Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Qustion: Can I combine the 3" hanger kit with a
4" spring?
Yes, Icon Vehicle Dynamics
manufactured all of its components to be modular so that
they can work together in different configurations. If you
are interested in combining components that are not listed
on our site, please drop us a note.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Can I re-use my u-bolts?
No, we recommend using a
fresh set of u-bolts when ever they are removed.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Can I use Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Coil-Overs in conjunction with any other lift system?
The stock Tacoma & Tundra
Coil-Overs should not be used in conjunction with any other
front lift components as they are a stand alone suspension
system. Icon Vehicle Dynamics does manufacture Tacoma &
Tundra Coil-Overs that are approved for use with the Total
Chaos Upper Control Arms.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Can I use my Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Coil-Overs with my other aftermarket lift?
The Icon Vehicle Dynamics
coil-over suspensions systems are a stand alone product and
should not be used in conjunction with any other
non-authorized aftermarket suspension components. The use of
Icon Vehicle Dynamics's product in this manner will void the
warranty.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Can I use the 2" mini spring pack with
any spring?
No, the 2" mini spring pack
is only compatible with stock Ford springs.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Does a spanner wrench come with my
coil-over kit?
YES! The new 2 pin CAD Plated
wrench comes in all coil-over kits.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: How do the Super Duty kits work with
snow plow springs?
Traditionally the Ford snow
plow springs offer 1.5" of additional lift. Please consider
this when deciding rear options.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: How high can I adjust my coil-over
shocks on my 4WD Tacoma?
On 4WD Tacoma's you don't
want to adjust Icon Vehicle Dynamics coil-overs to more than
2.5" of lift. Any more than that puts excessive wear and
stress on CV's and boots. The use of a differential spacer
will allow you to go slightly higher. What about Tundras?
The Tundra coil-over is only adjustable up to 2.5".
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: How much will each kit actually lift my
truck?
With the purchase of any Icon
Vehicle Dynamics suspension system you are guaranteed to
receive at least the advertised lift height that you bought.
All Icon Vehicle Dynamics springs were designed around the
weight of the Power Stroke Diesel Motor. Trucks with V8 and
V10 motors will see higher lift heights. A V10 truck with
the 6" lift springs installed will more than likely have a
7" lift.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: If I add an aftermarket bumper/winch
setup to my Toyota truck will I still get the lift I want?
The springs on the Icon
Vehicle Dynamics coil-overs are rated for the stock weight
of the Toyota trucks (Tacoma & Tundra). If a large amount of
weight is added like a bumper, winch OR BOTH, the truck may
sit slightly lower in the front.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Is Axle wrap bad for the truck?
Yes, it fatigues spring and
sends a shock through the driveline. Often times driveline
vibration feels like axle wrap, but the two problems have
completely different solutions.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: What comes in the Icon Vehicle Dynamics
box kits?
The small box kit part #
3-1020 (for 4" – 8" lifts) contains the following:
1 EA. Pan-Rod Bracket (3-35)
1 EA. Sway Bar Drop Link Kit (3-36)
1 EA. Drop Pitman Arm (3-FD500)
1 EA. HKSD-03 Hardware Kit Includes:
2 EA. ½" x 3 1/2" Bolt Gr.8
2 EA. ½" x 5" Bolt Gr. 8
8 EA. ½" Washer Gr. 8
4 EA. ½" Nylock Nut
1 EA. Cotter Pin
The large box kit part #
3-1030 (for 10.5" -12.5" lifts) contains the following:
1 ea. 10.5"/12.5" Pan-rod bracket
1 ea. Pan-rod bar mount/spring pad
1 ea. Sway bar link kit
2 ea. High-Density Foam bump-stop
1 ea. HKSD-03 hardware kit
3 ea. ½" x 1 ½" Bolt Gr. 8 (Loose)
6 ea. ½" Washer Gr. 8 (Loose)
3 ea. ½" Nylock Nut (Loose)
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: What is the difference between the
add-a-leaf and the full spring pack for the Tacoma and
Tundra?
The add-a-leaf utilizes the
stock main leafs while eliminating the factory overload leaf
spring. It greatly improves the on and off-road ride while
providing 1.5 inches of lift.
