ICON Stage 4 Tubular UCA's and 285/70/17 Install Query

Installed my Stage 4 with tubular arms last night. This would be my fifth or sixth icon install over the years and the process never really changes. Straight forward install. I began bending the sheet metal to remove the stock UCA's (I've always cut them) and quickly remembered why I've never gone that route. You have bend way more than a lot of people like to say. You also have to finagle the bolt through some hoses and lines. I ended up breaking out the trusty sawzall and cutting the UCA's. A little bit of red loctite and proper torque spec and they're not going anywhere.

For the rear shocks, I ended up having to zip tie the lower shock boot to the shock mount, just below the shaft since it kept popping up. No biggie, but Icon should really either do this from the factory or make the snap ring's o.d. A little larger to better hold the boot in place.

Icon sets these at about 1.5" over stock and tunes them to that height, so I have major rub, which I knew I would. Today I'll be moving the collars down to raise it up to about 2.75". With settling, it should rest right st 2.5". I've always done this with Icons and had good luck with it. (I'm well aware icon does not recommend going above 2.5").

Anyways, gripe over and onto the pictures that everyone has seen thousands of times!



And out with the old...

 

I'm thinking about having my TPMS sensors removed from the stock wheels and driving without them for a week or so until I get the new tires and wheels mounted and get around to installing my lift. Does anyone know how the truck acts without the TPMS sensors in the tires? I just want to make sure there isn't some stupid door chime / seat belt type 'reminder' that will drive me crazy. Anyone know for sure?

 

Your TPMS light will flash, then stay solid. That's literally all that happens

 

May do the passenger side, drivers side may be a whole lot easier...

 

I did just that, no codes or chimes but then again I have not scrolled over to the tire pressure screen, but no beeping, no yellow/orange dash annoyances...

EDIT, wow way off base, sorry for the misinfo....I rode home with my new wheel and tires in the back with TPMS installed so no error, came home and stored these in my workshop off on my driveway 8-12 feet, no errors whiles checking the status...really did not think too much about it..

Bottom line my misinfo, you will have the orange TPMS check light lit once you are out of range of them, the range is similar or better than Bluetooth, only makes sense..sorry for the late night gar - baaaage...

 

@transworldmoto
Looks good! not sure what size tires you got but looks like they sit on Methods...with the adjustment to 2.75 how much are you gonna have to cut? I have just been delaying my install hoping the temp goes under 100 here as the humidity has been killer.

 

I cut the passenger, no way to wiggle it out without a whole lot of bending/banging. Drives side was easier...removed a few brackets and it slid out.

 

Bought two bolts just in case I have a bad day...

 

Actually 0-3.5" but on a 16 your gonna push a sacrifice, from what I read, everything over 2".....with that said I am still planning on a 2.5" lift up front or what ever it takes to level the truck...take that with a grain of salt for now because if I have major rubbing I will jack it up to see how much I can alleviate before I calculate my cuts...and with that said will probably do a full pack in the rear sooner or later...lucky gal she is...

 

I used Super Lube for the UCA bushings, TRI-FLOW on the uniballs and coated the aluminum housing of the shocks with Boeshield T-9. Never have used any of these products but they all seem to do the job well...the T-9 surprised me as the aluminum housing on the shocks seemed to absorb the stuff, tri-flow is light for the uniballs and the Super Lube just seemed like a decent preferred synthetic.

 

good deal. thanks. makes me feel better before I do it. It's gonna be hard driving and not checking the individual tire pressure all the time.....

 

I understand the point of the first two items, but what is the T-9 for? I'm all about extra protection for my investment. What does it do and where did you find out about it? (I didn't see mention about it in the Icon literature, but I may have missed it)

 

I gleaned that from an aviation mechanic here in TW if I remember right. He mentioned it was used for maintenance of aluminum parts on aviation gear. I am not using it on rust or for lubrication but rather protection of the aluminum shock bodies, ICON recommended wax, I think this is a couple of notches up. I may even use it on the piston shafts as they are the most likely to develop pitting over time, plus the lube factor....I am no expert on this stuff but am open to proven products. Time will tell.

$15 Boeshield T-9 Aerosol Can (4 -Ounce) (122184) , White

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DD1DV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Some have used it on their uniballs, but I am going to stick to the TRI-FLOW for now....
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-built-right-ucas.97398/page-29#post-12106680
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...nd-bs-mainly-bs.399420/page-140#post-11708443

 

are those caps I see for the upper control arms?
I didnt get any

 

Yep, they were extra but well worth protecting your investment $40 or so @HeadStrong Off-Road

 

After reading all the reviews, i'm sold on it. Seems a hell of alot easier to apply and protect than using wax. Glad I saw your post about it. Thanks for the info!

 

I am pleased with it, a bit pricey and will probably only use it for the initial install and maybe some preventive maintenance and rebuild periods.

 

Check my edit, sorry for the misinfo, late night and did not think it through all I did ....pretty basic stuff.

 

Subbed

 

My installer (yesterday) did the same - bent the sheet metal. He commented that it was thicker than on 2nd gens, but otherwise said it was a fairly easy process and the bolts went in easier than he expected. From what I saw, he really didn't need to bend much.

My installer zip-tied the rear shocks, too. Good idea, I guess.

Did you have your truck aligned, yet? My alignment shop had some troubles getting caster in place - can you provide some feedback on how things went on your end, and what alignment you ended up with?