Suspension Advice

Marcocopuffs

Marcocopuffs

New member
Okay guys... I think it's time for me to upgrade my suspension. The bildtein 5100s have been good to me, but I want MOAR! I was looking forward to the ARB group buy and picking up the BP51s, but it looks like there is no 4Runner specific set up available yet (FJ version fits, but isn't specifically tuned for the 5th gen)


My options are as follows:

Icon: 2.5 Remote Reservoir up front and 2.0 Remote Reservoir in the back with Saw 1.5

Or

Bilstein: 6112s front 5160s in the rear with saw 1.5


I haven't heard much about the 2.0 icon rears, but I think they come standard in the stage 1-3 kits. Does anyone think the icon set up I'm proposing is worth the extra 1K over the Bilstein set up?


I do off road quite regularly but the extreme stuff isn't a common occurrence for me. I would like to get into driving fast through desert roads though...
 
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I have that the 2.5's in the front and 2.0's on the back. If I were to do it again, which I probably will, I will go with the 2.5's in the back as well. The 2.5's have the internal bump stop, and better cooling, which make for better high speed stuff. I'm not saying the 2.0's are bad. They have noticeably less dampening then my fronts do, but I have literally put the 2.0 through a torture test over the last couple of years and they have never failed me. Which is not a good thing, because I'm still waiting for a reason to replace them
 
Marcocopuffs said:
Okay guys... I think it's time for me to upgrade my suspension. The bildtein 5100s have been good to me, but I want MOAR! I was looking forward to the ARB group buy and picking up the BP51s, but it looks like there is no 4Runner specific set up available yet (FJ version fits, but isn't specifically tuned for the 5th gen)


My options are as follows:

Icon: 2.5 Remote Reservoir up front and 2.0 Remote Reservoir in the back with Saw 1.5

Or

Bilstein: 6112s front 5160s in the rear with saw 1.5


I haven't heard much about the 2.0 icon rears, but I think they come standard in the stage 1-3 kits. Does anyone think the icon set up I'm proposing is worth the extra 1K over the Bilstein set up?


I do off road quite regularly but the extreme stuff isn't a common occurrence for me. I would like to get into driving fast through desert roads though...
Click to expand...

Marco, why are you limited to just those two brand options? Have you looked at Fox, King, or ADS yet?
 
CrazyNorwegian said:
I have that the 2.5's in the front and 2.0's on the back. If I were to do it again, which I probably will, I will go with the 2.5's in the back as well. The 2.5's have the internal bump stop, and better cooling, which make for better high speed stuff. I'm not saying the 2.0's are bad. They have noticeably less dampening then my fronts do, but I have literally put the 2.0 through a torture test over the last couple of years and they have never failed me. Which is not a good thing, because I'm still waiting for a reason to replace them
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Andrew! I just want to hit jumps like you lol. I guess I can get away with the Icons 2.0s for now. Was about to jump on metaltech's scratch and dent 2.5 piggy backs, but they can't guarantee fitment for me. :/

Also... They closed the power line hill at cleghorn... :/
 
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been running the 6112/ 5160 combo w/ stock rear coils.. mostly mid to high(ish) speed desert. The 5160 is ok, but a bit too harsh when hitting bumps on lower speeds.
Love the damping and ride on the 6112, which is buttery smooth on any speed and terrain without mushiness or nose dive.
 
Marcocopuffs said:
Andrew! I just want to hit jumps like you lol. I guess I can get away with the Icons 2.0s for now. Was about to jump on metaltech's scratch and dent 2.5 piggy backs, but they can't guarantee figment for me. :/

Also... They closed the power line hill at cleghorn... :/
Click to expand...

I noticed that last time I was up there. It's just a matter of time before someone brings some wire cutters and open it up again.

Honestly my biggest concern with the 2.0's were their durability for high speed stuff. I've run them out in the desert for hours at high speed and they have been fine so far, and this is with long travel, so heat buildup is greater.
 
Marcocopuffs said:
Good question. I think I'm mostly concerned with overall price. I'd like to keep it under 2K... Have not heard of ADS...
Click to expand...

ADS is Arizona Desert Shocks. While they aren't a well known name in the direct replacement world yet, I imagine they will be soon as they make a very high quality product as until now their focus has been on racing applications. I helped a friend install their 2.5 series remote res coil overs and their 2.5 series piggyback res smooth bodied rears and was extremely impressed with the build and material quality. So far with admittedly limited testing the results have been very positive.

