Ironman 4x4 Suspension Mega-Thread

Nice update! I had to swap out mine after the treads on one of the bolts ended up buggered from hitting a pot hole. I put a tab kit on mine.

I’ll say more than once I’ve thought about adding 200lbs or a few 5gal buckets of sand in the bed to see what that does.

 

I think if you add 200lb you’ll enjoy the ride more, or put in thinner fluid in the rear shocks.

I recently drove a friends 2016 4Runner and to me it seemed like the 4r ride a little better because of the weight distribution.

I also drove a friends 3rd gen Tacoma trd OR. The only mod is factory size wildpeak at3w tires, so fairly stock. Admittedly the factory shocks did not ride as well as I remembered. Granted I know the OR have stiffer shocks than what came on my SR. Long story short I now have a better perspective for sure!

btw who makes that kit?

 

I keep thinking I should add the weight but never do lol.

here’s the kit, @ForestRunnerFrank99 originally posted about them and his company https://kpoffroad.com/product/best-...it-cam-eliminator?attribute_kit=Cam+Tabs+Only

solid product and event leaving the OEM tabs in, I’ve not had any movement…. Have hit lots of pot holes and some beach driving

 

Are Dobinsons springs compatible with the Ironman FCPs?

 

Best answer I can give is they might be. I think they are rounded at the bottom as opposed to flat like Kings. You’d have to find out if they are roughly same length and if the inner diameter is big enough. I remember that another member but some of those springs on his nitrogen IM and they worked. See if @Crikeymike can get you the dimensions of the spring if you can find em online.


For what it’s worth, I tried King springs on mine with a makeshift spring perch for flat springs. I had 650# springs and for whatever reason, after a long drive my truck was riding on the front bump stops. I don’t think the FCP are designed for lower weighted springs and they along with the 650 springs were not enough to hold the weight of truck. I went back to the 720# IM springs.

What’s your goal with different springs?

 

My Tacoma is getting close to having the shocks needing to be replaced. I have a old Bilstein/OME 886x setup. Running super heavy with full steel bumper, winch, steel skids and a dual battery. I need something that will flex and be smooth. Even being as heavy as I am, I know the 827 lb/in springs will ride rough. I might end up going with a similar setup on my 4Runner if I end up liking the Ironman shocks. It being not having all the upgrades as the Tacoma has, I know even the TOY065A springs would be too high in spring rate.

 

That’s definitely a possibility. The OEM Off road springs are about 720# rate, if that helps on your decision. The kit is pretty solid but and with the weight you have will probably be fine.

 

No, I wouldn't try the Dobinsons springs on them. FCP's use a bigger body, and even Ironman have had problems with their own springs rubbing on the body. The Dobinsons springs are made for a 50-56mm body size.

 

which leaf pack did you go with. I got the 2.5 Heavy pack front and 600 leafs because I tow a lot and have a snugtop and camp gear in the back. I’m now wondering if I should have done the 0-440lb pack

 

3" 0-440 . I don't run anything but recovery gear in the box and a 315/75/16 spare . if I camp I just pitch a tent.So was looking more fore a solid ride not how much I could tow. But I after having these springs for a spell and the way I do play with Old Blue. Don't think I did wrong. Runs awesome across that wash board shit 35 /40 mph no problem And smooth !

 

I called and emailed them and asked to switch to the 0-440 due to just the shell and some camping gear. I have seen other posts that say the truck lifted 6” with the heavy packs. And I have been running stock springs of the tow package for 12 years with 3” lift in the front and a 1” block with Firestone RideRites on Daystar cradles and it has been more than enough to keep level towing a Wakesurf boat with full camp gear for a week. And it can still articulate thanks to the Daystar cradles. I may not even swap leaf packs until I see how it feels with the new shocks. I also already have Tubular UCAs with Uniball but I just wanted ones that don’t have to be lubed every time I wash the truck that aren’t as noisy.

