Icon Vehicle Dynamics Coilovers - prototypes INSTALLED!

[The Roadie]

1) I must have traded off an inch of downtravel. Now I have the anti-sway bar back in there with the SuspensionMAXX links, I would have to disconnect them to measure true articulation. I was fried after the afternoon's work so I abandoned the idea to measure anything more.

2) The top mounting scheme is a spherical Heim, so it has two axes. Slick.

3) 650 lbs/in.

4) I'd have to borrow his or buy one from Icon or use a fat pin punch. The holes are just over 1/4" IIRC. I'm not going to spin the collar for a while until I see how it works on the lumps next week. I think he said on the phone he would bring his down for us to look at. Icon wants $26 for theirs. If I go visit them in a couple of weeks, I'll plead for some swag and a wrench because the gas to get there is expensive. Unless I get some new job or something?

[EwingJK]

Is Icon going to actually offer these now? or were these a one-off proto that won't ever come to market?

That is a good question!! And it depends allot on all of us. Like Roadie said there seems to be only a dozen rigs that can or would do this mod. But I believe a dozen orders would enough to get them to do a production run. They normally run about 1050$ for the pair. If there is enough interest I would love to set up a group buy and get the price down around $850 for the pair.

They are completely re-valveable, and re-buildable. But like roadie said it's not something you want to do in the field. If they were to blow out while wheeling, nothing but loss of dampening will happen, you could still limp home just fine. To send them in to be rebuilt, it usually runs about 60-80$ per shock, a little less then buying a new set of HD's.

The next step is testing, testing, then a bit more. After that, I'll send Roadie up to Icon and let them do their testing.


I'm running low on time right now, but if anyone has any question on them feel free to post it up or drop me a PM.. I Imagine the Mods would like Us to keep the "oohs and Ahhs" from cluttering up the thread, so try and keep the posts relevant.

I'm definitely in for a set, especially at a GB. However, I won't install them until I take the TB back to the US or some other place where there is more challenging terrain than sand dunes. Besides, I only have 6K miles on my Bilstein HDs. Maybe a Pledge thread should be started to get a better idea of how many members are ready to commit to the expense.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Look good.Hope they perform as good on our platform as they have proven themselves on others. Not something for me though. With the cost being that high, a sas makes more sense to me.

I think you are be testing the next step in our suspension though. If you guys get a decent order in, it might show other companies that this platform is willing to spend good money for good products and motivate them to try some different things. I said it before, but if they are still coming out with new suspensions for 80's chevy trucks, they could still jump in for out our platform. The cost is getting lower and we have a good frame and solid drivetrain, so I can see some more builds as the buy0in costs drop.

Can't wait to hear how these do. Thanks to those going the extra distance to get these as far as they have come.

[foosh]

I know its slightly offtopic, but in response to Hardtrailz post...

Thats exactly what i think, the more publicity we can get for our platform the better, I brought my truck to a car meet I go to quite often, and I had a whole group of people asking questions about it. As far as it goes, I think its quite a good thing to see more and more of us lifted even if they aren't wheelin.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I was thinking (which hurt alot ) last night and was wondering if the extra holes in the top strut mount would warrant another thin plate on the top to sandwich the factory metal and provide extra strength. I am not an engineer, so I could be barking up the wrong tree, but I figured every hole makes a little more weakness. May not be an issue, but thought it would be worth examining before the metal starts to crack between holes.

[Trail X]

A sandwich plate could be helpful, but they are generally needed if there is a high tensile stress on the bolts. Because 90% of the forces on those bolts are compressive, there won't be a lot of fatigue around the bolt heads. It's not really any different than the stock setup.

However, Bill... since you don't have much downward articulation, I wonder if you could benefit from a 1" spacer on top of the coilovers... maybe some softer or shorter springs to offset that.

[The Roadie]

Good thoughts. I'm going to be distracted for a few days here. Got my FIRST telephone interview in 51 weeks of being out of work scheduled on Monday morning! The opening is where Teebes works - in their semiconductor mfg. section, doing EXACTLY what I do, but maintaining million dollar test systems made by a former competitor of mine. I have enough industry friends that I was able to get manuals and training material for all of these systems yesterday, so I have three days to go through three months worth of material (did 600 Powerpoint slides last night) and see what the differences are with their brand of systems.

My approach will be that if you have experience by designing, building, and maintaining a vehicle like a Trailblazer, you're more than qualified to fly somewhere and rent an Explorer and change the air filter.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Good thoughts. I'm going to be distracted for a few days here. Got my FIRST telephone interview in 51 weeks of being out of work scheduled on Monday morning! The opening is where Teebes works - in their semiconductor mfg. section, doing EXACTLY what I do, but maintaining million dollar test systems made by a former competitor of mine. I have enough industry friends that I was able to get manuals and training material for all of these systems yesterday, so I have three days to go through three months worth of material (did 600 Powerpoint slides last night) and see what the differences are with their brand of systems.

