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

ICON sure must be enjoying gouging us with a $40 charge for two tiny pieces of round plastic. There's probably a dollar's worth of materials and labour there. Ridiculous that we need to pay this after forking out over three grand for the suspension. Really bugs me when you pay for quality, premium components and then they start gouging you on insignificant things.

 

I'll post a pic of my alignment specs. I need to center my rear axle because it's off by a bit and then I'll take it back to have the alignment tweaked

 

Any thoughts about using the slide-over boots ICON sells for the coilovers? I read in some other thread today that ICON recommends using those in the winter months to protect from salt and such. Not a huge issue where I live (west coast), but probably an option worth exploring?

// edit - these guys: http://www.cjcoffroad.com/product-p/icon-191003.htm

 

@0210

 

I was torn between the big 3 + ADS, but when the July 4th sale at 20% off kicked in at auto anything the stage 4 tubular dropped right in the budget, they also dropped another $75 when I expressed my unhappiness with a delay in shipping. so digressive it is, it sure would be nice to be able to drive a comp with KING, FOX and ADS to compare the on road and off road rides...anyhow the $40 for the covers and another $23 for the wrench was negligible. The icing on the cake is they set up shop not 3 miles from one of my ole stomping grounds in Riverside....when in town I will drop in, its just a bit tougher now aday with my life kinda spilt between the valley of the sun, west side and the Ozarks...

 

So I caved for new 6Ton Jack Stands and an old man swivel save your ass chair, plus a ground cloth in case I have to get on my knees or back....drive train zirks etc....Decided I needed a new cutoff tool and a god assortment of cut off and grinding wheels. So I think I have just a about all the tools I need once again...."there is a right tool for the right job, Colonel Quackenbush USAF F16 Pilot"

6 Ton Jackstands and a new Roll a Round....damn United freight saves my ass again.....

A new Grinder - Cutoff Wheel with an assortment package...

 

I actually took advantage of the same 20% off sale. Although despite my complaining about delayed shipping several times, they didn't give me a penny back.

 

Thanks. Any issues during the alignment? Any "tricks" done to get it to what it is?

Let me know whether you have any issues once you've had a chance to drive it. I'm getting rubbing on both front wheels when slowing down and turning downhill. Left rubs when turning left, right rubs when turning right. Both times slowing down from about 20-25kph and facing downhill.

 

Can you share your insight as to why you switched from Toytec to Icon? Not enough lift? Not enough performance? And if you haven't parted with the Toytec yet, how much are you willing to let it go for?

 

I actually haven't had to cut anything just yet. Still waiting for @CBI Offroad Fab 's front and rear T3 bumpers to show up and then I can put everything through a shakedown and figure out what I'll need to trim. I have the plates for the cmc in case I need to go that route.

Icon actually sells these rad little steel guards that protect the shock shafts from rocks and other flying debris. I ran them on my 5th Gen 4Runner's Omega shocks and they worked well. I cleared mine with some rust oleum clear coat so they wouldn't rust and that work out well. I would just be skeptical about gumming up the seals if you coated the shafts with a thick varnish like that. Let us know how it goes!

 

That's odd...you can ask your alignment guy center the wheels up in the wheel well, maybe that will fix the problem? My guy is pretty good and I usually throw him a 20 or put a six pack in the bed of his truck on my way out, but I don't usually stick around to watch him work. Not that I wouldn't, I've just never been able to drop it off and wait for it with my crazy schedule.

One thing I do still need to do and you can see it from the rear measurements is center up the rear axle. Pretty simple to and I totally spaced on doing it when I reinstalled my rear axle after the add a leaf went in. Basically, just measure from the front leaf pack mounting bolt to he axle housing. The distance should be the same on both sides. Currently, my passenger's side is about .225 less than my drivers side, which is giving me that positive/negative measurement and throwing my alignment off a bit. I'll get in there this weekend hopefully and get it squared up if I get back early from camping.

 

So I actually switched from the Toytec kit because I had planned to all along. I know, I know, "planned obsolescence" haha. I run a lot of fast desert trails for a few days at a time and I've experienced fading in the front and rear shocks on a lot of kits that aren't built for the task. While I never completely put these through the ringer, I knew I'd go with a purpose built, extended travel kit eventually. As a couple members above did, I came across that 20% off sale on AutoAnything (that was a total glitch in their system, btw. They were only supposed to offer that for icon accessories, not full kits) and pounced.

I have my Toytec kit listed in the FS section for $1000 shipped with a new add a leaf. Retails for $1400ish plus tax+shipping.

 

Capitalism at it's best, my man. I'm going to see if a buddy of mine will make a set of billet aluminum caps for me with a gasket built in. It'll be a ton more than a dollar for materials and labor, but at least I'll know it's built right and I had my fingers all up in the process!

 

Thanks for the insight. I have the Toytec shop in my local area and I was looking for a good deal. But I too will be doing mostly desert running type off-roading as aposed to trails and rock crawling. So the Icon stage 3 or 4 seem right up my alley. I may hit the occasional trail in my area since there's tons of them but going slow just isn't my cup of tea. When you get a good desert run on the Icon kit let us know how it was. I have the benefit of being able to Offroad on the roads at my military base pretty often since they "lead to the approved fishing and hunting areas" *wink wink*. I hope that the Icon kit will be able to handle the tank trails and unimproved roads I want to be driving it on. And hopefully some real desert terrain in the future.

 

Definitely sounds like the Icon kit is better suited for what you're looking to do. The Toytec kit is great, don't get me wrong, but it's definitely not on par with icon, king, fox, etc. Where are you stationed? I'm stationed in SF, but I've lived between Sacramento and the Bay Area my entire life, so I know the trails and areas to go around here.

I'll be heading to run a short, slow trail this weekend for some reservoir fishing/camping. Should be able to test out the flex and let everything settle before doing some high speed runs. Looking at going to Alabama Hills before the snow hits. I've heard there's a couple good single track stretches I can stretch her legs on. Full report to follow!

 

I'm stationed at Fort Carson, but Im currently overseas. Can't wait to get home and pick up my new Tacoma. Thanks again brother. Looking forward to your experience reported.

 

Thanks for your service. I was deployed three times over the past five years to some of the best places in the world. I use the term "best" with the military equivalent of sarcasm that I was issued .

Tank tracks sound like a good testing ground. I think I'll try and find some at Camp Roberts or Hunter-Liggit next time I'm down near SLO. Reminds me of Lejeune where our convoy of vans almost got plowed into by an Abrahms crossing the road at about 40mph. Scary stuff, but those tank tracks were fun taking GV's through.

Stay safe brother.

 

No worries. Someone else also said there was a light. I just wanted to make sure there was no dinging buzzer mandated by our great (elected) government servants who run the country like they own us!! I'm ok with just a light.

 

Tore Dow the front end in 3 hours, all the while watching the video on how to do it in 15 minutes, the real problem is the UCA bolts took almost 2 of the three hours getting these out, ended up cutting both sides. Overall not bad at all cannot wait to get the front and rear done so I can crank right and left at full lock to see How much I have to cut....got my BAMF plates today.

 

Does the Icon Kit include new bolts for the UCA? If so it it one solid bolt like the stock one or is it two separate bolts per side? Kinda seems stupid to put one long Bolt in when two short ones will do it without the headache.