Entry level vs. top tier suspension kits (1 Viewer)

[04UZJ100]

I think Icons are overhyped. Between the member with the Icon wheels that are flaking and the numerous complete failures that XOverland has had across a number of its trucks they do not instill confidence in me as a consumer

 

[NoClue]

I think Icons are overhyped. Between the member with the Icon wheels that are flaking and the numerous complete failures that XOverland has had across a number of its trucks they do not instill confidence in me as a consumer

I just looked at the price - christ almighty! I purchased all my bilstein components for 1182 shipped, is the icon stage 2 for $3200 really that much better? How would you categorize the different stages of icon as the OP described, entry level or top tier?

 

[CharlieS]

Just to avoid misunderstanding, the King 2.5 were more like $2400. I often hear people say they are a lot more, but they seem to conflate them with 3.0 and optional add-ons like adjusters.

 

[Tex68w]

Icon in my many experiences has always been a giant let down. I too ran my first set back when they were still Donahue, but ever since they've been known for shaft issues and leaky seals. CS ranks near the bottom as they would almost always deny responsibility and if you were lucky they would maybe send a rebuild kit. I'm glad to hear that @Angelo1 has had good luck with his, but I wouldn't recommend them nor would I buy them with a strangers money.

 

[Angelo1]

I am running the King 2.5s with valving built for my weight and build through filthy motorsports. I have had them for about 15k now. Love them. I started running Icons before they were Icons and called Donahue Racing coilovers. I had shaft seal leaks and I had top mount failures on both the front coilovers and the rear shock top mounts. The thread in design is a common failure you've seen here on the board. Additionally, for the price paid, I expect top shelf customer service. I had warranty claims denied for clear product failures. Icons look pretty and their price reflects that, but their performance doesn't. They're great while they're working but my down time from failures was frustrating and disappointing. This was on an 01 tacoma and an 04 tundra.

Kings have provided me a more compliant ride and meet my use case for my build and how I wheel in colorado. I had zero reason to upsize to the 3.0 Kings. Way overkill. I am not running long washboards or need a lot of high speed damping. I'd never use them to capacity.

Time will tell if the Kings hold up better than the Icons. I don't have the mileage totals personally to comment. My only frustration with the Kings is the tubing to the remote reservoirs has proven to be a pain with rubbing on full left lock. I'll eventually get that all dialed in.

Having never ridden in a vehicle with the fancy suspension I don't know what I'm missing and I think I want to keep it that way haha! I've seen a few people post on here with issues with their ICON shocks failing and things like that which made me think they weren't as good as the hype. Also do ICON shocks need to be serviced? But the adjustability is great for what you mentioned, and having an 08 LC I look at it as a truck/tool more so than luxury like I would with a newer one.

They recommend them to be rebuilt every 50k if I recall correctly. Otherwise, they are maintenance free. I’ve heard great things about ICOns not being an issue with people running past 60k miles on them with no issues. Maybe the 3.0 are just built beefier and sized better for a heavy 200 vs people getting the 2.5 and having blown seals. No idea, but I really like my current setup.

 

[Angelo1]

Yep Icon shocks will need to be serviced/rebuilt at certain intervals. I agree with your philosophy on suspension! Most will be happy with a less fancy setup, and the extra worries about leaks, rebuilds, etc. are just not worth it for me.

If you want adjustability but a more reliable shock, I would definitely look at Ironman Foam Cell Pro or the Bilstein 6112/5160 setup. I believe Tough Dog also has an adjustable option.

Having to rebuild shocks is a non-issue if you own another vehicle to drive while it sits for a week or two at most. If your only vehicle, definitely consider something else. I’m not so sure Ironman is more reliable however. ICON is pretty bulletproof if it’s installed professionally. I know two chums in my neck of the woods who beat the crap out of ICON at wind rock and heavy washboard roads to the ranches. Talking about daily 5mile washboard roads. Icon soaks them up with no issue. My teeth don’t chatter.

 

[Angelo1]

I think Icons are overhyped. Between the member with the Icon wheels that are flaking and the numerous complete failures that XOverland has had across a number of its trucks they do not instill confidence in me as a consumer

Nothing is made perfect but I also have ICOn wheels and have zero flaking. Hell, a few times I swore I gauged my wheel a couple of times turning into the parking lot and just had a minor scratch and it was still black and barely noticeable. Maybe I’m just lucky but they have been a fantastic wheel. My wheels start to flake, I’ll be yelling from the rooftops.

