Black widow suspension set up

[Squatting Dog]

Greg, I have a few questions for you. Did you end up coming to a solution with ICON to be able to run the RCV axles or did you just go with stock replacements? Also I know that several of the trucks I've seen that are running aftermarket shocks including the ICONs are still at about top perch height. That being said what is going to keep from tearing more boots and ruining cv's on stock axles on '12 and up models? Obviously the shocks are night and day better than factory so if I'm going to tear those parts up i'd rather do it with badass shocks going over gnarly terrain vs the average speed stuff with the stockers getting the same end result. I'm actually trying to get my ducks in a row to go with this same setup, these are just a few questions I haven't asked yet. -Russell

Yes, the current production of ICON shocks will work with RCV axles. And if you have an older style contact ICONrep and he can get you the correct lower spring cups. I am still running new stock axles, I feel comfortable looking at the lower preload (see below), there will not be any more issues.

As far as the height (perch) of ICON shocks they come set at mid/top setting. To adjust them to a mid perch all you have to do is move the top spring collar all the way up and it sits perfectly at mid perch height. Again you can call/message ICONrep and they can adjust the shock to this setting for you before shipping them out.

As for going over gnarly stuff, these shocks can do it, right out of the box. Without any adjustments we (WSI, Whtrapta, and myself) went out and jumped over a train crossing. 30-40 mph was sketchy with stock shocks. The back end would rebound violently. With the ICONs the first time I hit it at 50+ and the truck was completely smooth. It came off the ground and landed without any rebounding. It felt like a speed bump.. My son was laughing his ass off and wanted to keep jumping.

Waiting for the farm to dry up a little bit and I am going to take the truck out there to compare the two shocks. I have video from before with stock set up, and I will run it again to get side by side video for everyone..

-Greg

 

[Jackemuphigh21]

Awesome info. I knew the Fox 3.0s have a sweet spot they are tuned for and that ride height is top perch so wasn't sure about the ICONs. And thats awesome about being able to run the RCV axles cuz I eventually want to upgrade so there is no huge thought in the back of my mind if this is going to be THAT time that I get out of the truck after driving it hard offroad that the boots are going to be torn or the cv is going to let go in the middle of a run or whatever. -Russell

 

[Squatting Dog]

Awesome info. I knew the Fox 3.0s have a sweet spot they are tuned for and that ride height is top perch so wasn't sure about the ICONs. And thats awesome about being able to run the RCV axles cuz I eventually want to upgrade so there is no huge thought in the back of my mind if this is going to be THAT time that I get out of the truck after driving it hard offroad that the boots are going to be torn or the cv is going to let go in the middle of a run or whatever. -Russell

That was the best part.. I went with the settings BlueSti has on his truck.. He is running higher preload (top perch) on the front. So when I drove around with lower preload and his settings, the front felt like bottom perch with nose dive and squishiness.. So I got out and clicked it to 3 (out of 10) and it was perfect. So basically you can adjust the front for the preload.

-Greg

 

[Yukon Joe]

Greg, sure will be interesting to run the snobal500 the hit the TRR a few months later.

Do you still have the negative offset wheels? If so, are you worried about them chewing up the front CVs again? Or is current ride height accommodating?

Good write updates and honest opinion.

Yukon Joe

 

[BlackMamba]

That was the best part.. I went with the settings BlueSti has on his truck.. He is running higher preload (top perch) on the front. So when I drove around with lower preload and his settings, the front felt like bottom perch with nose dive and squishiness.. So I got out and clicked it to 3 (out of 10) and it was perfect. So basically you can adjust the front for the preload.

-Greg

So Greg you had your set shipped from ICON or SDHQ at "mid" perch or did you adjust yourself?

 

[Squatting Dog]

Greg, sure will be interesting to run the snobal500 the hit the TRR a few months later.

Do you still have the negative offset wheels? If so, are you worried about them chewing up the front CVs again? Or is current ride height accommodating?

Good write updates and honest opinion.

Yukon Joe

As of right now, yes negative offset wheels are still on. That is until Method gets off their butts and ships my wheels. I will be following my own advice and going with 0mm offset wheels and getting of -12mm

So Greg you had your set shipped from ICON or SDHQ at "mid" perch or did you adjust yourself?

ICON adjusted them for me prior to shipping them out. They were going to ship them to SDHQ and palletize them with my wheels. Since my wheels are delay, ICON just shipped them to me.

-Greg

 

[Jackemuphigh21]

So Greg you had your set shipped from ICON or SDHQ at "mid" perch or did you adjust yourself?

I did see that ICON was offering a spanner wrench for like $24 to be able to make this adjustment on your own when you want to. All you have to do is adjust the preload nut up or down or once they have been installed just jack up the truck to take the weight off and adjust the preload nut. -Russell

---------- Post added at 02:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:37 PM ----------

Which Methods are you getting Greg?

 

[MagicMtnDan]

I took the long way around to get where my truck is now. I learned my truck inside and out and not afraid to plow it through the mud, trails or in the air.

The Raptor is a master of all offroad elements!

-Greg

The Raptor is a master of all offroad elements. And while it has its shortcomings (all non-specialty vehicles do and even those built for specific purposes sometimes fail), it's a master STOCK from the factory.

Can it be improved? Sure but tread carefully because it also can be screwed up easily.

Thankfully there are some excellent vendors who know what they're doing and we have choices because of them.

And we can learn from others who have done, like you have, shared their experiences with us.

 

[Squatting Dog]

I did see that ICON was offering a spanner wrench for like $24 to be able to make this adjustment on your own when you want to. All you have to do is adjust the preload nut up or down or once they have been installed just jack up the truck to take the weight off and adjust the preload nut. -Russell

That is correct.. BUT in order to get to mid perch setting, the coil nut (lack of better term) will be up in the coil bucket. So it is easier to adjust it to that level prior to installing.

View attachment 14423

If I decide to raise the preload/ride height on my truck now. It is a matter of raising the truck and putting jack stand under frame. Then using a floor jack under lower a arm, to hold weight of front suspension, while loosing the three grade 8 bolts from the top of shock. Then letting the jack down about 1.5-2" to access coil nut. Making the adjustment then raising the floor jack, attaching grade 8 bolts, and lowering the truck.

This is ONLY on my truck with mid perch settings.. Everyone else that has these shocks can adjust them on the truck without the above steps.

-Greg

 

[Jackemuphigh21]

Thanks for the further elaboration Greg. That's where I was headed I just didn't take the time to type it all out nor do I have pictures of the sexy beasts installed on my truck......YET!! Muahaha