2009+ F-150 Leveling Coil Over Kit w/ Uniball Arm Tech Install
Truckin Magazine – Tech Installation Article
ICON Coil Over Leveling Kit on a 2010 Ford F150 – Three Inches, Two Hours, One Sweet Ride
Bigger, Better, Badder F-150
By Maxwell Matthewson, Photography by Courtesy Icon Vehicle Dynamics
After adding new Anzo lights and a rolling tonneau cover to his 2010 F-150, this owner had a severe case of the custom truck itch. Seeing other trucks cruising and towing with a taller stance, bigger wheels, and knobby off-road tires had him searching through Truckin’ for the latest in leveling and lift technologies. Wanting a truck that would still ride nice but look tough isn’t a pipe dream, and we helped him find the best of both worlds in just a few hours. ICON Vehicle Dynamics has recently released a complete leveling kit system that improves ride quality, helps the ½-ton clear 34s, and adds impressive off-road capability of the new-body-style F-150. The kit comes with a tubular, uniball upper control arm, 2½-inch coil overs for the front, and 2-inch aluminum series monotube shocks for the rear. Adding rugged good looks and functionality, we wrapped a set of BMF 20×9-inch Novakane wheels in BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A rubber, size 275/65R20 (34 inches tall). We’ll show you how simple it was to increase the height of this Ford while increasing the outward appearance and performance, both on- and off-road.
The 2010 Ford F-150 before the build begins
1. Removing the front wheels and tires
The upper ball joint nut could be loosened with an impact gun.
2. Disconnecting the sway bar
This allowed the lower control arm to flex down and accommodate the longer ICON F-150 coil over shock.
3. Freeing the spindle
A little persuasion was necessary to free the spindle from the upper control arm.
4. Removing factory coil over nuts
The three nuts holding the factory coil over were removed.
5. Removing the lower strut bolt
An impact gun was used to remove the lower bolt from the strut.
6. Removing the upper control arm
The two bolts holding the upper control arm were removed.
7. Comparing factory strut to ICON coil over
This adjustable kit offers one to three inches of lift.
8. New control arms
The tubular design uses uniball ball joints and polyurethane bushings.
9. Installing the new coil over
The new coil over fit perfectly where the factory unit was removed.
10. Adding aluminum spacers
Spacers were placed inside the lower control arm mount to center the coil over.
11. Reusing factory hardware
The factory hardware was reused to bolt in the new upper control arm.
12. Installing the coil over hardware
New Grade 8 hardware was used to secure the coil over.
13. Securing the coil over to the bucket
Grade 8 bolts were used at the top mount as well.
14. Re-attaching the spindle
The spindle was tightened to the recommended torque.
15. Final steps
The sway bar was reattached and the wheels and tires installed.
16. Tire recommendations
ICON recommends a 34″ maximum tire size. This install used 275/65R20 BFG All-Terrain tires (approx. 34″ tall).
17. Final appearance
The kit looks great under the truck and improves performance.
18. Rear shocks
The factory rear shocks were replaced with 2-inch aluminum series monotube shocks.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics has their stuff together. They really brought their A game with this leveling system. The install only took 2 hours, and when the kit was on, we couldn’t wait to get on the road to test it out. We started on the freeway, where the truck rode even better than it did before the kit. The coilovers up front and 2-inch monotube shocks out back really give the truck a better ride. The tires were louder than the factory Michelins but not obnoxious. Once we had the on-road testing done, we headed for some off-road testing. At speed on a rough dirt road, the truck rode almost as smooth as on the freeway. Over the more technical dips and ruts, the truck never rubbed, and even though it is a two-wheel-drive, it handled everything we brought it through. All in all, we loved the stance, ride, and ability that the Icon kit has given the truck. We liked it so much, we almost didn’t give the keys back to the owner.
BFGoodrich Tires
P.O. Box 19001
Greenville, SC 29602
877-788-8899
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
7929 Lincoln Ave
Riverside, CA 92504
951-689-4266
BMF Wheels
1401 N. Batavia Street
Suite 107
Orange, CA 92867
888-313-2580
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