 

[Reckless]

I have 80k on my icons 2.5s no issues (abused them as much as possible on the street) but havent done any major offroading adventures. Did race it through a corn field once trying to pretend i was driving the baja. Icons are nice on cybermonday but the blisteins have me jealous for $1200. Not sure if that included adjusters. For me adjusters are a must have. Also coil overs are a must, car drives better than new. Im sold on digressive shocks-great for aggressive drivers.

For me its either kings or icons for top tier suspension based on personality type.

 

[Reckless]

One thing to point out, labor to swap things is not cheap, thats why adjusters are worth the expense. If you go icons they valve the rears for weight of armour so warn them from factory if you dont have bumpers.

 

[Itsky]

I’ve had OME on two of my previous 200’s and now I’m running ICON 3.0. The comparison is night and night. OME on a 200 is like driving around in 1ton truck with stiff leaf springs, handles just as bad around corners and bounces over every speed bump. ICON 3.0 is the complete opposite. I can take corners so much faster and controlled without feeling it’s going to tip over and speed bumps are soaked up like riding in a Cadillac. Having adjustable suspension allows you to really hone in on how you want your SUV to respond. You don’t have have to be a hardcore off-roader to appreciate it. The cost is well worth it.

You must have had chosen the wrong shock and spring combo with your OME setup or installed it wrong, because that is not OME rides at all. It’s great. I think it works amazing and this with lots of trips all over the west including bombing down dirt roads at high speed.

on my 200 I’ve only had OME, but previously on my 4runner I had Icon 2.5 front ans rear with their progressive springs, and also had OME before that.

In practice, OME setup correctly does the job 85-95% as well as icon, at 1/3 the cost and probably 1/3-1/2 the maintenance.

 

[Angelo1]

You must have had chosen the wrong shock and spring combo with your OME setup or installed it wrong, because that is not OME rides at all. It’s great. I think it works amazing and this with lots of trips all over the west including bombing down dirt roads at high speed.

on my 200 I’ve only had OME, but previously on my 4runner I had Icon 2.5 front ans rear with their progressive springs, and also had OME before that.

In practice, OME setup correctly does the job 85-95% as well as icon, at 1/3 the cost and probably 1/3-1/2 the maintenance.

I’ll make sure to tell Christo at Slee off-road they installed the OME incorrectly on both previous 200’s. Icon on a 4Runner is not the same on a 200. 85% as well as Icon is a huge difference and for me, I am very happy to pay the price for a better tuned ride. Absolutely no comparison in ride quality. My wife and kids can tell a huge difference on long road trips and that you can’t put a price tag on. OME has its place but for a family hauler and washboard roads to the horses, OME is not for me.

 

[Yossarian]

This is sounding like a tire thread!

 

[Itsky]

I’ll make sure to tell Christo at Slee off-road they installed the OME incorrectly on both previous 200’s. Icon on a 4Runner is not the same on a 200. 85% as well as Icon is a huge difference and for me, I am very happy to pay the price for a better tuned ride. Absolutely no comparison in ride quality. My wife and kids can tell a huge difference on long road trips and that you can’t put a price tag on. OME has its place but for a family hauler and washboard roads to the horses, OME is

I’ll make sure to tell Christo at Slee off-road they installed the OME incorrectly on both previous 200’s. Icon on a 4Runner is not the same on a 200. 85% as well as Icon is a huge difference and for me, I am very happy to pay the price for a better tuned ride. Absolutely no comparison in ride quality. My wife and kids can tell a huge difference on long road trips and that you can’t put a price tag on. OME has its place but for a family hauler and washboard roads to the horses, OME is not for me.

just to be clear, your buying suspension from a vendor, not choosing the components yourself, or being knowledgeable about them, not even using close to the edge of their performance possibilities, not installing yourself, only having 50k miles of experience, claiming your wife and kids can tell a difference on road.

sounds about right.

 

[Angelo1]

just to be clear, your buying suspension from a vendor, not choosing the components yourself, or being knowledgeable about them, not even using close to the edge of their performance possibilities, not installing yourself, only having 50k miles of experience, claiming your wife and kids can tell a difference on road.

sounds about right.

