Kings or Icon coilovers?

[junior80]

Dylan, What rear lower control arms are you running on the 80? Are they the rear lower control arms you guys sell for the 200 series LC or something larger? Whatever they are, they look like they are ICON machined aluminum arms.

I asked him on Instagram and this was his reply, "Our 80 Series has stock radius arms and modified ICON T4R/FJ Cruiser billet lower links."

Would the billet lower links be as strong as the other aftermarket options available? The Snake Racing ones would otherwise be the go to option for myself.

 

[junior80]

More to the point, are the billet lower links for an 80series going to be an option?

 

[miked1]

same shock as 9780LC has above

springs are our new 3" lift, dual rate coils. designed to net 3" with front bumper and winch and medium amount of gear in the back. Springs are slightly softer for a nicer ride and to gain full travel, than your basic OME spring, when at ride ht, then stiffen when compressed for bottom out resistance

Dylan, I've been considering the new 3" kit as my 200k stock suspension is completely worn out.

Does the kit include everything necessary for proper installation? I'm a little concerned about brake lines and driveline angle specifically. I've heard once you get over about 2" of lift you need to start addressing these things.

 

[Delancy]

My OMEs suck my ass.

What series do you have?

I've dyno'd some OME's for a few applications and they are not bad at all.

ih8yellow....

should I get BMWs or Benz...

I'd be offended the comparisons if either of the two, but lest we forget a contender, have to throw Radflo into that mix.

Have ran and installed all and credit's due royalty from construction quality to ease of adjustment, especially within the tight confines of the IFS coil tower.

If customer service experience were limited to direct, I can say it was plainly obvious my business wasn't necessary, but, fortunately for all, Sonny and (then) Marco at Downsouth were awesome on all fronts.

No complaints of Icon's products, known many that sing praises, and when I bent the unbendable, the warranty was honored without much fanfare, which was unexpected.

That said, running (or in process of ordering) Radflo's on all my junk, 40 to 80 and several numerical points in between.

Quality parts, unparalleled service, and I don't even own a trophy truck.

The Snake Racing ones would otherwise be the go to option for myself.

Be sure to ask for the heavier viscosity snake oil.....

More to the point, are the billet lower links for an 80series going to be an option?

Why?

No offense to Icon, but bringing de' bling to an 80 is a offense punishable tar and feather. Leave the bling for the +120s. (Not that it matters. They'd sell maybe two to three sets, because they're far from free.)

Rick's links are the best offering for the 80, hands down, bar none, katybar the door. They're solid stock, use OE ends, and non-adjustable.....which best suits on all accounts.

Race car parts make race car noises and that's fine on a race car or maybe even a sportier Toyota. 80s are already a little bitchy, as they're getting up there in age, plus there are other points that already demand constant attention.

Why increase the maintenance factor if it nets a big fat 0 in gains?

 

[Delancy]

Is King shocks & coils the same company?

No. The US and Australian companies share no more than a name.

 

[junior80]

@Delancy I am with you on the bling, not really what I'd be looking for unless it also did something magical but i doubt it. plus it sounds like those ones are a one off set that the guy has made because it's his product on his personal 80 with his logo all over it. I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't offered for the 80 series market but who knows.

as for snake racing they make good stuff and a lot of places stock it in aus. and they are far from race car parts, as far as i remember the last set i had weren't noisy at all. Also, i haven't heard of rick's links, got a web link for them?

 

[joez]

Rick's links are the best offering for the 80, hands down, bar none, katybar the door. They're solid stock, use OE ends, and non-adjustable.....which best suits on all accounts.

I have to go off topic now.

I'm glad to know you speak for the entire 80 series community when directing companies on what they should and should not bring to market. Your post 100% shows why the 80 series platform doesn't get the support that it could, when you have one of the owners of ICON, that could actually help bring more new parts to market, posting in a shock thread, you pop in and tell them to stick to other platforms with the lower control arms. If you won't buy it, great, but don't step up and act like you speak for the whole community.

Rant off.

 

[Delancy]

I'm glad to know you speak for the entire 80 series community when directing companies on what they should and should not bring to market.

No one can hear the whispers of dissention over the guttural screams of Benjamin Franklin's, so a tongue in cheek expression of a half hearted opinion is as impactful as a match is a raging fire.

Money talks and bull**** walks.

Your post 100% shows why the 80 series platform doesn't get the support that it could, when you have one of the owners of ICON, that could actually help bring more new parts to market, posting in a shock thread....

Open your eyes to the reality that is this love affair with a now 20 year old platform. It's simply not profitable to produce products on a scale that maintains financial viability.