The full Deaver leaf pack is
an entirely new pack including new u-bolts, bushings,
sleeves and American made steel springs. The pack is
designed from the ground up to provide your Toyota with the
ultimate in off-road and on-road performance.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: What is the difference between the DR
Signature Series Shocks and Bilsteins?
After many years of using
Bilstein shocks with Icon Vehicle Dynamics's suspension
systems, the company felt it was time to delve into its 30
year history of off road racing and manufacture its own. The
Icon Vehicle Dynamics Signature Series shocks were custom
valved by the same engineers that develop all of the
company's suspension components.
The combination of Icon
Vehicle Dynamics shocks and components offer the best ride
quality on the market and are covered by a lifetime
warranty. DR Signatures Series shocks are clear powder
coated for a long lasting finish and have a Nitro-Steel
shaft that resist rust, pitting and corrosion. These shocks
are available in both mono-tube and remote reservoir models.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: What shocks fit on the dual shock hoop?
Any shock that accepts a 1/2"
bolt will fit except King or Sway A Way piggy back shocks.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics does manufacture a blank shock hoop
(3-9013) for these applications.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: When do I need to use a carrier bearing
drop kit (3-37)?
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
recommends the use of this kit when going over 4" of lift.
The shims minimize the drive line angles which helps
eliminate vibration on the two piece drive shafts. However,
every truck is different, so depending on your particular
truck you may need this even in smaller lift applications.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Why are the new blocks flat?
Icon Vehicle Dynamics's
engineers have conducted numerous tests' regarding both flat
and angled blocks. The conclusion was that flat blocks do
not disturb the pinion angle of the rear end and prevent
excessive wear and vibration from occurring. Icon Vehicle
Dynamics's flat blocks optimize spring travel and have a
built-in bump stop tang much like the factory blocks.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Will your cross over steering kit
(3-9500/3-9599) work on my new 2005 Super Duty?
The 3-9500 and 3-9599 are the
cross-over steering kits are for the 99-04 Ford Super
Duties. The new 2005 Super Duty trucks have a completely new
front suspension so these kits will not work with them.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Aren’t all suspension lifts
essentially the same?
NO! Contrary to popular
belief not all lift kits are created equal. Different
manufacturers utilize different methods of achieving
lift as well as different geometries to address specific
requirements. For straight axle leaf sprung trucks most
manufacturers incorporate the use of replacement front
springs. These will vary in design and materials.
Generally thin multi leaf (10-12) spring packs provide
superior ride quality over spring packs with (4-6) thick
leafs. The quality of the materials used for the
manufacturing of these springs also has a significant
effect on the ride quality and longevity of the springs.
A few manufacturers offer spring relocation hangers in
order to achieve lift in lieu of replacement springs.
This offer the advantage of a lower spring rate which in
and of themselves will not adversely effect ride
quality. The quality of materials and construction of
these as well as other components such as the track bar
bracket, sway bar links and u-bolts also vary between
makes. Another major consideration in terms of ride
quality are the shock absorbers included with each kit.
Most spec generically valved shocks where others utilize
application specific shocks which were developed
specifically to address the ride characteristics of a
lifted truck.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: What is the true issue with
stacking lift blocks?
You hear the adage “don’t
stack blocks” thrown around all the time but few
actually understand the fundamental issue.
When lift blocks are
added the distance from the spring to the axle is
increased. This increased distanced provides greater
leverage working against the springs and more
importantly the u-bolts. The steel from which the
u-bolts are manufactured will provide a given amount of
stretch per inch. Therefor the longer the u-bolts the
more potential stretch. The leverage applied to the
u-bolts and the potential stretching of the u-bolt
material are both relative to the distance from axle to
spring. Again, the leverage is relative to the distance,
not the number of blocks. It is the leverage which
causes u-bolt failure. And, it is the failure of the
u-bolts which causes blocks to be spit out. It is easy
to blame the blocks when they are sitting out on the
ground but if the u-bolts did not fail the blocks could
not have come out. Therefore the bottom line is keep the
leverage to a minimum, and use only high quality
u-bolts. Many of the higher quality lift manufacturers
now offer oe style one piece replacement lift blocks
which will also include an integrated bump stop tag. It
is also important to note that some states have laws
prohibiting stacked blocks. Be sure to check with your
local Department of Motor Vehicles to verify that you
are within the law.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: What is the difference between the
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2" and 3" systems?
