The eternal question: ICON's or SAW's?

[RusM]

So I have pretty much decided to go with a coilover for the front of my 97 4Runner and most likely the short FZJ-80 front spring for the rear (OME 890 is also a contender). Are the ICON's :drool: really worth $285 more than the SAW's? What say you?
Also, has anyone come up with an option for the rear shocks? What about running an aftermarket 8" shock with an eye to pin adapter?
Or should I just bag all of this and put the extra cash I would save by going OME into tires and bumpers and the bank? :Wow1: I kind of need to make a decision fairly quickly as my winch is coming next week and the truck is already riding on the bumpstops in the front with just the bumper!

 

[HMR]

Just walked in from the garage...

I ditched my SAWs and installed the new OME Nitro Sports and 886 coils this afternoon (2005 Taco). After >30K miles of use, I'm not sure what the point of "adjustable" coilovers is? You adjust them, they settle, you adjust them once more and that's it for 99.9% of us. It's not like you're going to be fine tuning your ride height each day (or even each year) so why pay 2 to 3 times the price for a rust-prone set of threads and a nifty spanner wrench?

Just my humble opinion.

For the record- the 2.0 SAWs provide a GREAT ride for an otherwise stock Tacoma (I imagine they'd be great for a 4Runner as well). Add a bumper and winch and they're crap (I understand the 2.5s with 700lb springs do a better job). The more you crank the coil, the worse the ride becomes. Also, the need to remove adjustable CO's and send them in to be "rebuilt" every couple years seems silly to me.

 

[Wonderland]

I have 120K miles on my Camburg/SAW's 2.5 700 lbs. springs.

No problems yet.

YMMV...

 

[7wt]

I have Donahoes and no problems but I wouldn't do them again. I bought them while I was living in San Diego and did a fair bit of desert driving which consisted of a lot of high speed running over wash boards. I was convinced I needed larger shocks to dissipate heat better. Yea, I guess it worked fair enough but if I were to do it over I would just get the OME set up and be done with it. But to answer your question, I would get the Icons based on every set of SAWs I have ever seen have been rusted up solid. My Donahoes are still good to go after four years and three winters in the salted northeast.

 

[daverami]

I ditched my SAWs and installed the new OME Nitro Sports and 886 coils this afternoon (2005 Taco). After >30K miles of use, I'm not sure what the point of "adjustable" coilovers is? You adjust them, they settle, you adjust them once more and that's it for 99.9% of us. It's not like you're going to be fine tuning your ride height each day (or even each year) so why pay 2 to 3 times the price for a rust-prone set of threads and a nifty spanner wrench?

Just my humble opinion.

For the record- the 2.0 SAWs provide a GREAT ride for an otherwise stock Tacoma (I imagine they'd be great for a 4Runner as well). Add a bumper and winch and they're crap (I understand the 2.5s with 700lb springs do a better job). The more you crank the coil, the worse the ride becomes. Also, the need to remove adjustable CO's and send them in to be "rebuilt" every couple years seems silly to me.

What did you end up with for a final ride height?

 

[HMR]

What did you end up with for a final ride height?

I haven't taken measurements, yet. The front end is WAY high right now since the new coils have only been on for a few hours. I'll let it settle a bit and report back.

I have 120K miles on my Camburg/SAW's 2.5 700 lbs. springs.

No problems yet.

YMMV...

WOW! Many of those miles offroad? My 2.0s are showing fatigue after less than 40K. I spend a lot of time off pavement but it's all pretty low speed, mellow stuff.

 

[shawkins]

I love my Fox coilovers, the ride was a night and day difference over stock. I'm running OME 890's and OME shocks in the rear.

The great thing about coilovers is the ability to fine tune the valving and change spring rates.

The saying with coilovers is: pick a color. Fox, King and ICON are all about the same. I haven't heard all great things about SAW's, but for coilovers on a budget they are hard to beat I'm sure.

 

[HB 4X4]

I ditched my SAWs and installed the new OME Nitro Sports and 886 coils this afternoon (2005 Taco). After >30K miles of use, I'm not sure what the point of "adjustable" coilovers is? You adjust them, they settle, you adjust them once more and that's it for 99.9% of us. It's not like you're going to be fine tuning your ride height each day (or even each year) so why pay 2 to 3 times the price for a rust-prone set of threads and a nifty spanner wrench?

Just my humble opinion.

