Please explain the difference

I do not understand how Icon can sell a front coil over shock kit that's adjustable for $1,200:
http://downsouthmotorsports.com/i-4...lug-05-current-front-coil-over-shock-kit.html

when Bilstein is selling an adjustable shock for only $200?:
http://downsouthmotorsports.com/i-1...le-shocks-05-2014-w-optional-rear-shocks.html

What's wrong with mounting the factory springs on the Bilstein 5100 adjustables?

Are the new springs and having them pre mounted really worth another $1000?

Please explain to me Tacoma World.

 

The best explanation is one that you would get from riding in a truck with those setups. To a certain extent you get what you pay for.

 

Icons are rebuildable where as the bilsteins are not

 

kind of hard to explain. the 5100s are fine for light stuff like around town and the occasional camping trip. different settings for preload (like 4 I think)

coilovers have larger bodies (more oil capacity) for really slamming around the rough stuff at speed. also are rebuildable, custom valving ability, custom spring availability, and a threaded body so preload is adjusted more precisely.

5100s: light duty (still loads better than factory though)
coilovers: racetruck

 

Depends on your budget. I got a smoking deal on some used Icon 2.5 coilovers and had them rebuilt. Good as new. They are a little stiff at slower speeds but holy shit are they awesome off road at speed.

 

On a truck that's going to rack up 100k miles (about 25% on high speed dirt roads) in three years, how often would one need to rebuild those Icons -- In similar use, I haven't had to replace the front stock yellow Bilsteins in that amount of time. I don't mind paying the extra money, I just cringe at the thought of having to remove/ship/rebuild once a year. Would 5100s exhibit the same durability as stockers?

 

Take the Icons off road at speed and you will experience the difference. On the street, there is no difference.

 

I don't think anyone doubts that. My question is, how much difference is there on the maintenance side, given equal use (no air, just rough roads).

 

I had my Donahoes for close to 6 years and I had them rebuilt towards the end of that 6 years right before I went with my current Icon setup. I think that was a pretty good amount of time for the abuse I put them through.

 

That sounds very reasonable. Hearing more experiences like this would definitely help my decision come new truck time. It's just that I read of so many people having to rebuild them yearly, and hardly ever read of anyone having to replace their 5100s and the like.

It's not the initial buy in cost that worries me, it's the rebuild frequency. Having to take the suspension off my truck every spring, and shipping it stateside is a hassle I'm not too keen to deal with, to the point that I would put up with a lesser setup to avoid this...

 

Yeah it's cool that Icons are rebuildable, but once I install my shocks, I'd hope to never have to mess with them again until I decide to upgrade or for some reasonable amount of time..

also, check out this video I ran across. Is this just Bilstein nazi propaganda or are they really so superior to the other two options?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ijkcR68oxU

 

Does anyone have experience doing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkVLBOnAifc

Basically installing billies without using a spring compressor.
I just don't like how the video doesn't show where the jack is jacking the lower arm back up from at the end of the install to compress the coilover during the install?

 

Nifty thing about a rebuild able coil over like king, Fox, Icon and so on is they are tunable. As well as more adjustable for ride height, just more options

 

I used that method and it worked great. The place to jack it back up would be the outer most part of the lower control arm. The cup on the floor jack fit perfectly there for me. It's the same place you placed the jack to lower it.

 

The Bilstein 5100's and the preload kit achieve lift in the same manner which is applying preload to the coil.

Also, I didn't see this mentioned above but 5100's are not easily adjustable. To change the ride height, you have to compress the coil, move the lower shock mount to the next setting, then release the coil. Icons are adjustable using a spanner wrench. Additionally, Icons can be set to just about any height between stock height and +3" of lift. the Bilsteins can only be set at the pre-determined incriments of stock height, +.85", +1.75" and +2.5".

 

I'm surpsised no one has said this yet.

The bilstein is just an OME type shock that can be preloaded for adjustment. It's just one component of the coilover assembly.

The Icon is a full adjustable coilover assembly. It has the shock (which is rebuildable), spring, perch, etc.

 

Fixed. Just so no one is confused.

OME = Old Man Emu
OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer

 

OEM is what I meant. I'm fully aware of the difference....just must have some finger muscle memory. Regardless, thanks for noticing.

Probably that, and I was contemplating telling the OP to look at an OME, Eibach or Ironman spring to go with that new shock....

 

Money is a bit of a concern for the OP. He can't justify $1,000+ for new suspension components at this period of short term (hopefully) unemployment. (if you know of anyone needing a full time accountant let me know)

 

If you are unemployed the last thing you should be thinking about is upgrading your truck. You should be worried more about a job and your bills. Just saying op I am currently unemployed and I don't plan on modding my truck until I get the cash to do so.