Combine all years of US 80 importation and you won't come close to a years worth of domestic/import quantities last year, alone, and there are nowhere near enough 80 enthusiasts willing to dole out big bucks for.

Lots of talk, but not much action, otherwise there's be, at least a half page of the 22 page monthly 4WP circular dedicated to 80s.

My post means nothing, since no vendor bases investment on public opinion, but return on investment and the fact of the matter is, this market guarantees none.

If you won't buy it, great, but don't step up and act like you speak for the whole community.

I did buy it and ran, hence the 'bling' opinion.

(Icon upper/lowers, rear pan hard and front UCAs, to clarify.)

If memory serves, spent north of $3k on just those items, with another $3k to complete the rest of the Icon 'kit'.

$6k is double what half the 80s on these pages cost.....

Go back to the underlying reason why good businesses develop and market products, being profit, and that's what speaks volumes above all else. It doesn't matter how much you or 100 others SAY you want it, because it's the money that does the talking.

ALL THAT SAID.....

If you wanted show your support of Icon's potential offerings to the 80 market, order 'em up.

There's virtually no difference in length across the Toyota 5 link spectrum.

I've pulled 80 links and tossed in the boneyard, to return and have to think about the differences between they and 120s, because they're that similar, overall.

 

[82much]

I think this should be a Q&A with the manufacture and with people who can give some insight. To ask questions about their product and find out if its right for your Setup/Rig. Why do these thread's always end up being a bashing by people being arrogant and anal.
If you dont like the product then dont worry about it and move on to something else.

 

[DylanICON]

ICON sells a ton of the billet lower arms for the FJ/4Runner and 200 series (same part # fits all). It was originally developed for the FJ because bending the stock arms was common and this arm is 18X more resistant to bending than the stock FJ. The 80 arm is way beefier though and I have not done the calculations to compare but its probably still many times stronger than stock.

But that's not the point. I put them on, as speculated, "because I could" and its shinny and it has on vehicle adjustability so I could easily adjust pinion angle. The bolt size is different so I machined out the pivots to fit, and the length difference (~3/8") is well within the adjustment range.

If enough of you guys were interested I could easily make an 80 specific part # with the correct pivot sleeves but I made the same assumption as Delancy, that bling is not a priority for 80's. To be honest we probably sell half of them for the bling over the features (stronger, replaceable plastic rock slider on the bottom, on vehicle adjustability, ect).
People assume its billet for show, but in fact it is easier to incorporate many of the features I wanted to add in a single machined part then a weldment. And with our machining capability cost isn't that different. Yes its expensive, but that's because of all the hardware and pivots and sliders ect that go into it.


The reason ICON is in the 80 market is not because its a hot new vehicle like a Tacoma or a Jeep JK. I always wanted one, I got one and made some custom shocks for it just for my personal project. After a couple months we said, "may as well give it a part #". Everyone else here in sales and marketing soon realized that it had a very dedicated following and international viability and stopped talking s*** as to why I bought a 20 year old, slow, station wagon with a ratty cracked steering wheel. I then made springs because the TJM springs I had left a lot to be desired.
So between everyone's influence here and what I come up with there could be more ICON products for the 80 but I cant promise anything. For instance, the roof rack I made for my 80 will never, never ever, under no circumstance, for anyone, be a product for sale. but its awesome, all aluminum, TIG welded and weighs 19lb and if I paid myself $5/hr when making it I would have tripled the value of my cruiser.

 

[tacosupreme]

I run both side by side on my Tacoma. They are both fantastic quality components that will last for decades with routine maintenance.
I run Radflo on the rear, and they are also nice shocks, however the bypass adjustment screws quickly rust and the finish isn't as nice as Icon or King. Radflo also makes a lot more noise (ferocious rattle on washboard) due to the bypass design compared to Kings.

 

[jcardona1]

It doesn't matter how much you or 100 others SAY you want it, because it's the money that does the talking.

Well said. Happens all the time. For years folks said they wanted a 3 link kit. When it came to be, crickets. You can probably count the number of 3 link kits sold with one hand. Those that say they want this part and that part are the first to go silent when it's time to talk with your wallet. It'll be the same story if NWF ever does come out with a doubler for the 80.

 

[DylanICON]

Dylan, I've been considering the new 3" kit as my 200k stock suspension is completely worn out.

Does the kit include everything necessary for proper installation? I'm a little concerned about brake lines and driveline angle specifically. I've heard once you get over about 2" of lift you need to start addressing these things.

