Front:
Total Chaos 2 inch (aka the Optimal travel) IFS
The new Icon 2.5 extended coil overs with remote reservoir
Light Racing jounce shocks
Rear:
The new Icon 2.5 piggyback shocks
Icon coils
Light Racing jounce shocks
On ordering from Demello:
Pros and cons with that. Overall satisfied with their willingness to go the extra mile (have TC powdercoat LCAs black, have their people powdercoat the jounce shock bracket) charge me when stuff shipped, but their lack of communication on several occasions was very, very frustrating especially when I expressed that my UPS driver likes to leave my chit on other peoples doorsteps and it ends up disappearing. 4 emails/calls later I'd get a tracking number for something that had already arrived. Also there were several nuts, bolts and required 'cut-here' diagrams that were missing.
On Icon full package:
It rides absolutely sick. I absorb everything I hit. Slightly dartie without the front sway. Would like to see them have the left front coil preset to account for the FJs driver-side lean. My ride height is easily 1 to 1.5 inches off, driver side low. The front coils are very much L and R when you see the preset hose direction for the remote res. Very sharp stuff overall.
On Total Chaos:
Very, very quality stuff. The big ? came when installing the limit strap. You'll notice my tab for the limit strap on the LCA is VERY different from that of previous installs. It basically looks like there is one LCA they are using for dual-hoop, true long travel kits; and now mine that is to be used for single coil-over, single limit strap. The directions they send are for the true LT kit and they simply aren't correct for this application. The limit strap weld-on hangar is in a very different spot. See pics.
The build itself:
PITA. At least 40 hours of work - at least - but well worth it. The axles extensions are not easy, very greasy, but doable. And there is much more cutting / welding / prep than bolt-on. Basically 30+ hours of this is prep on the front. Cutting/extending axles, cutting 1/4" here and 1/4" there off tie-rod ends and welding hangars for the remote res and limit straps.
If you do it yourself, I would highly recommend purchasing the following:
Toyota CV boot kit x 2 (2 boots, 4 clamps vs worm style crap, and specific inner and outer CV grease)
Toyota inner spindle bearings x 2 (if you plan to powdercoat post spindle-gusset weld). Essentially the dust ring that the CV boot rides on that ties it into the knuckle.
Pics do the rest of the talking.
*I need a better pic of the side. This one looks like its very high in the rear. It's not. It is higher, but 1 inch tops. This pic was taken on a sloping driveway*
-In these pics-
Front "wide stance" FJ - you can notice the drivers-side lean I was talking about. Awaiting a spanner wrench and some time to wrench on it to make it level
The rear does look silly-high in this pic with the sloping driveway.
These are 20x10 MB Motoring Razors that are custom machined for the FJs hub-centric hub. AKA this is not a wheel you can buy in this width. 20x9 is what MB offers made for the FJ. AKA a total PITA trying to get them custom cut. I'm running 33x12.50 Toyo Open Country M/Ts.
UPS delivered - thankfully to the right address this time.
Post install of the IFS. TRD Big Brake kit.
Last edited by WordFliesNverted : 12-15-2008 at 09:49 AM.
The external CV "spider" with specific axle grease (guys at Autozone wanted to just sell me two packets of generic grease. I opted for the $35-ish-per-side Toyota OEM CV replacement kit)
OEM axle width vs extended shafts
Rear 2.5" Icon piggybacks / Icon springs / 2" spacer to match rear width to front 2" extension while I work on specs for the rear axle build
A shot of the rear Light Racing Jounce Shock
Post-weld, post-powder coating of the newly reinforced front spindles
Last edited by WordFliesNverted : 12-15-2008 at 09:45 AM.
Icon extended remote res front coil overs vs stock (didn't align them very well to show the full 3"-ish gain)
No-going-back --- cutting the axle shafts off at the outer CV to gain access to the spider and install 2" wider axle shafts. Technically demanding portion of the install, but fun at the same time.
Last edited by WordFliesNverted : 12-16-2008 at 01:06 PM.
Wowzers. Looks cool. Looks really high in the rear. Is that the slope of the driveway or is the vehicle really nose-down? Mine is slightly nose-up and I've got longer-than-standard lift struts in the back. Maybe I should switch out to the Icons in the rear if they lift it that much more. Awesome.
TCLT 2in / Full Icon upgrade
Pics
Linear Mode
