ICON CDC - is it only for the really smart?

Hey all, I put on new AllPro Expedition leafs. During the install, I noticed my OME shocks were completely worn out. Additionally, they are slightly too short now.
Although the OME has been OK, I've always felt that I should have gone with something 'more', it's just that I didn't know I was going to be doing 'more' to justify it.

In the Pacific Northwest, I'm not dealing with high speed offroad. My playground is rocky, root-lined technical trails. I also do search & rescue and daily drive. I rarely ever haul a load, but might be carrying a motorcycle in a trailer or on a hitch carrier.

I talked with ICON briefly, and they recommended the following parts:
57805
58735

I think the only thing I have left to consider is valving.
On one side, I can go with having them do a one-time valving job. I have never asked for this, but I assume they just get a bunch of numbers from me and go to work.
On the other side, I could add a CDC option.


The CDC option would add $273 to the front and $260 to the rear.

My initial thought is that

1. Non-CDC is already stupid spendy
2. I typically hate options, because it makes me fiddle with it constantly or worry about it.
3. I am pretty simple minded when it comes to suspension. I don't think I'd know what I'm doing with that much control.

Am I wrong thinking that the cdc option would be overly complicated and expensive for my needs?

 

Why not stick with the 2.0 remote reservoir then? Do you think you will be using the 2.5s for what they are intended for? Knowing what you do I think you would be fine with the 2.0s. Unless you have started to do more dunes or sand travel.

 

^^Agreed. I would go with the 2.0s out back, and spend the money you save on those to get the CDC option on the fronts. The icons only have 10 settings which is nice. Don't have to have a gazillion setting options. #4 is the same as a standard set of Non CDC coilovers.

 

After talking to Icon at SEMA, they suggested I call and try to change my coilovers to the CDC because that will yield the best bang for the buck. It was too late for me so will have to upgrade at rebuild.

I'd take wheelers advice and the advice I got from Icon as well. 2.0 in the rear and CDC in the fronts. Dealt with them both (Wheelers and Icon). Both great to deal with IMO.

 

Well, on my first lift install I underestimated my usage needs and knew it as soon as I started getting past the medium difficulty trails and started in on the hard ones. It also becomes really apparent when then clock says 5AM, you are bouncing through a rock garden, and you've been on the trail since 10AM Now that I'm aware of my usage, and I've added a lot more weight out back that I'm constantly carrying around, erring on the side of overdoing it might not be bad.


I discussed with a friend who was looking at Kings, and their sales people recommended against CDC style shocks because they don't provide as much difference as one would think, and they have the added failure point (in the sense that more complexity means more stuff that can break, leak...). Provided they are properly tuned, it is all you really need until stepping into the big leagues of serious LT building. I might be comparing apples to mangos, though, in terms of what each of those guys bring to the table.

I think I just needed to talk it out, but I'm realizing that my mindset is that I'm not overly concerned about on-road ride, but I want it to absolutely murder the trail without having to be all fiddly about it.

Perhaps a better choice than CDC would be the air bumps, or is that again not useful for my application?

 

Airbumps wouldn't help you. I don't think you are jumping your truck much these days. Up and down slowly for hours is one thing. Up and down quickly for hours is another. The 2.5s are good for the latter. Personally I wouldn't have the 2.5s unless I got the deal that I did. But that's just me

 

I have CDC on my ICON RR LT coil overs up front...I went with CDC simply because it gives me the ability to tailor my suspension on the fly. No brainer for me...I really don't mess with the settings often but its nice to be able to go from crawling rocks to hitting the beach with some more speed.

2.0, 2.5 biggest thing you want to make sure in the rear is you have the proper stroke. 2.0 with Res would be fine my guess for what your doing.

 

I have the 2.5 non cdc up front and 2.0 out back and it does great at medium speed over rough stuff. I'd say save the money to be spent elsewhere.

 

Agreed......hell I have non resi Icon's up front and bomb the shit out of it at speed and they don't fade. For crawling I'd skip the CDC (ideal for speed) and focus on things that make crawling easier (gears, armor, crawl box etc). Valving isn't as important as travel numbers when it comes to crawling so make sure your using all the travel the leafs have.