FJ Cruisers of Northern California

Need a new shock setup

OK, as I posted on the 3.5" Studovich discussion I need new shocks. I've been running a full OME setup since I had 20,000 miles on my FJ. After Slickrock, Deer Valley, and the rubicon I am faced with buying a new Axle (amazing difference in quality over stock for $100), a New lower link mount set (apparently the All-Pro skids can only do so much to protect the crappy stock ones), and new lower links (I've already had the stock ones pressed flat once). Needless to say all these newly justified upgrades paired with my recent Boztec group buy commitment have left me stretched thin in the "justifying-hobbies-to-wife" department. Irregardless, I still need new shocks. I'd love Icon Stage 3 or a +2" long travel setup, but that would be a little too much. I know there are a million threads out there and four year old discussions about what the best shocks are. I'm asking for advice and help to make an informed decision from people who I may have actually wheeled with or who can speak from personal experience. There are a lot of options out there and there are many pros and cons with each. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

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Permalink Reply by A.J.Cruiser on September 20, 2011 at 11:25pm

Wasup Josh...I haven't gone out in awhile but from what I've been reading you can check out Radflo. Ask Ray for more info.

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Permalink Reply by TRD Black on September 21, 2011 at 11:07pm

Anyone have these or familiar with them? They're not too far off price wise from ICon & I know the Toytech kit comes with these or Bilstein.

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Permalink Reply by PBn'FJ on September 22, 2011 at 11:41pm

Overland Warehouse sells the Radflo's and they are based in Bay Area. Ray has them on his 4R, if I remember correctly. I heard they will work with you and help tailor to your truck.

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Permalink Reply by daPitbull on September 23, 2011 at 4:22pm

OW has a set valved for FJs now. Talk to Andries from Overland Warehouse about it. FYI, the set that Toytec sells are also by Radflo, but valved differently.

Before I sold the FJ I was running custom valved OW/Radflo rears on the FJ and they wer nice, no complaints.

Icons monotube rear shocks are garbage, their newer rebuildable 2.0 rears are supposed to be good, but not sure if they're selling them yet, Demello has them on his FJ.

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Permalink Reply by DWH on September 22, 2011 at 9:47am

If I had to choose a system again I would stick to my Icons. Except I would skip the UCA and go witha cheaper set.

The icons are stiffer than stock, but not so much that it is uncomfortable.

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Permalink Reply by TRD Black on September 22, 2011 at 10:19pm

Hmmm it seems that people love their Icons, but the UCA are so darned expensive. I was wondering though how much of a benefit the stage two offers with the extended travel shocks. Anyone familiar?

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Permalink Reply by PBn'FJ on September 22, 2011 at 11:31pm

You don't need to buy Icon UCA, I ran Light Racing UCA with the Icons on my FJC.

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Permalink Reply by DWH on September 23, 2011 at 12:14pm

You can get the extended travel coilovers without the icon ucas. You just need to replace the stock uca with one that allows the extra movement.

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Permalink Reply by TRD Black on September 23, 2011 at 7:24pm

So what is the real difference in upgrading to the extended travel? I am not really familiar with Radflo, but hear positive things. It is difficult to balance the concern for a good quality product and ride with options such as increased travel or height. I guess I didn't realize the OME shocks were only really 2.5 inch lift till I started looking recently because I think they were originally touted as 3 inch. Then in reading the product description of the Icons it says they are 3 inch. Some say they are actually lower in real life, and others say you must run new UCAs with them because they are actually 3 inch not 2.5. While on the Rubicon two weeks ago I would have killed for just another inch, so that made me appreciate the possibility of a half inch gain. The Radflo really are close enough to the price of stage one Icon that I'm interested in hearing input to make a decision, but there may also be another option such as Fox or Bilstein that I'm overlooking...

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Permalink Reply by DWH on September 23, 2011 at 8:27pm

I think they make two different models one for those that do not want to upgrade their ucas, and one for those that do. The Icons are adjustable in the front (0 to 3" I think) and 2" in back. The more you crank it the worse the alignment tends to get. If you want to crank them all the way up and use the extended travel, you will need to get new ucas.

There are also Kings and Sway Away to look at. I have heard that both are a pretty harsh ride.

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Permalink Reply by TRD Black on September 24, 2011 at 2:54pm

OK so I'm leaning towards the Radflo 2.5 inch kit with the new UCA. I was also looking at the 1" ToyTec Body lift as a possibility to go with it. Anyone running that body lift with a 3" shock setup? It seems that that setup may allow me to go up to 35" tires at some point...

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Permalink Reply by daPitbull on September 24, 2011 at 4:53pm

You can run 35 wirhout the bl the fj has larger fender openings. If you run 35 you will want to drop the rear bump stop to limit uptravel. A benefit to the OW/Radflo setup is that it comes with a bump stop spacer.

Running the bl wont hurt either though.