Yep, that’s about right and your sarcasm screams ego. I guess my experience can’t be real since you’re saying it. I’m sure you’re much more knowledgeable than Christo as well and he should contact you on future installs.”Bless your heart”. I’m sure if I installed it myself, you’d say I did it wrong...oh wait, you had already assumed that in your previous comment. You’re right about one thing, I don’t use the Suspension at full capability as I don’t have sand dunes near me and the 200 is not meant to be a rock crawler. The purpose of my suspension is for long washboard roads, pasture driving,medium trail difficultly and long road trips. My wife hated driving in the 200 with OME on medium duty springs when off-road and driving down washboard. Now she doesn’t complain, that is worth the cost.

 

[Itsky]

Yep, that’s about right and your sarcasm screams ego. I guess my experience can’t be real since you’re saying it. I’m sure you’re much more knowledgeable than Christo as well and he should contact you on future installs.”Bless your heart”. I’m sure if I installed it myself, you’d say I did it wrong...oh wait, you had already assumed that in your previous comment. You’re right about one thing, I don’t use the Suspension at full capability as I don’t have sand dunes near me and the 200 is not meant to be a rock crawler. The purpose of my suspension is for long washboard roads, pasture driving,medium trail difficultly and long road trips. My wife hated driving in the 200 with OME on medium duty springs when off-road and driving down washboard. Now she doesn’t complain, that is worth the cost.

You wrote: “The comparison is night and night. OME on a 200 is like driving around in 1ton truck with stiff leaf springs, handles just as bad around corners and bounces over every speed bump.”

which I am pointing out is not reality, unless you had a problem. Which you doubled down and said you didn’t .

I’ll also point out that your description of suspension use above is totally valid, and just where suspension systems like OME are a great fit. I’d bet that 200s equipped with OME have traversed more miles of washboard than other suspension systems combined.

 

[bloc]

You wrote: “The comparison is night and night. OME on a 200 is like driving around in 1ton truck with stiff leaf springs, handles just as bad around corners and bounces over every speed bump.”

which I am pointing out is not reality, unless you had a problem. Which you doubled down and said you didn’t .

I’ll also point out that your description of suspension use above is totally valid, and just where suspension systems like OME are a great fit. I’d bet that 200s equipped with OME have traversed more miles of washboard than other suspension systems combined.

To be fair, descriptions like that are subjective. His new suspension could be set up much more plush and that difference could be to his liking..

OME being so popular doesn't mean every person will like how they handle. And that isn't the first time I've heard of an OME setup being compared to a 1-ton truck, especially when contrasted with the wallowing stock suspension.

 

[Tex68w]

Well this thread took a turn lol. Both of you have valid points but I will have to say that of all of the suspension companies I have owned on my many vehicles, Icon is the only one that I refuse to purchase and suggest that others avoid.

 

[Cruisin911]

To be fair, descriptions like that are subjective. His new suspension could be set up much more plush and that difference could be to his liking..

OME being so popular doesn't mean every person will like how they handle. And that isn't the first time I've heard of an OME setup being compared to a 1-ton truck, especially when contrasted with the wallowing stock suspension.

Completely subjective. This is the reason there are so many different options. That, I am glad for.

My OME setup was professionally installed. I don't see how its possible to have it incorrectly installed. Since I didn't spec my original OME setup as it was on the 200 when I bought it, there is a possibility that the springs selected were incorrect/too heavy. When I swapped in the correct system paired with my Kings, I am running new OME rear springs by the way with my king rear shocks, its night and day difference.

The comment of OME being 75-85% of the performance of Kings or ICONs is simply incorrect, given comparable use cases.

 

[Itsky]

Completely subjective. This is the reason there are so many different options. That, I am glad for.

My OME setup was professionally installed. I don't see how its possible to have it incorrectly installed. Since I didn't spec my original OME setup as it was on the 200 when I bought it, there is a possibility that the springs selected were incorrect/too heavy. When I swapped in the correct system paired with my Kings, I am running new OME rear springs by the way with my king rear shocks, its night and day difference.

The comment of OME being 75-85% of the performance of Kings or ICONs is simply incorrect, given comparable use cases.

so you don’t know the OME shocks and springs you used yet you conclude OME being 75%-85% performance as incorrect. do you realize that Spring rate and damping are important to suspension?

it can be installed improperly if kdss procedure isn’t followed, the wrong springs or shocks are chosen, appropriate UCAs aren’t picked, bad alignment. Etc

 

[NoClue]

I currently have 0 accessories on the rear of my LC with the bilstein springs. When I loaded the trunk with 350-400 lbs of stuff , it seemed to drive much nicer. I wish i measured ride height before and after, because I plan to get an aux tank and a steel rear bumper soon.