The Icon Vehicle Dynamics
2" Mini Spring Pack Kit consists of a pair of 4 leaf
spring packs which bolt to your OE springs via hardened
center pins. The advantage of this kit is that is that
spring rate is not increased therefore ride quality is
not adversely effected. As the lift takes place below
the springs this does not require any additional
modifications such as aftermarket shocks. The down side
to this is that there is also no increase in wheel
travel so performance is not improved. Ride height is
simply increased which will typically level an F250 and
allows for the use of 33" tires on 8" wide wheels.
Application specific shocks which will improve ride
quality are available as an option.
The Icon Vehicle Dynamics
3" Hanger System includes spring relocation hangers
which also provide increased ride height without
increasing spring rate. The kit offers an advantage over
other similar hanger kits on the market by the use of a
longer replacement shackles in lieu of shackle
relocation brackets. As a result the polar moment about
the longer shackles allows for improved impact
absorption. Also included in the kit are bump stop
spacers which prevent damage to the shocks upon full
compression. This kit will provide improved on-road ride
quality and off-road performance through the inclusion
of application specific Signature Series shocks and
increased suspension travel. This kit will typically
level an F350 and allow for the use of 33" tires on 10"
wide wheels. An adjustable track bar is recommended for
use with this kit.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Do I need an adjustable track bar
for use with my 2" Superduty leveling kit?
As the vertical distance
between the frame and axle track bar mounts increases
the horizontal distance is reduced as the track bar
operates in an arc. For small amounts of lift (1"-2")
this is not a major issue as these fall within Ford
factory specs (X-code equipped trucks are roughly
comparable). Beyond that point the axle will be pulled
over to the driver's side to an appreciable degree.
Therefore, if your truck is equipped with X-code springs
or a 5.4L engine where the stock ride height is already
taller than the norm, we do recommend an adjustable
track bar to maintain proper axle centering.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Can I add Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Mini Spring Packs to my lift springs?
No, mini spring packs are
designed for use only with OE SuperDuty/Excursion
springs.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Can I use Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Mini Spring Packs in combination with my hanger lift?
Yes. As the mini spring
packs bolt directly to the original springs, they can be
combined with most hanger lifts. However, combinations
resulting in lifts beyond 4" will require a drop pitman
arm, track bar bracket and longer sway bar links.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: What is the advantage of Icon
Vehicle Dynamics’s 2.5" kit for ‘05-‘06 Superduty over
cheaper coil spacer kits?
The advantage of the
replacement coil vs. the spacer is increased suspension
travel and superior spring rates. The DR 2.5" kit
includes dual rate coils which were specifically
developed after months of testing. These offer a 10%
lower spring rate at ride height and ramp up to 50% over
stock at full compression. The DR kit also includes
Signature Series shocks which are vastly superior to the
OE units. These do a much better job of controlling body
roll and result in improved ride quality and
performance. Also included with the DR kit are alignment
cams which correct caster for proper handling. Most coil
spacer kits simply level the truck and still require
replacement of the front shocks.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Will the Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.5"
lift system level my ‘05-‘06 F250 Superduty?
The Icon Vehicle Dynamics
2.5" kit was initially designed for F350s, as such when
installing the kit on a F250 the truck will sit nose
high. We recommend adding either a 1" rear block,
replacing the 2" F250 block with 4" flat block or an OE
3.625" F350 block. Making this change will address the
rear shock length issue as well though we do recommend
rotating the lower shock mounts down a bit when adding
only the 1" block.
In order to rotate the
passenger’s side lower shock mount down you will need to
remove it and elongate the hole in the mount which fits
over the centering pin on the axle housing. Elongating
the upper side of the hole roughly ½" will allow you to
rotate the shock’s position down approximately 1". For
the driver’s side you will need to unbolt the lower
mount and remove the centering tab located inside. The
mount can then be relocated allowing the shock to be
extended approximately 1" as well. This modification
will allow you to properly run the DR Signature Series
rear shocks.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Why does the steering on my ‘05-‘06
Superduty shimmy over bumps?