This was my 2nd suspension after the TRD Sport Bilsteins. IShock Midtravel Kit with tubular UCAs with uniball and Diff Drop 3” Coilover lift.

This was after I swapped out the stock IShock 600lb springs for the heavy 700lb springs when I just had the plate bumper and no camper shell.

This is how she sat. I have always had the BAMF sliders and rear diff skid, and was the first No-hoop fully powdercoated production available from Jerry when he made these.

Zero Squat with a weeks worth of camping gear and a fully loaded boat on 700lb springs with plate bumper and stock tow package with the Air Ride and Cradles with like 30-40psi.

Nice and Level zero squat with fully loaded truck and same 700lb springs with plate bumper and sliders and camping gear Just really like this pic… Truck and Centurion looked killer in the Sunset.


Then I got the truck re-painted from all the 12 year old Toyota paint fade and trail scratches. And I had the body shop install the 12k winch that has been sitting in my hall for 6+ years. And now the front is even more heavy and truck already has a Rake with like 10psi in the bags just so they aren’t zero. No load in the back other than the Snugtop. I don’t need 6” more lift in the rear so figured the 600+ was overkill seeing other people’s lifts after I had pulled the trigger. I figure it would ride better going softer in the rear and heavier in the front to counteract the heavy front and not super heavy rear since I have OEM rear bumper and am already too heavy to do the high clearance rear bumper with swing away. I wouldn’t have enough HP and be over GVWR if i did that. Was going to do the Fox Elite resi but don’t want to rebuild or revalve every 20k miles. And the Kings would be too soft for all the weight. I wanted to minimize the teardown and back together as I have too many projects between all the motorcycles and cars and my Subie as well. Need to do my Eibach lift kit and Cobb goodies and Vibrant exhaust on the Ascent. Just tuned up the accessport on it so far. Thing actually rips for a Costco Car And my new Africa Twin comes in a couple months and the Navi/600RR/CRF250L all have more mods just sitting in boxes. Just kept buying shit but no time to work on anything.


Really Hoping the Ironman FoamCell Pro was the right choice for my heavy ass Taco.

 

Did you find the 3” lifted the truck up evenly from front to rear? Hoping it’s not too high in the rear. I have the same 3” lift just waiting for the time to install it.

 

the back at first was a bit high but settled down good. I only run 25lbs of air in the back for my tires. On black top

 

This is where he sits now days ! Still has inner fender liners does not rub in front or back while it is off road / off trail and yes where I come from sometimes you just have to make your own path.

 

Looks great! What size tires are they?

 

315/75/16 on 8" steelies with -12mm offset

 

Nice! I need new tires and while I’d like to go to 34/35 I don’t know if I’m ready for rest of the work that goes into it.

 

Finished my install yesterday of the Stage 2 kit and I’m very pleased. I had installed used Bilstein 5100s that I bought off TW at all 4 corners about 4.5 years ago. Those were getting a bit tired and the factory leaf springs were sagging from the added weight of my GFC Superlight and Body Armor bed cage.

Install was relatively easy. The UCA bolts were a PITA—what the hell was Toyota thinking when they designed that? Did the rear last Sunday night in about 3.5-4 hours. Front was wrapped up yesterday and it took about 5 hours. Had a buddy help me who’s done the job 3 times before on his previous 2nd gens. That was helpful.

Ride is much nicer for sure. Taking it in for an alignment this week.

Adding some photos cuz who doesn’t love photos?

 

Nice!

 

Been kicking around the idea of returning truck to stock height. Assuming no way to get these massive FCP coilovers to stock height

Can I use the Pro Forge UCAs at stock height? Looking at moving to Bilstein 6112s.

Hoping I can just take a leaf out on the rear -- any thoughts there?

I know I'll need to remove sway bar and bearing spacers. Think I'll need stock ubolts or can use existing Ironman?

Any input appreciated -- just kind of kicking the idea around right now and building a price/parts list so don't want to forget anything.

Also gonna have to find someone with a silver sky third gen to trade bumpers and fenders with