me about this time next year. The spacers are fine for now, but I couldn't find shorty coils that worked for me. Thanks!
Can you post exactly what you ordered for the Deaver custom coils? Looks like that's another upgrade for me about this time next year. The spacers are fine for now, but I couldn't find shorty coils that worked for me. Thanks!
Canazes9
New member
David, you are *so* bad for my bank account.
I can tell you what I ordered and how I did it and can give you my Deavers Invoice number as a reference. My buddy at the local tire shop got my vin # and called Toyota to get the part # for the existing coils on my 4Runner. Then he called Deavers with that Toyota part # and told them he wanted a coil just like that except he wanted it 1/2" taller and 15% stiffer. The combination of 1/2" taller and 15% stiffer results in ~3/4" lift when you level the front. Sorry, I didn't get the Toyota part #, but that should be a quick call to your dealer.
My Deaver Invoice # is 64974, they may be able to reference that # and give you the same part.
HTH
David
D
dwc
Guest
Perfect. Thanks for the help.
D
dwc
Guest
You forgot, "The first one is free...." Yup, yer a badddddddd man....
Canazes9
New member
I wouldn't worry about it, I'm sure this will be your last mod!
Did you see my Rear diff breather mod thread?
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/150158-rear-diff-breather-mod-complete.html
<$100 and a little sweat equity...
You would need to tie in your e-locker to your breather also, but that's not hard....
Edit - Was Deavers able to reference my invoice #?
David
Last edited:
D
dwc
Guest
I put the breather mod on my list for next summer. I'm gonna let it suffocate for the winter!
Yup, Deavers referenced your invoice. Same coils so they should be able to turn it around in a couple of weeks max.
Now, PLEASE stop giving me more mod ideas. I have no self control...:embarassed:
(But thanks for your help!)
Canazes9
New member
A set of custom coils is about 50-100% more expensive than an off the shelf set of coils (depends on which coils you were looking at). I ordered everything through a friend that owns a local tire shop that gave me a package deal for all of the stuff and install so I didn't get a great break down on the individual components. I think they were about $400 even including tax & shipping.
That is the price for a true custom set - as in you don't have to use my parameters, you can get them any way you want them.
HTH
David
That is the price for a true custom set - as in you don't have to use my parameters, you can get them any way you want them.
HTH
David
WhiskeyTango0311
New member
This looks great! Did you go through Mike in the Town of Lumber?
Canazes9
New member
WhiskeyTango0311
New member
Yes, he is. I think the cat is the main attraction there.
JamesWhite
New member
I had been searching this option but no good result. I ended with 2inch lift and really like it.
Canazes9
New member
It's a quality product. Finish has held up well and they look good. Came w/o instructions to mount them, had to get the instructions e-mailed. They were not delivered when promised. I called, was given a new time frame. Again, not delivered as promised. I called, was told they would be delivered in another 2 weeks, and that was the time frame they are always promised. I told him I had been promised to earlier delivery dates and he seemed surprised.
Not trying to stop you from ordering - they deliver a quality product at a fair price. It's just better to know up front, no matter what else they tell you, they probably won't come any faster than 4 months.
David
