ICON coilovers TOO STIFF

I got the same thing for armor except a sos alumin bumper so it’s lighter so I think that’s why my 700 coils make it a bit stiff

 

I agree get a winch or some steel skid plates it’ll soften it up. I lost about an inch when I did mine but the ride is still good. I don’t wanna crank them up much more plus I don’t do high speed stuff now just low an slow.

 

Oh I have a winch, full skids all the way back, sliders, mine isn’t cranked up much at all. Initially I did for a full 3” lift but rode like I was sitting on blocks.
Took it down to around 2-2.5 and rides better but no where near as smooth as those 885s on my OME kit (but those are 590? Lb coils) so hard to compare.

I wonder how your 650s would ride for me

 

Not sure but a fellow member is on his way we are swapping I’m getting his ome 886s. Perhaps you could find someone to trade you just the coils. I love the way mine rides set at 2.5 un armored sat almost perfectly level with the aal. With armor it’s 1 1/4 in lower at same setting. Plus I’ll be putting in some dakars HD today is the hardware shows up.

 

Nice good deal
Let me know how those 886s ride

 

On my last Tacoma I ran a used set of 2" sway-a-way coilovers. When they needed a rebuild I sold them and went to a new set of icons. I honestly could tell no difference in performance. When I bought my current truck, I planned to go with kings, but a deal I couldn't refuse on Icons fell in my lap. Once again I wasn't that impressed. I was going to go to the kings when the ADS group buy popped up on here, and I couldn't resist the triple bypass rear shocks. The ADS coilovers and triple bypass rears totally changed how my truck rides on road and off. I love the way they perform and they were well worth the money. Now I want to save up and add a secondary bypass for the front and hydraulic bumpstops from ADS

 

I may be late to the party but here is my 2 cents.
I have the 2.5 remote cdc icons with 700lbs coils. They are on setting 4. Access cab, stock bumper, no sway bar.
"To me it rides good" some sway, but not bad. Suspension is like art. You have to find what you like. Some times it's expensive trial and error. Even with A LOT of research.
May I suggest looking into having cdc's added to your coilovers? If that is possible.
It will give you a range to find what you like. It may just be valving you don't like

 

Should have bought one of those Pro kits for $600,just as good as and icon or King for 1/3 of the price.

 

@Carl_z33 should have gone with Fox shocks homie! I'm way late in the game on this one but Fox shocks are more durable than Kings and if you order from Accutune then the valving is better too

 

Top plate spacers are cheap. Use them to achieve your desired ride height and that would allow you to back off the pre-load. You could experiment with 1/4 or 1/2 inch spacers and go from there

When I first installed my icons, I leveled the truck out with a leaf pack in the back. It rode stiff but for a while but that was fine with me. 2 years later I've lowered the front a little just to see what some rake would look like and I like the feel of the shocks better

 

When I installed my Kings several months ago I had the same reaction you're having with your Icons (maybe not as disappointed as you are but still)...my 5100s with 881 springs were softer on the street. But like you, I had to preload them to get the ride height I was used to and the coils were 600lbs as opposed to the 881s that were 500lbs.

Ultimately I lowered the front end down a half an inch and it helped, but it's still a bit stiffer than my previous setup. Which is fine by me, I mostly got them because I wanted to be able to have better offroad suspension and they are 100x better offroad than the Bilsteins were.

Also, like I said before...when you're running E rated AT or MT tires, you're going to feel every bump in the road regardless of your suspension.

I would keep the Icons if I were you and either swap in softer springs or lessen the preload on them (or both). If the preload is too much you're also going to run into CV issues...ask me how I know

 

yes

 

Hey after a few days with the 886s an new dakars out back definitely not as giving or plush as the icons. It’s stiff but not bone jarring by any means better than stock by far I am happy with the ride.

 

UPDATE

So I called DC shock services and the guy told me they can re-valve the icons, but he said that honestly 98% of the problem is the tires, not the suspension. I am running E rated tires so I just purchased some BFG KO2 C range and I hope this will solve my issue as to why the suspension feels “stiff”...
I didn’t know much about E range vs C range tires so don’t flame me lol

 

called it....I have this experience every time I'm on the trail, if I don't air down to at least 15psi on my KO2s (e rated) it feels like I'm hitting curbs with every bump, rock, whoop, etc. And this is with Kings (front), Icons rear. It would be worse with lesser suspension but if your tires are hard/stiff as rocks, you're going to feel it.

C rated should really help, especially on the street but be mindful of it when you're out wheeling...always carry at least one spare with you and a tire repair kit. C rated are more likely to experience punctures/cuts than E rated. I've never had a flat with an E rated tire, and every trail flat I've come across or been part of in a group has been from a C or P rated tire, except for one time.

Interested to see though how this changes the ride for you, be sure to let us know.

 

Yup! If I don’t air down to 13-15 psi it feels like the shocks are filled with cement because every little bump is felt and shakes the whole cab.. hopefully these C rated KO2 will help soften up the ride.

Yeah I always carry tire repair kit and now i will have to get a used spare because I just spend 1200 on these new tires

 

I have Icons and still have my swaybar on road handaling improved. They feel about as stiff as the 5100s that they replaced, but the ride feels tighter. I'm looking at ADS to replace the Icons. Doubt if I will pay to have them rebuilt.

 

@JerryTaco @hellppy how do you like your Icons?

 

Zero issues what so ever and absolutely love everything about them. Performance on and off-road is unbelievable and the RXT rear suspension is the best I've had out of all the rear setups I have gone through

edit, 700# springs are the ticket. Ride is night and day different.

 

Everything he just said! I love my ICON everything both on and off-road! Couldn't be happier with them and wouldn't go with anything else!