OK so I put on an Icon all spring lift kit last year and I got to looking under it and my rear bottom leaf spring keep turning check out the pictures below. I have loosened the u-bolts and banged the back into place and tightened them but about 500 miles later they just moved again. So my question is Icon sells a 1" block if I put that on would that solve my problem or do any of y'all have some ideas?

 

Do you see that strap around the leaf that didn't move? That's your hint.

 

Ya but these springs did not come with those for the bottom springs

 

Square U-bolts or drilled plates & bolts

 

Your'e missing something here. Where did your bump stops go. Someone has removed them. You might want to look at a stock set up. LANDYOT Radius Rod installation on 2000 Ford Excursion | SuperMotors.net

 

Suggest you contact Icon tech support. There are at least 2 problems here.

You can buy spring clamps:


If you do have to make or install clamps, keep in mind that you only want to limit horizontal movement, not vertical.

 

Are those OEM U bolt plates? The holes are spaced too wide - get different plates or make some new ones so the U bolts sit tighter against the sides of the perch/spring pack. You can also put a small tack weld on the axle tube housing as guides to keep the bottom of the U bolts lined up properly on the axle as you torque them down.

 

DRM - good eye !

I think he still will need spring clamps and working bumpstops.

Consider new U-bolts, how many times have these been stretched?

 

I would suggest that your center bolts might not be tight also.

 

O. K. folks, let's settle down and solve the problem.

Nothing is missing from the spring pack, Icon doesn't put clamps on the bottom three springs. Because of their short length, they are spacers at best. But they aren't lift blocks.

Talking about lift blocks, on the stock set up the lift blocks (actually the wing that comes off the side of the lift block) engage the bump stops. Because the Icon 5" kit is all springs the stock lift block is removed and not used. Even if you did retain it (for more rear lift) you would never be able to collapse the suspension enough to engage the bump stop. Same without the block, you won't collapse the springs enough to engage the bump stop with the Icon 5" (or greater) springs. I suppose if you are really concerned you could add some really long bump stops, or extensions, and engage the axle tube. I'm not worried about it.

Now for DRM, before we compliment him for good eyes look at the pictures again. The bolt plate, spring plate, is rotated 90 degrees. It is stock, it is just not installed correctly.

Pop the nuts, rotate the plate, loosen the spring center bolt, straighten out the springs, tighten the centering bolt, torque the u-bolt nuts with the spring plate in the proper orientation, drive it and tell me what happens.

My passenger side spring pack is fine and on the driver's side the third spring from the bottom has shifted (or possibly was always that way) just slightly, nothing even close to yours. I whacked it three times with a mini-sledge and it didn't move. I will watch it.

What say you other Icon all spring lift kit owners, any movement like this?

 

Yes, now that you mention it, the plate does look sideways. The 'wings' should be fore/aft so that the edge of the plate is rounded against the spring, not square cut, to avoid stress.


re. no bump stops

That may well be Icon's design, but is it a good idea? Maybe.

No bump stops on my rockcrawler, because I don't want to limit travel. It works. And you know what? Bending the springs more means they wear out sooner.

That may not be a problem with a street driven Ex. But it could be, especially if the truck is loaded heavily. It's one of the things I think the OP should talk to Icon's tech support about.

 

I merely noticed the plate did not look right at first glance - now that you mention it, the plate *is* installed 90* off. Once fixed and the U bolts torqued down properly - I'm betting the issue goes away.

 

Thank you guys for all your help I feel like an idiot for putting that plate on backwards. I installed this lift outside my house in the street on a 97 degree labor day weekend I guess the heat was getting to me. Anyway hey x-hibition I am going to order new u bolts from icon I noticed they have a 1" block now for our setup you think that's a good idea for when I have heavy loads so the rear end don't look so droopy?

 

I installed the RAS on mine and that took care of the extra inch I needed, if ya know what I mean...

 

So I went to the Icon site, the 1" block must be about the most inexpensive item they have...

Anyway I have the RAS on both my X and Suburban. I did a slight lift on the Sub with torsion keys and the RAS evened it out in the rear, just over an inch. The same with the X, it was just what I wanted to make it look right.

I tow a 6x12 Vee front trailer that can be loaded with anything and never have any issues. But many here tow way heavier than what I do. And with the lift, the RAS, and the factory rear sway bar (with Icon end links) I don't expect any issues. We'll see if that changes if and when I step up to the plate and go with a travel trailer.