Rethinking suspension
- Thread starter STAGE 2
- Start date
007
Explorer
You could look at getting some Ride Rite air bags from firestone for the rear. It is basically an air bag that helps your springs and shocks deal with extra weight by inflating a rubber cylinder between the axle and frame. You can inflate it to level out the ride height and deflate it when empty. By most accounts it works very well and may be what you need.
I have Dakars on my 01 and they really help the handling, but a heavy load still causes the back to squat lower than the front.(because the front is also lifted) Air bags would stop this.
Remember that TTORA consists of thousands of people, if 5 of them have an issue they post and it seems like a pandemic. There are still thousands doing just fine that don't post so won't hear about it. According to TTORA your ring and pinion is blown, the frame is bent, your tailgate is buckled, and the bed is cracked.
I have Dakars on my 01 and they really help the handling, but a heavy load still causes the back to squat lower than the front.(because the front is also lifted) Air bags would stop this.
Remember that TTORA consists of thousands of people, if 5 of them have an issue they post and it seems like a pandemic. There are still thousands doing just fine that don't post so won't hear about it. According to TTORA your ring and pinion is blown, the frame is bent, your tailgate is buckled, and the bed is cracked.
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heeltoe989
Explorer
STAGE 2 said:
I wouldn't feel it would be necessary to buy them if I was going to run them at stock height unless I would an ARB bumper and had to compensate for the extra weight of the bumper and winch. I would just stick with what came with the truck until I had to replace them then I might think about replacing with ICON's or some sort of race coil-over.
Icon/Donahoe
Just wanted to provide a little current info on Icon. My passenger side Donahoe rear reservoir shock started leaking after several Wisconsin winters and I called Mike Crosby at Icon to see about getting it rebuilt and he informed me it had a lifetime warranty and they would send one out to me as soon as they got them back in stock. When I received the new shock I could send the old one back in the box the new one came in.
Since I am not very patient, I found a dealer who had one in stock and called Mike back. Mike then took over and got the dealer to send me the new shock and I could return my used one to Icon after installation.
They still have great customer service and I would not hesitate to buy from them in the future.
Just wanted to provide a little current info on Icon. My passenger side Donahoe rear reservoir shock started leaking after several Wisconsin winters and I called Mike Crosby at Icon to see about getting it rebuilt and he informed me it had a lifetime warranty and they would send one out to me as soon as they got them back in stock. When I received the new shock I could send the old one back in the box the new one came in.
Since I am not very patient, I found a dealer who had one in stock and called Mike back. Mike then took over and got the dealer to send me the new shock and I could return my used one to Icon after installation.
They still have great customer service and I would not hesitate to buy from them in the future.
heeltoe989
Explorer
There performance won't decrease. you'll have a better ride than making them stiffer by lifting.
I just don't know of anybody that buys them to leave the truck at stock height. there a much better shock than stock thats for sure, but most people when they look at Icon's are looking to lift or compensate for a bumper and winch.
I just don't know of anybody that buys them to leave the truck at stock height. there a much better shock than stock thats for sure, but most people when they look at Icon's are looking to lift or compensate for a bumper and winch.
Lost Canadian
Expedition Leader
I run them at close to stock height. I purchased them to optimize the suspensions performance during extended rough terrain driving. Nothing makes travel more arduous than shock fade which can contribute to driver fatigue. At stock height you'll still benefit from the huge shock bodies and the extra cooling capacity they provide. I could care less about lift, preferring to keep the center of gravity as low as is possible for the tire size I'm running. For my use they have been great, the only downside is having to rebuild every couple years.STAGE 2 said:
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heeltoe989
Explorer
Also if you decide to buy a winch and bumper you can always turn them up a bit to compensate for the added weight on the truck.
In the end their the best choice.
In the end their the best choice.
Lost Canadian said:
This is what I wanted to get at. What are the reasons for a rebuild? How often do you need to do it and how much does it cost.
I like the idea of extra performance, but I don't want to have to keep paying for them every 25k especially since they are a grand to start with.
heeltoe989
Explorer
STAGE 2 said:
2 years, haven't touched mine. you don't need to rebuild them every 2 years unless you intend to use them under sever duty. Like being a chase truck for a Baja 1000 race team.
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Lost Canadian
Expedition Leader
I had to rebuild mine after a little more then a year and a half. I lost the seals on the drivers side completely while on a trip through Newfoundland and Labrador. Left nice red shock oil everywhere in my driverside wheel well, and made the ride a little bouncy the rest of the way but hey...
The passanger side seal went soon after. A rebuild didn't cost much and isn't that big of a deal if you do your own install work.
Some people go much longer without a rebuild, I've heard people say they've went 3-4 years.
It just depends on use and perhaps a little luck.
The passanger side seal went soon after. A rebuild didn't cost much and isn't that big of a deal if you do your own install work.
Some people go much longer without a rebuild, I've heard people say they've went 3-4 years.
It just depends on use and perhaps a little luck.
heeltoe989
Explorer
Lost Canadian said:
Very true.
I know after about 6 weeks of owning my first set I had a problem with one of the coil-overs. I called Donahoe at the time and they sent me a new set and I sent th old ones back, no cost.
Great customer service from those guys and the ICON guys are the same, great service.