My goal was to keep the factory plush ride but also lift the GX. Most will tell you that's hard to do but not with the CDC option that Icon offers. You can order their coilovers w/ their CDC valve, which is a remote reservoir that holds fluid and has adjustable sport / comfort setting **** just like our factory shocks have, only there's 10 settings on the Icons not 4 like our stock shocks have. The **** ranges from S (softest setting), 2, 3, 4 (stock Icon coilover settings w/o the CDC valve), 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, H (firmest setting):

The ride, all I can say is WOW, the Icons soak up bumps like they're not even there. I rode around town and on the beltway and they performed great at lower and at higher speeds. Being 2 1/2" higher it feels weird not seeing the hood slope down from the drivers seat anymore. I pulled over numerous times to change the CDC setting and here's my opinion;

S is the softest setting. It's VERY plush and literally feels like you're riding on air. I've never rode on new GX shocks but I can bet they're not as plush as this! You can't feel any bumps they just soak them right up yet you don't get that squishy / squirmy / floaty feeling what so ever. I then tried H and it was way too firm and really unpleasant. I didn't even drive 1/2 mile before I switched it to a lower setting. I'd personally never use the H setting. I then tried 6 and while it was much better than H it was still a little too firm. I took it down to 4, which if you order standard Icon coilovers without the CDC valve that's what they feel like. It was nice and firm, not too firm though and was very drivable but I want the Lexus plush ride, so I tried 2 and perfection!! It soaks up bumps just like S but it's not as soft but still VERY plush, it's like the road is made of marshmallows. The compression is nice and soft and the rebound is quick so there's no floating feeling at all.

Overall I couldn't be happier. They exceeded my expectations! I'd recommend these to any GX owner. Even If you don't want to lift your GX you can still use coilovers and adjust them lower to the factory ride height. If you don't mind a little firm ride of a ride I'd get the standard Icon coilovers but if you want that Lexus / Cadillac plush ride the CDC option is a no brainer. If you don't want to pay the upcharge of the CDC valve you can always have Icon valve the standard coilovers to be softer but I like the fact that I can change them within seconds if want a firmer ride.



To lift the rear I added 8mm washers to the bolts on the ride height sensor brackets. Before I installed the coilovers I added 4 washers (2 on each bracket bolt) and it lifted the rear 1/2". I need to swing by Ace and pick up some more washers. In total I need to lift the rear another 1" to be level with the front now.



Here are my before and after measurements. Without adjusting the coilovers I got approximately 2 1/2" of lift up front.

BEFORE
Front Drivers Side
- center of the hub to the bottom of the fender flare: 19 3/16"
- ground to the bottom of the fender flare: 34 1/4"

Front Passengers Side
- center of the hub to the bottom of the fender flare: 19 1/4"
- ground to the bottom of the fender flare: 34 5/16"

AFTER
Front Drivers Side
- center of the hub to the bottom of the fender flare: 22"
- ground to the bottom of the fender flare: 36 11/16"

Front Passengers Side
- center of the hub to the bottom of the fender flare: 22"
- ground to the bottom of the fender flare: 36 7/8"



BEFORE


AFTER



1/4" I.D. x 1/2" LONG SPACERS ADDED TO THE RIDE HEIGHT SENSOR BRACKET BOLTS TO GAIN 1". REAR IS NOW 37", SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE FRONT

 

Sounds like a good plan . I am on plat extended warranty for 3 years so if I have a problem its on them

 

Really looking forward to seeing this project come together!

 

The finally arrived today and I just finished installing them. Time to pop some Aleve.

 

Nice. have you driven it yet? looking forward to hearing your thoughts, and of course seeing pictures of the new ride height.

 

I drove it earlier this morning. I edited my first post.

 

Man, that came out great. Really liking the look with those rims too.....

 

Are those the stock upper control arms?

 

Thanks!


Yes stock upper control arms.

 

Very nice! How does it feel running the Icon fronts & Bilstein rears? Are you thinking about swapping the rear shocks, or do they work well together?

 

The 5100s are by no means harsh and as of last week I was loving them once I raised the rear 1/2" but these Icons are so just so smooth at the number 2 mark they make the 5100s feel harsh and that was w/ the rear still at 1/2". These CDC valves have me spoiled. The number 2 setting is perfection! Compared to the Icons the Bilsteins weren't as soft as the number 4 setting but weren't as firm as the number 6 setting, so I guess they would be a 5 even though I never tried the 5 setting yet.


I was thinking about buying the rear Icons but a 4th gen 4Runner owner (xreas w/ rear air suspension) has Icon coilovers and he tired almost every rear shock out there, Bilstein / Icon included, and he said he didn't feel any difference between the two so for now I'm sticking w/ the Bilsteins.

 

ICON should give you a set of rear shocks for free for that great review on the fronts!
I see the price is back up again. You got a good deal for sure.

 

I agree 100%!! Just in case Icon reads this, I'll take the rear 2.5" shocks w/ the remote reservoirs (part number 57812) w/ the CDC valves and IVD coating.


You aren't lying. 20% off was a HUGE discount!

 

Reviving post ... RCsGX - did you replace both front/back at the same time are were the 5100's in the rear done first? I ask because I'm curious any difference from just replacing the rear. Cost and installation seems reasonable for the rears, I could do that now (no lift) and upgrade the fronts at a later time.

 

I installed the rear Bilstein 5100s first.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...ein-5100s.html