My approach will be that if you have experience by designing, building, and maintaining a vehicle like a Trailblazer, you're more than qualified to fly somewhere and rent an Explorer and change the air filter.

Good Luck Glad you got a lead. I like your approach idea . I will send up some good thoughts for your benefit. Have a great/busy weekend and put yourself first. Let us know how it goes Monday evening.

[MrSmithsTB]

That is an awesome thing for you, Bill. Glad things are looking up, and good luck. I need to get on the ball.

[Philberto]

Congratulations on the interview!!! I hope everything goes well for you, and we're all rooting for you... Now I need to get my ass in gear and finish up my certs so I can freelance as a computer tech for now.

[Trail X]

My approach will be that if you have experience by designing, building, and maintaining a vehicle like a Trailblazer, you're more than qualified to fly somewhere and rent an Explorer and change the air filter.

, nice comparison.

So you're going to be their jiffy-lube guy?

[The Roadie]

I would be the sooper-dooper tech specialist the jiffy-lube lower bay guys call when they can't find the oil filter.

[janesy86]

Haha.. congrats on the interview Bill, hope it goes well.

And can't wait to hear how the coilovers do this upcoming week! Looking good!

[OregTrailBlazin]

Just a quick second on the computer....


The down travel was .25" more on the new shocks then my truck had.. It bound on the upper ball-joint before I could get the shock all the way on. Does your Envoy have more downward travel than my Trailblazer??? Maybe is there a difference from stock ball-joints to aftermarket...

We'll get them dialed in, Icon will want to get them running perfect since it's their name on the product...

[DZPearl]

It is nice to see that the coilovers are closer to being a reality for us. I really like the way they look and based on their history know that they will perform well also! Keep us updated on their operation! Also, good luck with the interview!

[OregTrailBlazin]

Any performance update after the trip??

[The Roadie]

Missed ya! You could have DRIVEN on them!!! They rock! Very, very stiff, which was my goal. Maybe not for everybody, but I get my softness from being aired down, and the ground clearance is great when the front doesn't compress that much. And the dampening is superb!!!

I really don't care about road manners so much, but the stiffness makes it ride like it was new and unmodified and weighed down, like over 4 years ago!

Another reason I value excessive stiffness is in case you come off a ledge using an angled line and only ONE front strut has to take the force of the entire weight of the front of the vehicle. If you're going downhill, that's exactly when you need extra stiffness in the front. And it's the more expensive bits of the truck that are in danger.

So far, I'm ecstatic with them. Haven't cranked on the preload at all. So they give about an inch more lift at resting than the BDS/Markmc 1/2" spacer/EXT spring combo I had on there before.

Recovered yet, sickie?

[Philberto]

I can vouch that they're definitely beefy-looking and feeling. I would love some if I had the cash, but I have other priorities on the truck right now anyways.

[OregTrailBlazin]

Missed ya! You could have DRIVEN on them!!! They rock! Very, very stiff, which was my goal. Maybe not for everybody, but I get my softness from being aired down, and the ground clearance is great when the front doesn't compress that much. And the dampening is superb!!!

I really don't care about road manners so much, but the stiffness makes it ride like it was new and unmodified and weighed down, like over 4 years ago!

Another reason I value excessive stiffness is in case you come off a ledge using an angled line and only ONE front strut has to take the force of the entire weight of the front of the vehicle. If you're going downhill, that's exactly when you need extra stiffness in the front. And it's the more expensive bits of the truck that are in danger.

So far, I'm ecstatic with them. Haven't cranked on the preload at all. So they give about an inch more lift at resting than the BDS/Markmc 1/2" spacer/EXT spring combo I had on there before.

Recovered yet, sickie?

Man, I wish I could have made it, I finally started to recover by Wednesday, and got some food in me on Turkey day... It was one hell-of-a vacation 4 days with the fever and puking!! Damn California air..


I'm glad they're running good, sounds like they are still a little firm for the general market. I'll have to see when Icon will want to check them out!! Any glamour pics of them going over the ledges?

[Zero]

man i cant wait till roadie spends more time on these new babies and hits us all with one of his 2 pages break downs.

it sounds like he has it set up quite a bit stiffer then i would want. i spend more time on the road then off. and dont have all the extra weight up front like he does. since i have the ext, my weight is all in the back which is why i have been looking to get some custom springs made or to get the skyjackers like alekg has.