Rough Terrain - Icon Vehicle Dynamics

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TEXT AND PHOTOS BY BOB RYDER
Rough Terrain
IMPROVING A 2013 FORD F-150 RAPTOR
ord introduced its F-150 SVT
Raptor with every intention of
raising the bar for off-road
capabilities in a production truck.
The Raptor was the first highspeed off-road performance truck offered
by any manufacturer. Ford designed the
Raptor to be 7 inches wider than a base
F-150, which allows room for the addition
of long travel suspension components. The
wider stance coupled with wider fenders
definitely gives the Raptor a more
aggressive appearance.
F
The limber factory suspension features
internal triple-bypass FOX Racing Shox, the
first on any production truck. FOX shocks
deliver position-sensitive dampening and
extra suspension travel for extreme offroading and a smooth ride while on-road.
The front suspension is equipped with
unique cast-aluminum upper and lower
control arms, and the front steering knuckles and spindles were fitted with BF
Goodrich all-terrain 315/70-17 TA/KO tires.
The rear suspension is supported by heavyduty leaf spring packs and triple-bypass
FOX Racing shocks. These improved suspension components give the Raptor 11.2
inches of front suspension travel and 12.1
inches of rear suspension travel on either
the 145-inch wheelbase of the Super Cab or
the Super Crew.
To take the Raptor’s suspension to the
next level of off-road superiority, we decided
to roll over to SoCal Super Trucks in San
Bernardino, California, where Casey Coughlin
introduced us to his ace technician, Ryan Poe,
who would be installing the ICON Vehicle
Dynamics Ford SVT Raptor 3.0-inch Performance Suspension System Stage 2 front and
rear suspension kit. ST
SOURCES
ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS
951.689.4266
Iconvehicledynamics.com
DEAVER SUSPENSION
714.542.3703
Deaverspring.com
SOCAL SUPER TRUCKS
774 S. E Street
San Bernardino, CA 92408
909.383.5454
Socalsupertrucks.com
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ROUGH TERRAIN TECH
ICON Raptor Front 3-inch Coil-over
Shock:
• 3 OEM replacement remote reservoir
compression adjustable front coil-over shocks
• Internal hydraulic bump zone designed for
max. G-out control in the last 40% of travel
• Easy-to-adjust high resolution compression
adjuster allows for fine-tuning adjustments
for all types of terrain
• Direct bolt-in to OEM location and optimum
reservoir positioning for superb heat
dissipation and protection
• Nitrogen-charged 6063-T832 aluminum 10inch-long hard anodized remote reservoirs
• Adjustable ride height from 1-3.5 inches
• ICON-engineered Eibach 3 5/8-inch ID
chrome silicon steel springs
• Oversized 1-inch heavy-duty CNC-machined
shock shafts
• Extended drop travel and increased overall
performance both on- and off-road
ICON Raptor Rear 3-inch Bypass Shock:
• 3 OEM replacement piggyback reservoir
ZETA three-tube bypass rear shocks
• Easy-to-adjust detented adjustment knobs
• High-resolution bypass valves
• High-flow CNC-machined welded bypass
blocks designed to increase fluid flow for
enhanced performance and high definition
tuning
• Replaceable bypass tubes that can easily
slide into position
• Direct bolt-in OEM location with bypass
adjustment knobs specially engineered
dampened valve stops for quiet and precise
operation without the standard bypass loud
clicking
• Multi-stage cad-plated finish with polished
and anodized top cap/rod ends
• UHMH-machined shaft and rod end
protective shin guards
ICON Raptor Front Uniball Upper
Control Arms:
• Made from 6061 billet aluminum
• Precision CNC machined
• 1-inch Teflon-lined all-stainless steel
uniballs
• Easily adjustable on the vehicle for perfect
wheel alignment
• 17-4 high grade stainless steel uniball
adapter pin
• High-precision CNC-machined pin provides
OEM like fitment
• RSMX Teflon-lined 7/8-inch rod ends
• O-ring sealed uniball cover cap
[01] The ICON Suspension Raptor Stage 2 kit comes complete with CNC-machined 6061-T6 billet aluminum upper control
arms with 1-inch Teflon lined stainless steel uniballs and stainless steel adapter pins and a pair of front ICON adjustable
coil-over shocks that are remote piggyback reservoir compression and nitrogen-filled. The kit also includes a pair of rear
ZETA three-tube external bypass shocks.
[02] After
[03] The
removing the
Raptor OEM 17inch cast
aluminum
wheels wrapped
in BF Goodrich
A/T
LT315/70R-17
tires, we got our
first view of the
OEM Raptor
front suspension
featuring FOX
gas-filled coilover shocks.
lower steering
knuckle was
smacked with a
3-pound
sledgehammer
to break the
steering tie rod
loose, and then
it was removed
from the
steering
knuckle.