I'm running Fox factory series on my Tacoma now but when I upgrade it and the newly ordered 4Runner I will buy ADS. Check with the vendors here - haven't looked at the whole list yet myself - and look into the prices, I think you will find that they are directly in line with Fox and King price wise as well.
 
All I can say is the stock nose dive and soft shocks is ridiculous. Rebuildable and revalvable all the way id say. Icon seems to have the most R&D into the 4Runner.
 
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Skip the remote res. It's a pain to deail with and IMO offers basically nothing performance wise. If you can heat up a 2.5" fox, without long travel, you're doing something pretty damn amazing.

I have fox 2.5 RR, I'd skip the RR next time.Not worth the effort.

That said, if i were buying today I'd go for the bp51.

Good luck.
 
Jetboy said:
Skip the remote res. It's a pain to deail with and IMO offers basically nothing performance wise. If you can heat up a 2.5" fox, without long travel, you're doing something pretty damn amazing.

I have fox 2.5 RR, I'd skip the RR next time.Not worth the effort.

That said, if i were buying today I'd go for the bp51.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

So you say skip the remote res. for one brand, but get remote res. from another. Why?
 
Buying today I might lean toward fox, if not cost conscious then King. My 2 cents and it's not even worth that.
 
Jetboy said:
Skip the remote res. It's a pain to deail with and IMO offers basically nothing performance wise. If you can heat up a 2.5" fox, without long travel, you're doing something pretty damn amazing.

I have fox 2.5 RR, I'd skip the RR next time.Not worth the effort.

That said, if i were buying today I'd go for the bp51.

Good luck.
Click to expand...


I second on skipping the rear resis as they're more pain than gain at anything less than long travel setups. At least with those bracket mounted to the main shock body, need to watch out on pinching the brake cables.

That being said, if its a dd I'd also skip on the high maintenance (i.e rebuild required) shocks, which is why I'm keeping the Bilsteins for now
 
if going with ICON do 2.5 front and rear. That is my setup and I couldn't be happier. Bank account on the other hand.... well let's not go there.
 
I just had a toy tec boss kit with LR control arms thrown on my '15 trail and I couldn't be happier. A tad bit easier on the wallet too with option for rear air bags.
 
Of your two options I would pick Icon over Bilstein 6112s. If your spending that kind of $$ on shocks they need to be rebuildable.

I would consider King as well. I just picked up a full King set-up and will have it installed on Monday.
 
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pinetar said:
So you say skip the remote res. for one brand, but get remote res. from another. Why?
Click to expand...

Because they don't make a BP51 without it. And there are no other coilovers with bypasses. You might actually heat up a bp51 as well because the body is a lot smaller than a 2.5" and has a lot less fluid.

Remote res is for the look. You can't overheat a 2.5" shock on 4runner suspension. Sustained 70mph desert runs won't even get them warm.

Also the whole rebuild thing is meaningless to me. When was the last time you rebuilt a shock? I do it on my bicycle periodically, but they are much more complex than these and the tune is a lot more important. Plus they are much less durable. If i still own my 4runner when it's time for a rebuild - it'll be 10 years old and probably due for a SAS anyway.
 
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Jetboy said:
Skip the remote res. It's a pain to deail with and IMO offers basically nothing performance wise. If you can heat up a 2.5" fox, without long travel, you're doing something pretty damn amazing.

I have fox 2.5 RR, I'd skip the RR next time.Not worth the effort.

That said, if i were buying today I'd go for the bp51.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Try Going over washboard or through some Sand dunes on 100 degree day or take a trip through Death Valley at 100 degrees at decent speed. They'll heat up. A RR should not be a effort or pain. I'm assuming you're talking about mounting ? The shock manufacturer should supply the correct brackets or you can have some fabbed up.

Also post #17 is just wow. Different strokes for different folks I guess. Pun intended.
 
I went with the Icons and could not be happier. I actually made the stretch to the CDC valves to control my ride better as loads change. The ride is very nice both on and off road and that annoying and even embarrassing brake dive is gone. I like the fact that Icons are rebuildable, and Icon is literally 3 miles from my house. That said, there are lots of good shocks out there. Buy what fits your budget and use rationale and you'll be happy regardless as all these are a large step up from stock.
 
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