Installed front and rear Icon Stage 3 shocks on my 2005 LX470 today. These follow the Nitro upper control arms I installed a few weeks ago.
I purchased the shocks and UCAs from Carl at Just Differentials. Both Carl and Jeremy from Icon (also Brian) were very helpful leading up to the purchase, and both were great to deal with when I was accidentally sent 200-series rear shocks. Needless to say everything worked out and 100-series remote reservoirs with CDC valves are on all four corners.
A few notes on my install:
I wanted boots protecting the shafts, even on the fronts. I ended up cutting down the Icon-supplied shock boots (had to purchase these separately) to better fit the shaft lengths--otherwise you need to run the boot all the way up the shock body to accomodate the full length of the long boot. I used a hole punch to re-establish breather holes in the top pleat, and cut a big drain hole in the bottom one. Used a hose clamp to secure the boots rather than zip ties.
The fronts were pretty straight forward. I netted barely under an inch of additional droop for about 24.5 inches hub center to fender, with both sides hanging free and no anti-sway bar.
I swapped out the double-nut on the top mount for a nylock, and loaded the lower bushing by jacking up the lower control arm a bit. Starting the nut was no big deal and tightening it down until a few threads showed was easy as well.
Passenger side reservoir mount was easy as described in the instructions. I accidentally overshot my hole diameter when drilling the hole on the driver's side (misread my stepped drill bit) so the supplied self tapping bolt wouldn't work. I was able to back a nylock nut onto another bolt I had instead, which worked out great.
Front Icon and OME:
Passenger side:
The rears were a little more challenging. The top nuts are difficult to reach, but I was mostly challenged by the tight tolerance between the lower mount stud and the spacers/rod end. I sanded the studs to make the tolerance, but I worry that getting the driver's side back off again is going to take lots of extra vocabulary and a puller. Spend the time to sand down any corrosion on the stud and have a Dremel handy to fix any trouble spots on the spacers.
The total droop on the rear axle is significantly increased. I did not measure, but with the shocks fully installed and the rear axle hanging free, I can pull the OME 863 coils without too much effort. I'm going to have to figure out some kind of retainer for the coils. I've got extended brake lines and axle breathers, and the only thing that appears a bit strained is the parking brake cable. No big deal.
Finding a good location for the rear reservoirs was also challenging. Icon gives you lots of hose length to work with, but I think the 45 degree elbow where the hose meets the shock is less than ideal. I ended up mounting the passenger side reservoir on the inside of the main frame rail, just above the lower control arm bracket, next to the muffler. I've got an aftermarket muffler (smaller), so there is some space. Not ideal, and I will watch the the location for too much heat, but I think it will work. I used the supplied bracket and bolt capture tab. I did have to Dremel out a factory hole a little bit.
The driver's side reservoir ended up on the underside of the cross member just in front of the rear axle, just behind the gas tank. Again, I used the supplied hardware and a factory hole in the frame. Had to open up the hole a bit and trim down the capture tab. Pretty good location I think.
Rear Icon with OME:
Passenger side rear:
Driver's side rear to follow, below...
I purchased the shocks and UCAs from Carl at Just Differentials. Both Carl and Jeremy from Icon (also Brian) were very helpful leading up to the purchase, and both were great to deal with when I was accidentally sent 200-series rear shocks. Needless to say everything worked out and 100-series remote reservoirs with CDC valves are on all four corners.
A few notes on my install:
I wanted boots protecting the shafts, even on the fronts. I ended up cutting down the Icon-supplied shock boots (had to purchase these separately) to better fit the shaft lengths--otherwise you need to run the boot all the way up the shock body to accomodate the full length of the long boot. I used a hole punch to re-establish breather holes in the top pleat, and cut a big drain hole in the bottom one. Used a hose clamp to secure the boots rather than zip ties.
The fronts were pretty straight forward. I netted barely under an inch of additional droop for about 24.5 inches hub center to fender, with both sides hanging free and no anti-sway bar.
I swapped out the double-nut on the top mount for a nylock, and loaded the lower bushing by jacking up the lower control arm a bit. Starting the nut was no big deal and tightening it down until a few threads showed was easy as well.
Passenger side reservoir mount was easy as described in the instructions. I accidentally overshot my hole diameter when drilling the hole on the driver's side (misread my stepped drill bit) so the supplied self tapping bolt wouldn't work. I was able to back a nylock nut onto another bolt I had instead, which worked out great.
Front Icon and OME:
Passenger side:
The rears were a little more challenging. The top nuts are difficult to reach, but I was mostly challenged by the tight tolerance between the lower mount stud and the spacers/rod end. I sanded the studs to make the tolerance, but I worry that getting the driver's side back off again is going to take lots of extra vocabulary and a puller. Spend the time to sand down any corrosion on the stud and have a Dremel handy to fix any trouble spots on the spacers.
The total droop on the rear axle is significantly increased. I did not measure, but with the shocks fully installed and the rear axle hanging free, I can pull the OME 863 coils without too much effort. I'm going to have to figure out some kind of retainer for the coils. I've got extended brake lines and axle breathers, and the only thing that appears a bit strained is the parking brake cable. No big deal.
Finding a good location for the rear reservoirs was also challenging. Icon gives you lots of hose length to work with, but I think the 45 degree elbow where the hose meets the shock is less than ideal. I ended up mounting the passenger side reservoir on the inside of the main frame rail, just above the lower control arm bracket, next to the muffler. I've got an aftermarket muffler (smaller), so there is some space. Not ideal, and I will watch the the location for too much heat, but I think it will work. I used the supplied bracket and bolt capture tab. I did have to Dremel out a factory hole a little bit.
The driver's side reservoir ended up on the underside of the cross member just in front of the rear axle, just behind the gas tank. Again, I used the supplied hardware and a factory hole in the frame. Had to open up the hole a bit and trim down the capture tab. Pretty good location I think.
Rear Icon with OME:
Passenger side rear:
Driver's side rear to follow, below...
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