[04] The
front OEM brake
caliper and
brake rotor
were removed.
Raptor Deaver Replacement Rear Leaf
Spring Pack:
Deaver spring Raptor leaf packs have 11 thin
leaves and one rebound leaf to reduce axle
wrap. The Deaver springs are direct
replacements for the OEM leaf packs and
delete the OEM lift block that is between the
leaf packs and rear axle housing. All new
hardware is included: 18mm front eyebolts,
bushings and U-bolts.
Wheel and Tire Fitment:
• OEM wheels and tires
• Aftermarket wheels: 17-inch and up with up
to 5.5-inch backspacing
• Aftermarket tires: 35-37-inch
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TECH ROUGH TERRAIN
[06] To remove the front OEM FOX shocks, the three nuts were removed from the upper
[05] The steering knuckle was removed from the OEM upper control arm.
shock mounting bracket.
[07] After removing the
bottom bolt from the lower
control arm shock mount, the
FOX shock was removed.
[08] The OEM upper aluminum control arm was unbolted and removed.
[09] To allow more clearance for the ICON coil-over shock, some
material must to be ground away from the upper shock mount bracket.
[11] The new ICON coil-over
[10] The ICON 6061-T6 billet aluminum adjustable upper control arm was slid into position and secured.
shock was lifted into position.
The top three mounting nuts
were threaded and secured on
the studs.
[12] Included
in the kit is a
front shock
remote reservoir,
mounting
bracket that was
bolted in place.
34 MAY 2013 | STREETTRUCKS
[13] Using the mounting clamps that were provided in the
[14] An air impact gun and combination wrench were used to
kit, the remote reservoir was secured.
secure the coil-over shock to the lower control arm shock mount.
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TECH ROUGH TERRAIN
[15] The upper
control arm tapered
pin adapter and
steering knuckle
were mated, then
an impact gun was
used to secure the
upper control arm
and steering
knuckle nut. A
cotter pin was
inserted through the
pin adapter and
bent over to ensure
the nut would not
back off.
[16] The hub was secured to the spindle and steering
knuckle.
[17] Ryan reinstalled the front brake caliper using an
impact gun.
[18] The tie rod end was
[19] The front ICON billet
[20] Moving to the rear, a pair of Deaver leaf spring packs replaces the weaker OEM springs. The Deaver kit
inserted into the steering
knuckle and secured.
aluminum upper control arm,
ICON coil-over nitrogen-filled
shock with remote piggyback
reservoir was completed.
includes two leaf packs made up of 11 thinner leafs and one rebound leaf per pack to eliminate rear axle wrap.
New urethane eye-mount bushings, longer U-bolts and mounting hardware were also included.
[23] The OEM spacer block was removed from between
[21] The OEM FOX shock was unbolted and removed.
[22] To remove the OEM rear leaf spring pack, the Ubolts were removed.
[24] Ryan removed the OEM rear leaf spring pack.
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the OEM spring pack and rear axle housing. They will be
replaced by the Deaver pack.
[25] There are major differences in this comparison image of the
[26] A pair of welder clamps
much thicker Deaver spring pack (bottom) and the OEM spring pack.
secured the OEM leaf spring pack,
while Ryan used an impact gun to
remove the bolts from the leaf
spring pack locating plate.
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TECH ROUGH TERRAIN
[28] Ryan muscles the massive Deaver leaf spring pack
[27] The OEM leaf spring locating plate was reused and secured to the Deaver leaf spring pack.
[29] The new longer U-bolts and
into position and inserts the eyebolts.
[30] The Deaver leaf spring pack is mounted and secured.
[31] A pneumatic disc sander was used to remove some metal from
nuts were secured.
the upper shock mount bracket. This allows ample clearance for the ZETA
piggyback three-tube bypass shock top cap.
[33] After installing the stronger Deaver leaf spring pack
[32] Ryan aligns the ZETA racing shock into the modified upper shock mount bracket. A pneumatic impact gun and
wrench were used to tighten the upper and lower shock bolts.
and ZETA racing shock, the upgraded driver’s side
suspension was complete.
[34] This shot shows the improved ICON front suspension components: 6061-T6 billet aluminum
[35] A new set of Method Racing double standard 17 x 8.5-inch wheels
adjustable upper control arm and ZETA OEM replacement remote reservoir compression adjustable front
coil-over shock. A stout SoCal Super Trucks front tube bumper and skid plate were installed to protect
the front suspension and undercarriage.
were powder-coated matte gray with Raptor color-matched bead-loc-style
rings covered with BF Goodrich T/A all-terrain 37 x 12-17 tires.
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