There are actually a few
contributing factors to this issue. First and foremost,
Ford Motor Company has a Technical Service Bulletin
(04-26-1) which indicates that this is a problem the
manufacturer is aware exists even in stock form. The TSB
calls for a steering gear mesh load adjustment. We have
also found a few new trucks with an abnormal amount of
slop in the upper tie rod end (at the pitman arm) which
can also contribute to the shimmy issue.
Beyond the above I have
heard some people refer to this as bump steer. In stock
form the ‘05-‘06 Superduty does have approximately 3/8"
of bump steer from ride height to full compression and
roughly 1" throughout the full suspension cycle.
However, what some describe as bump steer is largely
steering feedback. This is something inherent in the
design of the ‘05-‘06 suspension even in stock form.
There are two factors which we believe contribute to
this issue. We have done some testing in this regard and
believe that this stems in part from the placement of
the OE steering stabilizer. As it is placed on the drag
link rather than the tie rod it is less efficient.
Furthermore, we are dealing with a 3 link suspension
system which has lateral deflection though the
suspension cycle. This causes the stabilizer to resist
the vertical movement of the drag link through this
cycle thereby pushing/pulling on the pitman arm which is
thereby translated to the steering wheel. Switching to
wider tires also provides greater leverage for the tires
to work against the steering. This is also true to a
greater extent when wider aftermarket wheels are added
which increase the scrub radius. This provides even
greater leverage especially when installing the typical
10" wide wheels with 4.5" backspacing which increases
the scrub radius by roughly 3.5" alone. The inefficient
OE stabilizer is simply not capable of compensating for
this increased leverage working against it. In testing
removal of the stabilizer resulted in sever death wobble
so we do not advocate it’s removal without some form of
stabilizer. We have found that a dual steering
stabilizer system which mounts directly between the tie
rod and axle housing does a much better job of
minimizing this steering feedback.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Why doesn’t the Icon Vehicle
Dynamics 4.5" lift system for the ‘05-‘06 Superduty
include a drop track bar bracket and pitman arm?
This kit does not include
a drop pitman arm or track bar bracket because the track
bar on these trucks is approximately 8" longer and the
drag link 6 ½" longer than that of the ‘99-‘04 SD. This
increased length reduces the operating angles (post
lift) to less than that of most ‘99-‘04 Superduty
leveling kits. The inclusion of an adjustable track bar
is of more value than an unnecessary bracket. Some
companies do things simple because that is the way
things have always been done without thinking of the
geometry behind them. The larger DR kits do include a
track bar bracket and pitman arm in order to maintain
the proper geometry.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: What is drive line shutter and how
can I prevent this?
There are several factors
which contribute to this issue. Mechanically what is
happening is under acceleration the pinion tries to
climb the ring gear causing the springs to bow. This is
because this is the path of least resistance as opposed
to quickly accelerating an 8000 lbs object. With lift
blocks the leverage working against the springs is
increased allowing the pinion to climb further. When the
pinion rises above the angle of the driveline the
u-joints go out of phase causing an oscillation. This
oscillation deflects the rubber in the carrier bearing
thereby transmitting vibration to the cab. Carrier
bearing shims reduce the differences in the effective
angles seen by the upper and lower u-joints. This
minimizes the oscillation but is typically not
eliminated 100%. Flat rear lift blocks help by placing
the pinion lower relative to the angle of the driveline
which allows for a bit more pinion rotation before low
speed oscillation occurs.
A CV rear driveline is
more tolerant of these dynamics however they must be set
up properly. With the addition of a CV rear driveline we
recommend the lower u-joint to be roughly 1 degree low
of the driveline angle.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Why does Icon Vehicle Dynamics
offer both 4" spring and 4.5" hanger systems?
