Ironman 4x4 Suspension

You'll need UCAs and a rear lift, you'll have little down travel, and your CVs and maybe other parts will wear out sooner. I like it at 2"... but if you get the Ironman rear springs, then you kinda need a high front lift to keep it from looking funny.

They don't have a sale on components as often as full kits, but they do occur every few months or so. There was 25% off in March.

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Ironman is sending me new springs! So I'll see how those work out next week.

Some local drama. A big chunk of the town where I live has been wiped out in a forest fire since Tues; 200 homes and counting. It's mostly moved away from town, but many people still live in its path. Power was out for 3 days. My neighbor was checking on a friend's house at the time near the spot where it started, and she just happened to walk outside and noticed she was surrounded by fire. Barely got out. Not everyone was so lucky. No sirens, no warning of any kind, ever... because the electricity was out! Someone needs to rethink that system...

 

I had them set up mine at 3, no issues since my drama.

 

Im looking to get their kit in the next day or so... Ive got a 2015 CM, and I wont be taking it off road hardly at all.....

You guys think Ill be ok with the white, non pro foam cell kit? Thinking since its not adjustable, I might get their UCA too.

 

Absolutely. I kind of wish I had of just went with the white instead of the pro's.

 

I just placed my order for the white foam cells. I got the stage 2. I didn’t want to spend the extra on UCA, my truck is currently lifted on a OME lift with favtory UCA and is fine but didn’t want to risk any alignment issues.

Wonder if my ome lift has any value

 

I think 3.5" lift is way too much, personally. Otherwise those should be fine shocks.

Your OME kit should be worth something if it's in good shape. Why the switch?

 

The ome kit is about the same lift with the shackles that are on my truck. They seem to function fine but I’m unsure of the age and my leaf springs are flat so I figured I’d just replace it all

 

Was able to lower the coilovers while on the truck and broke the spanner wrench in the process. They had 2 inch of thread showing from IM and rode like shit. Lowered to about 1 1/2 inch of thread showing and will report back after some driving. I am on the heavy duty springs and so far I’m regretting switching from the Bilstein TRD PRO coilovers.

 

What spanner is that? I doubt you'd ever be able to break the IM one... it's a beast! I noticed that I'll need to remove the tie-rod end if I want to change mine while mounted, which sucks. There just isn't room otherwise. I have 18mm of thread showing on the bottom, longer springs, and 2" of lift. The long springs are only 5mm longer so someone with shorter ones should get ~2" with 23mm of threads.

My first set the springs rubbed... well one rubbed and one was real close. They sent new springs, but I think mounting of the springs is the more important part. I'll write more about that later...

I absolutely love the ride! Firm but never harsh... stable, planted, great on bumps and rough roads. Don't miss the swaybar. Even after having to install them twice I'm not sorry... so far.

 

Eibachs. How’d you get the Ironman spanner wrench? I don’t see it on the website

 

https://ironman4x4america.com/foam-cell-pro-adjustment-and-service-tool/

Hopefully the link direct you there. On their site you have to do a search for "wrench" it'll bring you to it.

hope this helps.

 

So if I want 3inch lift I should be at about 30mm of thread?

 

Best guess is ~32mm with the long springs and no front load. I had about 3" of lift when I lowered it to the ground. hit some good bumps to get it settled.

What is the rest of your suspension build? Why did you switch from TRD Pro?

 

Switched because I wanted a full 3inch lift and the Pros had some miles on them

 

I have the "performance load" and they are at 45mm of thread or 230mm from center eyelet to bottom of the spring perch for 3 inches of lift. I would set the drivers side at 5mm more than the passenger to get rid of the lean.

And it still rides kinda bouncy.

 

Did you find that was needed? Mine is about right without it. The IM driver side spring is already 10mm longer to compensate.

Your 45mm would be like 40mm with the long springs. SK said his 2nd shot was 1.5" (38mm), so we'll see how that turns out.

What do you mean by "bouncy"? To me that means underdamped... like you hit a bump and the suspension pogos a few times before it settles down. I certainly don't have any of that going on! If you mean that you can feel the small bumps more, that's normal with any lift of this type. The more lift the firmer it gets.

Despite the popularity of 3" lifts I really think that's too much for optimum performance... unless go all out with uniball UCAs and long-travel custom valved shocks. Otherwise you lose too much downtravel, plus you need a lot of spring preload to get that lift.

If you are really dead set on a 3" lift, I think I'd use strut top spacers and extended bumpstops to get that last inch. Less spring preload that way.

 

Mine are both set the same and I have a good half inch lean, I need to adjust the driver side or install a shim.

And they are bouncy, wife hates it and I'm not liking it either. I have some RCI sliders to install and I have been keeping 150 lbs of sand in the bed to help.

 

Wrong tool was used for the job

 

Did some driving today and it did feel better than before. Will try to lower them to 30mm of thread once Eibach sends me a new spanner wrench( free replacement) to see if there is anymore improvement.

I am on heavy duty coil springs up front with MCM UCA and performance leaf springs out back. Front sway bar removed

 

Have you aligned it yet? How much lift now?

 

Just a heads up, there is 25% off sitewide this month: https://ironman4x4america.com/?_kx=LKNBKpnzqqP_oHTAE3ES9E8XpxBB2I9WnmW6iaaa_7s=.QaTDAa

 

Got my lift in today, so last night I got the rear of the truck in the air and took out the shocks and leafs… FedEx rolls up today, hands me 4 of the 5 items. 1 of the leafs is still at the hub… so I got one side done today and hoping it comes tomorrow so I can finish the rear and do the front

 

If you are installing the coils yourself, I'd suggest putting the high part of the lower perch towards the back of the shock rather than the front, and also bias the spring lateral position towards the back (there is a little slop). Based on mine and the ones I've seen, that should give you the least chance of rub on the shock body.

 

Just wanted to share... I'll post an update as soon as I get one but a guy in my local Tundra group had been so stoked about his Ironman setup (coilovers, rear leafs, and shocks) and noticed how bowed his coilover springs were. He had them replaced under warranty and noticed the replacements were also bowed. Ironman4x4 CS told him this was normal. Go figure but thought id share. On a side note, I have the Ironman4x4 foam cell stage 3 kit on my FJ and love it.

 

That looks not-good

 

I got the stage 1 kit with the white shocks. My coils were perfectly straight.
Just finished putting it all on. Awesome product. Trying to tighten the UCA sucks and there’s no way I can see to get it to the proper torque spec with the tires on like Ironman says, but I got it pretty damn tight.

if anyone wants a set of +3 coach builder shackles, I pulled a set off my truck that I don’t need.

 

Mine and everyone I've seen with that bowed spring is the same... the contact point is opposite the high point of the lower ramp. Since it's a consistent issue, the "fix" is to install the spring with the lateral tolerances biased so you get more room, and also orient the shock so that the close point is towards the outside of the truck rather than inside.

 

Pretty wild they are saying it is normal.

 

Were those bowed coils installed by Ironman?

 

Wish I would have seen this thread before I placed my order.

My FCP kit will be here Sunday. If the coils are bowed at all I'm not going to even bother installing them. I'll be on the phone with IM and telling them to send me some non-bowed coil overs.