For the record- the 2.0 SAWs provide a GREAT ride for an otherwise stock Tacoma (I imagine they'd be great for a 4Runner as well). Add a bumper and winch and they're crap (I understand the 2.5s with 700lb springs do a better job). The more you crank the coil, the worse the ride becomes. Also, the need to remove adjustable CO's and send them in to be "rebuilt" every couple years seems silly to me.

The benefit of CO's is more apparent on vehicles with added weight. When adding a bumper, winch, skids, dual battery, etc, it's not very practical to need 5 different suspension setups if you can have one and adjust for each weight addition.

You should not run a 2.0 CO with any additional weight. 2.5" shock body is a minimum, and heavier rated coils (700 vs. 650) is recommended. Also, CO's last longer as any higher end CO is rebuildable.

OP: Icon > SAW hands down. I had SAW's on my truck before and wouldn't buy them again.

 

[Wonderland]

WOW! Many of those miles offroad? My 2.0s are showing fatigue after less than 40K. I spend a lot of time off pavement but it's all pretty low speed, mellow stuff.

No idea. The truck is off road about every weekend with a couple week long trips thrown in there. Plus I tow a trailer with a couple dirtbikes on it. The rear end is another story, I have broken three leaf packs. destroyed several shocks. Now have OME Heavies on there and it seems to be holding. ()

No rust on the threads either, but I am kinda particular about maintenance. Plus living out West helps.

I dunno, no leaks yet. I was going to rebuild them myself just for the sake of rebuilding them. They are getting up there with mileage.

I drive pretty fast off road, needed them for the heat dissipation. Actually want/need to throw a long travel kit on there. Want to build into a offroad Tacoma camper from Hell.:ylsmoke:

This with a FlipPac style camper is what I am thinking...

 

[Dave Bennett]

Icon

But, I agree with HMR on the CO vs OME... When my DR's (Icons) are shot, I will be going with OME

 

[7wt]

icon

but, i agree with hmr on the co vs ome... When my dr's (icons) are shot, i will be going with ome

x2.

 

[targa88]

The only other thing that I would consider, is if your weight profile changes ( for example, when driving around town - I don't carry the winch).
You might also want the adjustability depending on where you are driving too...
That being said - I am satisfied with my OME

 

[HB 4X4]

Does OME have a new spring out now? When I bought my SAW's a couple of years ago, it was generally recognized that OMEs will sag with a heavy bumper and winch. Everyone was going with COs to support the weight. I even had to switch to 700# springs after a few months and all I have is an ARB, no winch. However, there was some consensus that my springs were defective.

Also, a couple of years ago it was recognized that SAW makes many of the components for the other manufacturers. It was not disputed that Camburgs are re-valved SAWs. Have things changed since then? And, obviously, none of the CO makers make their own springs...

They aren't re-valved differently unless the shop did it upon arrival. SAW makes Camburg; only difference is the logo on the CO's.

CO's still have many more benefits over normal coil/shock setups, but for the average off-roader they are overkill. If going the OME route, you must plan accordingly from day one. If you get the light or medium coils, then add weight such as a bumper/winch later on, you will need to replace your front components, or deal with the sag and less control. If you get the heavy coils initially, you will have a terrible ride quality until the additional weight is added. Even then, you will have to hope you are satisfied with the ride height, because you are stuck with it. CO's offer much more versatility when modifying the front end.

Then there are remote reservoir CO's, which opens up an entirely new set of benefits. It just depends on your driving style and your needs.

WOW! Many of those miles offroad? My 2.0s are showing fatigue after less than 40K. I spend a lot of time off pavement but it's all pretty low speed, mellow stuff.

Small shock body = more work for the suspension, causing premature wear.

Icon

But, I agree with HMR on the CO vs OME... When my DR's (Icons) are shot, I will be going with OME

Going to OME from Icon would be a big step down in performance/ride quality, and will cost you more than keeping the Icons. May as well just get them rebuilt, they will be like new.

 

[Wonderland]

Going to OME from Icon would be a big step down in performance/ride quality, and will cost you more than keeping the Icons. May as well just get them rebuilt, they will be like new.

X-Too!:elkgrin:

Plus you can rebuild them yourself, if you have the proper tools, it really isn't that hard.

 

[Wonderland]

Icon

But, I agree with HMR on the CO vs OME... When my DR's (Icons) are shot, I will be going with OME

I am surprised you have gone with a long travel kit yet. Read somewhere you were keeping the sway bar disconnected so you can get an extra inch of drop.


Your setup with a LT kit would be the cat's meow. :ylsmoke:

You don't have to being going fast to benefit from long travel. My buddy's 4WD LT PreRunner....it is like a Cadillac. You don't get beat up.