Let’s talk suspension, icon vs fox

So Rode in a buddies 3rd gen with icons. I’m sold gonnabe pulling the trigger on the icon stage 3 kit

anybody running solo motor sports UCA’s? They offer a tube and boxed option

https://solomotorsports.com/shop/pa...nsion-toyota-parts/toyota-upper-control-arms/

 

Just a heads up, it was actually cheaper for me to source the ICON parts individually than to buy the "kit". I would not get the ICON add a leaf. It is shit. If you are dead set on an AAL, get wheelers.

 

Those boxed ones are expensive! Have you researched unibal vs balljoint, really depends on your climate.

 

I can't speak for those arms, but I had their full stage 2 Bronco kit and the workmanship was amazing.

 

I'm with @rock climber , not sure what purpose you are looking for, but those might be overkill. Certainly not going to judge for buying them, your money, your call, and I want to see and hear how they perform. But you might be able to spend less here and put it towards something else.
I've used the SPC UCAs and have been really happy with them. I found them marked down recently about $120 too. But, if you are driving somewhere that salts the roads in the winter or are exposed to a lot of sand or debris, I was told to stay away from uniball.

 

@FirstGenVol thanks for the heads up on piecing

@rock climber,I’m in Southeast Tn, we don’t see a ton of salt here. They don’t seem all that bad to maintain, unless I’m missing something?

@GravityGear, @Kimosabe : I’m a big fan of overkill lol, I’ll give the spc’s a 2nd look though.

there’s only 2 options that use a ball joint right? Spc & Jba? Rest are uniball?

 

There are ball joint options from Camburg, Icon, TC and possibly others I'm missing.

 

Not on a first gen.

Uniball - Camburg, TC, Solo, Tuff Country, and one other I can't recall that sells suspiciously cheap on ebay

Flipped ball joint - JBA, SPC, Mevotech (rebranded SPC)

 

I run Fox 2.5 with resis.

Absolutely worth it. I only have 3800 miles on my truck but the ride keeps getting better as these settle in. Very good control, firm ride, adjustability is noticeable and nice. I had no problems with the reservoir mounts and I am lifted with 295/70r18s.

I ran Toytec 2.5s on my old Tundra, and before that I ran Bilstein 5100s on it.. The Foxes are in a completely different league than either of my other experiences with a Tundra.

 

oh my bad, that's 2014 Ram in his vehicle info. I just saw 2014.

 

Finally got around to ordering some parts. I was dead set on the icons. But after doing some re-reading and 2nd guessing I changed my mind yet again.

here’s what I’ve ordered so far:
*UCA’s: Total chaos
*Front coil over: ADS remote reservoir
*Total chaos steering rack bushings

yet to decide
*suspension maxx sway bar links

 

Love my fox 2.5s I have plenty of hose length as well. No issues with mine about 40k miles on em.

 

Sweet. Excited to hear some feedback. I bet you'll like them.

 

Try it without the swaybar. You may find that you can save money on the links.

i ran my gen 1 no front swaybar with icons. Was fine

 

I have Solo's UCA's. They're just like everyone else but without a zerk fitting.

 

With the ADS, did you go with the bolt-in option for our trucks? I hope you were able to find somewhere that had them in stock. I've been waiting for almost 5 weeks now. But I'll be glad to have someone else try them out with me.

 

who’d you order from? I went with the bolt in option w/o compression adjusters. I just ain’t schooled enough on shocks yet to be messing with one of those lol

downsouth Motorsports quoted 6-8 weeks. Ads said they had em in stock, so I ordered from headstrong off-road

 

I ordered from Vivid Racing because they had a coupon code, and ADS said they would have to be drop-shipped anyway so just find the cheapest.
That is exactly what I ordered.

 

Thank you for the back up sir. But you gotta quote them to bring extra shame.

 

Man idk what vivid racing come in at price wise, have they give you a ship date yet?
Headstrong off-road come in pretty sweet price wise and had free shipping. They contacted ads and was told they have some in stock to send over

 

Let us know how you like the ADS coilovers once you get a few miles on them.

 

I’ll get some updates in here once I get the coil overs on and keep y’all posted

Let’s talk rear suspension for a little bit:

I know I’m going ads piggybacks in the rear for the shocks.

do we have a shackle option like the 2nd and 3rd gen Guys? The archive garage kit is discontinued. Total chaos offers a 3/4 inch drop shackle but that’s all I can find. I’d love another set of revolver shackles like I had on my xterra

I know the icon aal got mentioned earlier and said it wasn’t that great. So are what other options do I have?

 

Deaver AAL was perfect for my 1st Gen. They recommended it over a new set of springs, saying it that in most cases, it would do everything needed. And about 30% of the price.

 

No shackles for first gen unless you want to lower it. Our shackles are inverted so a l9nger shackle lowers the truck, you can only go so short.

 

If your leaf springs are in good condition, the AAL from wheelers or toytec is a great option. I did the toytec one which was the deaver and got about 1.5 of lift leaving in the overload spring. If your leafs are shot there are many options, I did the HD leaf pack from ATS springs and was very happy with it. General springs also has it. Alcan, Deaver, ICon RXT and Atlas have great reviews also, just more expensive.

 

My springs are in pretty decent shape, so an aal looks to be my best bet. What kind of flex are y’all gaining with the overload pulled?


So is there any benefit to the total chaos shackles other than lowering for looks? Do they help with flex or soften the ride after an aal or custom pack?im guessing they cance out any benefit you gain from the springs?

 

Isnt the shock length is your limiting factor on flex on a gen 1 correct?

You could order longer shocks then do a custom upper mount.

the shackle flip is another possible option depending on how much lift you’re looking for

 

I might over looked this detail. I ran into the shocks being my limiting factor on my xterra. I’d like to stay close to level but maximize my flex front to rear. I don’t tow with this truck at all. That’s where the Cummins comes in. Most weight the bed sees is 3 or 4 kayaks and paddling gear.

custom shock mounts would be awesome but idk that I’m ready to go that far down the rabbit hole with this truck yet lol

archive garage discontinued their kit. Anybody else got a line on something similar?

while we’re at it some compressed and extended lengths on the rear shocks would be awesome both lifted and non lifted applications

 

Back in the day, there wasn’t a shock mount kit. Everyone would just weld a tube cross member in and run 10-12 inch travel shocks if I remember correctly Depending on the angle. The gen 1 has relatively poor up travel so adding droop will help with flex a ton