Most aftermarket lift
springs offer an increased spring rate. As a result the
increased rate requires greater force to compress a
spring an equal amount which typically adversely effects
ride quality. Now, increased rate can be beneficial if
additional sprung weight is added such as with a
replacement bumper and/or winch. However, ideally you
want the lowest possible spring rate for the given ride
height. Lift springs achieve increased ride height
through either stack height or (more commonly) increased
rate. Hanger lifts such as those by Icon Vehicle
Dynamics provide increased ride height without
increasing spring rate. The DR hanger kit offers an
additional advantage by the inclusion of a longer
replacement shackles in lieu of a shackle relocation
bracket. As a result the polar moment about the longer
shackle allows for improved impact absorption. When
combined with application specific shocks, this kit will
provide improved ride quality over stock.
The DR 4" spring system
achieves most of it’s increased ride height through
stack height. What this means is the main (top) leaf is
nearly flat and most of the lift is provided by the
stacking of 11 thin additional leafs underneath which
make up a 3.75" tall spring stack. This progressive rate
design is ideal for long travel off-road performance but
is not quite as compliant as the OE spring on the
street. In contrast, typical heavily arched lift spring
offer a significantly higher rate which results in a
harsh ride with little articulation.
The choice between
hangers or springs should be based upon your individual
requirements. Bottom line, for ultimate on-road ride
plushness and good off-road performance, hangers are the
way to go. For outstanding off-road performance with
very good on-road ride quality the 4" spring is the
ticket.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Why does my lifted 99-04 Supeduty
clunk when I turn?
Check to be sure that you
installed washers on the supplied 1/2" bolts between the
swaybar bushings and the mounts. The bolts should be
torqued to 53 ft/lbs. If you over tighten them they can
make noise, especially if the washers are crushed. This
is most often hear in off camber situations. Next, check
to be sure that the track bar bracket bolt which extends
though the crossmember is tight (30 ft/lbs.) and look
for signs of movement between the bracket and
crossmember. Sometimes the hole in the crossmember will
be elongated which can result in movement/noise. If this
is the case you can replace the factory bolt with a 1/2"
bolt which will take up some of the clearance. Finally,
check to be sure that your track bar bolts are tight.
Very tight (395 ft/lbs).
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: What is Cross-Over steering and how
does it work?
In stock form the drag
link is relatively flat therefore steering force is
applied evenly across the entire cross section of the
steering box’s sector shaft. When a lift is installed
the drag link angle is often steepened and as a result
steering force becomes focused on to a progressively
smaller area of the sector shaft. This is what is
referred to as a stress riser which can result in sector
shaft failure and total loss of steering control.
Cross-over steering relocates the drag link’s lower ball
joint and attaches it to an auxiliary arm mounted off
the top of the right hand steering knuckle. This reduces
the angle of the drag link thereby distributing the
force over a greater surface area of the sector shaft.
Another benefit of
cross-over steering can be a reduction in Bump Steer. As
the angle of the drag link is steepened bump steer is
increased due to the relationship between the differing
arcs in which the drag link and track bar operate. In
other words, as the suspension cycles the effective
horizontal lengths of the drag link and track bar change
thereby steering the wheels left and right without input
from the driver. This results in unstable handling on
uneven surfaces. The flatter drag link angle afforded by
cross-over steering minimize deflection which when
combined with a properly engineered track bar
arrangement can actually serve to reduce bump steer over
stock.
Additional benefits of
crossover steering are improved steering response as
steering input is transferred through 2 ball joints
rather than 4 as in stock form. And, steering effort is
improved due to the reduction in angular loss. An
illustration of this can be made by simply pushing a
lawn mower. The higher you hold the handle the harder it
is to push as a certain percentage of your force is
directed down rather than forward. The lower you hold
the handle the greater the percentage of force directed
forward. The flatter drag link angle provided with
cross-over steering results in improved steering
efficiency and reduced steering effort.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question: Can I get away without Cross-Over
Steering if I bend my drag link?
A bent drag link only
serves to reduce the angle seen by the tie rod ends. The
line of force is still projected as a virtual line from
joint to joint therefore the bend does nothing to reduce
the stress applied to the sector shaft.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Suspension Question:
Will lifting my truck void its factory
warranty?
Adding a suspension lift
in and of itself does not legally constitute grounds for
denial of warranty coverage. The ‘Magnusion Moss Act’
was established to protect consumers from unjustifiable
warranty denial.
