Icon Shocks??? Toughts?

[LT Dangle]

Are you doing leafs and shocks or just shocks? I didn't even jack my truck up for the rear shock install. I just unbolt and bolted in.

For the leafs I jacked my truck up by the diff, took both tires off, and lowered the truck onto jackstands (rear frame before axles). There are some youtube videos for some tips and tricks. I can send you some of my install tips. I've done it twice now.

really? just shocks for now. I would have thought that the weight would need to have been taken off so they wouldnt be compressed, no?

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[Sleepy_Hollow]

really? just shocks for now. I would have thought that the weight would need to have been taken off so they wouldnt be compressed, no?

Bolted the top in and compressed the shock with my hand slowly and put the bottom bolt in. Might need a helping hand depending on how strong you are.

 

[CO2Ranger]

The Mono leaf spring is really the problem, if you are wanting to change the ride to soft.

Any aftermarket offering will do if you are after a quick fix for the "Ranger Jive". I did the Bilstein 5160's within first two weeks. Helped the control, but did not help the jarring of the Mono Leaf.

Check out here: https://www.stage3motorsports.com/2019-2022-ford-ranger-rear-shocks.html. You might see if Frank @Stage3Motorsports can help you decide with a pricing option. Be careful though, some are pairs, and some are singles.

If you are after just shocks for the rear, it is probably name brand and $ that will be the biggest factor. I have never been a Fox fan, so of the two... I would choose the ICON's https://www.stage3motorsports.com/96519-19-22-ranger-icon-rear-2-0-aluminum-shock.html or the ones with Resi's or even the Bilstein 5160's (again).

He's right about the leafs. Regardless of what you get, put weight in the bed and it makes quite a bit of difference. Any leaf that can handle the rated payload is going to appreciate a little weight on there for road manners.

 

[LT Dangle]

Bolted the top in and compressed the shock with my hand slowly and put the bottom bolt in. Might need a helping hand depending on how strong you are.

well damn, I feel silly now. I easily could have done that... Ive only done suspension on bikes before. I didnt think it would be that easy.. smh

 

[Sleepy_Hollow]

well damn, I feel silly now. I easily could have done that... Ive only done suspension on bikes before. I didnt think it would be that easy.. smh

No worries! A lot of people here over complicate things all the time. Trust go with the Icon Leafs!! That was the biggest change.

 

[LT Dangle]

oh they're definitely on the list..... along with many other things ??

 

[1pt21gw]

He's right about the leafs. Regardless of what you get, put weight in the bed and it makes quite a bit of difference. Any leaf that can handle the rated payload is going to appreciate a little weight on there for road manners.

I had a '97 Ranger SuperCab (Best seats ever had in a Ride) and did a few things too it, when I added a Snugtop canopy the ride became so smooth. I would take it off every so often to clean and haul things, and then when the fuel got low, it would have a nice big bounce. Fuel and put the Canopy back on and it was enough to make a nice ride without messing up the rake.

Thinkin' a lot of trucks are that weigh! Poor pun intended.

 

[LT Dangle]

it is amazing what a little weight will do. I couldnt believe what a difference there was in just getting the spray in bedliner installed.

 

[Superdannyboy]

really? just shocks for now. I would have thought that the weight would need to have been taken off so they wouldnt be compressed, no?

So the job of the springs is to support the weight of the truck. The job of the shock is to control the rate of compression and rebound of the springs.

You don't need to lift the truck.

Unbolt the bottom bolt through the shock, pull it out of the mount so that it extends and unbolt the top. Reverse this process with a crow bar to get the bottom of the shock compressed into the lower shock mount on the rear axle.

Remark: Icons use a digressive piston so they are firmer initially in their travel I know that the 2.5's are a PITA to compress nothing like the stock shocks. That's why mention a crowbar, you put the tip of the crowbar in the mount and the shaft of the crowbar under the shock and lift up on the crowbar to use leverage and it compressed the shock and guides it straight into the lower mount and you can slide the bolt right through.

 

[LT Dangle]

So the job of the springs is to support the weight of the truck. The job of the shock is to control the rate of compression and rebound of the springs.

You don't need to lift the truck.

Unbolt the bottom bolt through the shock, pull it out of the mount so that it extends and unbolt the top. Reverse this process with a crow bar to get the bottom of the shock compressed into the lower shock mount on the rear axle.

Remark: Icons use a digressive piston so they are firmer initially in their travel I know that the 2.5's are a PITA to compress nothing like the stock shocks. That's why mention a crowbar, you put the tip of the crowbar in the mount and the shaft of the crowbar under the shock and lift up on the crowbar to use leverage and it compressed the shock and guides it straight into the lower mount and you can slide the bolt right through.

I initially was goin to try to lift it up so i wouldnt have to deal with compressing it into position. I didnt think it would be so easy to manhandle them into place.

 

[Superdannyboy]

I initially was goin to try to lift it up so i wouldnt have to deal with compressing it into position. I didnt think it would be so easy to manhandle them into place.

That is the easiest way to do it. But if you want them on in 5 minutes you can use a crowbar. I'm not sure how hard it is to compress the 2.0's, but it should be a piece of cake with the crowbar.

 

[Whiplash]

I have done my rear shocks twice.....First time with the ICON 2.0 VS aluminum series , did not use a jack but measured how much they needed to be compressed for mount, and used a large zip tie to hold them at that length for mount with no muscle required.....Second time with the heavier ICON 2.5 CDCV piggybacks I jacked up frame to full drop with floor jack, then used a bottle jack to lift the axle just a little to get the mount bolts in, again no muscle to compress the shocks was needed....I'm old and always looking for an easy way to do things...?....

 

[Superdannyboy]

I have done my rear shocks twice.....First time with the ICON 2.0 VS aluminum series , did not use a jack but measured how much they needed to be compressed for mount, and used a large zip tie to hold them at that length for mount with no muscle required.....Second time with the heavier ICON 2.5 CDCV piggybacks I jacked up frame to full drop with floor jack, then used a bottle jack to lift the axle just a little to get the mount bolts in, again no muscle to compress the shocks was needed....I'm old and always looking for an easy way to do things...?....

Yea that's the best way to do it. I'm young and want to use muscle lol.

 

[1pt21gw]

So now the real question is, What is LT going to do?

- Ponder what to do while he has a cup of his favorite drink?
- Tackle it and show pics?
- Or head to the shop in the am?

Just giving you a hard time LT, and I'll bet you are stronger/bigger guy than I. Just so you know, I went to my friends shop both times and he did the installs. His lift, his rules, and I provide the beverage.

 

[LT Dangle]

Definitely tackle and pics.

The question is when.. I was going to do it today, but then it was hot out (97° ish) and I started having refreshments..... now I'm finding it difficult to find the motivation.....

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