ICON coilovers TOO STIFF

I'm from Texas.

 

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[USER

 

Well i guess you dont understand preload either. Assume you have a 650# coil that is not under any preload meaning it is installed at free length. Now put 650 pounds of weight on it and it will compress by one inch. Now give that same coil 1 inch of preload meaning the coil is compressed 1 inch from its free load length. There is now 650# of force already exerted on the strut meaning that you have to put that much force onto the strut before any movement can begin at all. So a 13” spring preloaded 1” or a 14” spring preloaded 2” (assuming they have the same theoretical spring rate) DOES change the force to required to compress the springs by 1”. In case of the 13” spring we need a force of 650# to start any compression movement, and in the case of the 14” spring we need a force of 1300# to create any movement.

This is why coilovers with too much preload feel so rough at low speed stuff like little bumps or sharp edges, there isnt enough force excerted to even overcome preload. Then you go bombing through the desert at high speed and all of a sudden everything feels great because the big hits overcome the preload. Preload doesnt change the fact that the spring rates are linear. If you were to graph it, with spring force on the x axis and coil compressiom on the y axis, adding preload wont change the slope of the line but shift its point of origin; it will no longer start at 0,0 but be offset to the left into negative accounting for the preload.

 

I like these threads.

"I installed a suspension with stiffer springs and more aggressive valving than stock. Why doesn't it ride like a Cadillac?"

Think outside of the ICON box and get a 14" 650lb or 600lb spring. Thank me later.

 

I already have a bumper but it’s aluminum. On their site it states to use 650lb springs for them aluminum but honestly I saw 0 difference & feel 0 difference with the bumper on. Can’t even tell it’s there

 

Don’t go with icon unless you plan on adding extra weight. If you’re on a bumpy road you will feel the e tire cab shake. I’ve read great reviews from kings and 0 people have regretted getting kings. You’ll see on here plenty of people saying they hate their icons

 

That’s cool of you man, but I know 3rd gens are a little heavier so it won’t really give me an idea of how it’ll feel. My brother has a 3rd gen with fox and they feel smooth. Maybe we can hit some trails around here though

 

Not everyone is well educated about suspension. Shit, when I was shopping around I did plenty of research & read that icons were the best for on and off road for these trucks. I rather just buy kings and resell these icons. They are only a few months old..

 

I understand your frustration and although I havent read through the entire thread I get what you are talking about. Here is my two cents on the situation: I noticed that you do have a bunch of preload but I get that because I also have quite a bit with my Kings. I have never had Icons nor do I know much about them but I can tell you that mine (Kings) do run rough as well on the road like you are talking about. To get the lift I wanted I had to preload and I noticed a significant difference with on road handling/bumps/potholes, it ran much stiffer and like sh$T to be honest. I live in Norcal and I do quite a bit of offroading and get up to 60mph sometimes while mobbing in the wilderness and have noticed that my Kings ride much smoother when they get moving. I was really thrown off how it handled because I expected it to be rough AF but it actually handled very well even when I threw the truck off some mediocre jumps/hills at about 40mph. Given I am running a steel bumper and 700lb springs, I was very surprised but as soon as i went back onto the road.....it ran rough AF again. My overall solution to this problem was getting Long Travel which I cant wait to throw on. I know this is an expensive option but it did take a long time to come to this point. I cant wait to feel the plush feeling of the LT. Best wishes to you man I hope you get this figured out. KINGS all the way IMO.

 

Read my post #72 it explains exactly why your suspension feels the way it does.

 

Hah

 

I have this same set up on my truck and love the way it rides. Dare to be different OP. ADSFTMFW.

 

I’ve got icons ext travel bout to swap for ome 886 today cause it fits my needs better now. I’ve been happy with my icons no issues finally armored up an got some sag but don’t want to reinvest in 700lbs springs an resi this route proved to be greatly cheaper.

 

Reasons like this are why I do not want to make the switch. I don’t want to spend another 2500 and be disappointed.

 

I’ve heard of ADS, but never looked into them. I’ll consider this.

 

What coils you have now?
What armor
How many miles on those coils?

 

Currently have icon ext travel with the 650lb spring non resi. About 20k armor eBay bumper, sos sliders and sos front,mid, and transfer case skid steel.

 

Ride wasnt that great stock, and rides about the same on Icons with d-ply tires. Supercharged with mods and still slow. But I still enjoy driving it. Plus it hauls and tows stuff when needed.