Gary Blake
New member
2000 SR5 4WD 3.4l 5 speed
Just got finished with the front suspension – new OEM lower control arms, Icon uppers, Icon 2.5 series external res with adjustable CDC valve, plastics guy bump stops and front diff bushings, mstudt’s custom sway bar links.
(Just have the sway bar bushings to do – have to cut the old bushing supports out – what a stupid design putting the nuts on top of the bracket where you can’t see or get a socket on properly)
Going to be starting on the rear with 2861 OME springs and matching Icon external res shocks which brings me to the second stupid design – the rear shock mounts.
Icon wants me to send measurements to build a custom length rear set to achieve the same 3” lift in the rear as the front. (Called them on this as the rear stock set they sell only achieves a 2” lift whereas the fronts can be adjusted up to 3”. I was told they did this on purpose because they didn’t like the approx. 1” back to front rake on stock suspensions. I like the rake because I usually travel fairly loaded with gear and the Shrockworks rear bumper, tire carrier, hi-lift and 5 gallon jerry can on the back as well which will partially offset the rake.
I was thinking if I am going to have custom length shocks made I should also consider modifying the rear shock mount to accept an accessible through bolt/bushing on the top end. (live in the rust belt and cringe just looking up there)
I have searched and seen a couple of photos, one inside the frame and one on the outside of the frame in the wheel well.
Could not find any specifications or further details.
What I would be looking for is some more details and perhaps some input from some of the suspension gurus on the forum as to how these setups may affect handling/performance.
The one photo that shows a bracket in roughly the same location as stock would appear to my untrained eye to not change shock angle or length to any great degree so as to not affect suspension performance?
The one mounted to the outside of the frame changes the shock angle quite a bit.
Thoughts would be appreciated.
Just got finished with the front suspension – new OEM lower control arms, Icon uppers, Icon 2.5 series external res with adjustable CDC valve, plastics guy bump stops and front diff bushings, mstudt’s custom sway bar links.
(Just have the sway bar bushings to do – have to cut the old bushing supports out – what a stupid design putting the nuts on top of the bracket where you can’t see or get a socket on properly)
Going to be starting on the rear with 2861 OME springs and matching Icon external res shocks which brings me to the second stupid design – the rear shock mounts.
Icon wants me to send measurements to build a custom length rear set to achieve the same 3” lift in the rear as the front. (Called them on this as the rear stock set they sell only achieves a 2” lift whereas the fronts can be adjusted up to 3”. I was told they did this on purpose because they didn’t like the approx. 1” back to front rake on stock suspensions. I like the rake because I usually travel fairly loaded with gear and the Shrockworks rear bumper, tire carrier, hi-lift and 5 gallon jerry can on the back as well which will partially offset the rake.
I was thinking if I am going to have custom length shocks made I should also consider modifying the rear shock mount to accept an accessible through bolt/bushing on the top end. (live in the rust belt and cringe just looking up there)
I have searched and seen a couple of photos, one inside the frame and one on the outside of the frame in the wheel well.
Could not find any specifications or further details.
What I would be looking for is some more details and perhaps some input from some of the suspension gurus on the forum as to how these setups may affect handling/performance.
The one photo that shows a bracket in roughly the same location as stock would appear to my untrained eye to not change shock angle or length to any great degree so as to not affect suspension performance?
The one mounted to the outside of the frame changes the shock angle quite a bit.
Thoughts would be appreciated.