Yes
the kits include:
front sway bar relocation
caster bushings and press tool
springs
shocks

we also have brake line kits as an option.

you can also do the stuff al-a-cart for those that already have some of the smaller components.

1991-1997 Toyota Land Cruiser [80 Series] 3" Suspension System - Stage 1 | K53091

I made a CV front shaft for mine. At this height and caster setting I actually went back to the original stock front shaft. This seems to be a case by case situation though.

 

[scottryana]

Yep, @jcardona1 and @Delancy are both right. The 80's market is very strange in its desire for parts.

It was a $50k truck, that can be bought for $3k, where parts are still fairly expensive, and there isn't a lot of aftermarket support, but everyone swears they will open their wallet. Someone goes out on a limb and takes the risk and then everyone scatters. That is a big part of why companies don't really develop for the 80 any longer. The products that were developed 10+ years ago like lifts, etc are still around but the Land Cruiser shops have seen it isn't worth taking the time and effort because people won't drop big money like Jeep owners, Bro truck owners, etc.

It is awesome that one of the owners of Icon is here with his own 80, but like he said he did it for himself and then slapped a part number on it.

If people want revolution, they have to pay for it, as I just do not see any company taking a huge chance on the 80 market as it sits.

Well said. Happens all the time. For years folks said they wanted a 3 link kit. When it came to be, crickets. You can probably count the number of 3 link kits sold with one hand. Those that say they want this part and that part are the first to go silent when it's time to talk with your wallet. It'll be the same story if NWF ever does come out with a doubler for the 80.

 

[GW Nugget]

@DylanICON thank you for with owning an 80 & building it up for yourself and then slapped a part number on it.

That's what I figured when this kit came out. You did it for the Luv of the 80 series not for a big market money maker.

I hope this little 80 niche will have a sweet spot for ICON & they continue to come out with other products. The stage 1 kit is really is not that much more money compaired to say an OME set up. The quality of the ICON suspention is worth the $400 difference in price. Dual rate coils are far superior than a single rate coil. I don't have the shocks but I'm sure the valving is much better than a 10 year old OME design. Shock technology has changed leaps & bounds just in the last 5 years. Thanks again Dylan for owning an 80 series.

 

[Qball]

I'd be offended the comparisons if either of the two, but lest we forget a contender, have to throw Radflo into that mix.

Have ran and installed all and credit's due royalty from construction quality to ease of adjustment, especially within the tight confines of the IFS coil tower.

If customer service experience were limited to direct, I can say it was plainly obvious my business wasn't necessary, but, fortunately for all, Sonny and (then) Marco at Downsouth were awesome on all fronts.

No complaints of Icon's products, known many that sing praises, and when I bent the unbendable, the warranty was honored without much fanfare, which was unexpected.

That said, running (or in process of ordering) Radflo's on all my junk, 40 to 80 and several numerical points in between.

Quality parts, unparalleled service, and I don't even own a trophy truck.



Be sure to ask for the heavier viscosity snake oil.....



Why?

No offense to Icon, but bringing de' bling to an 80 is a offense punishable tar and feather. Leave the bling for the +120s. (Not that it matters. They'd sell maybe two to three sets, because they're far from free.)

Rick's links are the best offering for the 80, hands down, bar none, katybar the door. They're solid stock, use OE ends, and non-adjustable.....which best suits on all accounts.

Race car parts make race car noises and that's fine on a race car or maybe even a sportier Toyota. 80s are already a little bitchy, as they're getting up there in age, plus there are other points that already demand constant attention.

Why increase the maintenance factor if it nets a big fat 0 in gains?

Ok ok it's just a paraphrase, the point is fortunately for all of us we have choices!!!!!!! That in itself should be celebrated! AMEN to IH8YELLOW.


Also agree that there are NO OTHER aftermarket control arms that will be on my 80. Rick/landtank control arms and his suspension are the best for expedition style use cases! Bar none!

 

[jtwopark]

At the end of the day pick and choose your own poison! All I can say is any shock will perform as long as you spend the time to dial it in

 

[jtwopark]

To the person that started this thread! If you are spending 2k plus on shocks any company can sell you shocks you'll be pleased with! Our opinions won't change your mind as it seems you have already chose King shocks....ultimately that is where you'll end up! I have seen a handful of people go icons and come back to KINGS!

 

[NLXTACY]

Wasn't ICON part of/formerly Donahoe Racing? Those guys I recall being pretty bad ass with their off-road racing. If ICON is/was part of that then they deserve all the kudos that come with it.

 

[jtwopark]

I thought Donahoe racing went under for child porn!! And they disappeared! Some pretty big news back in the days!