Ironman Foam Cell Pro Suspension: 2.5-Year Long-Term Review (GX470)

Disclosure: I bought this kit with my own money in 2024. Ironman 4×4 did not provide it and had no say in this review. This is a long-term review, not a first impression: the suspension has been on my GX470 since April 2024.

Quick verdict

• Rating: 4.5 out of 5
• Time in service: April 2024 to now, about 2.5 years
• Would I buy it again: Yes, over and over
• One line: Some of the toughest, most drama free suspension I have run, with two honest caveats: the spring coating has flaked off, and if you tow, skip the medium rear springs and go straight to the heavy rate.

My setup

Vehicle: 2008 Lexus GX470
Kit: Ironman 4×4 Foam Cell Pro, Stage 1
Lift: 2.5 inches front, 2 inches rear
Springs: Heavy rate front, medium rate rear
Also on the truck: steel bumpers front and rear, winch, roof rack, skid plates, so this suspension carries real weight every day

Those blue upper arms now have their own long-term review: SuperPro Upper Control Arms Long-Term Review.

How it has been used

This is not a pavement review. The GX gets run hard on fast sand trails in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, at the dunes, and on the rough two tracks and ledges around Drummond Island. It also hauls an overland trailer on camping trips and does normal highway duty in between. Two and a half years of that is a fair test of any suspension.

On the highway

Loaded or empty, it rides like a dream on the highway. No wallowing, no harshness you would not expect from a lifted truck on heavy front springs, just settled and controlled. This matters more than people admit, because most of an overland truck’s life is spent getting to the trail.

Off-road

This is where the Foam Cell Pro earned my money. Running hard through whoops and washboard chatter, it stays smooth and well controlled instead of packing down or bouncing the truck around. It has about an inch more front travel than the stock suspension, and you can feel that extra room when the trail gets uneven at speed.

I abuse this suspension. Fast sand, dune climbs, repeated hits, season after season. It has held up completely drama free. Nothing has blown out, bent, or given up.

Loaded and towing: the one real caveat

With the overland trailer hooked up and the truck loaded with gear and people, the medium rate rear springs are maxed out. The truck handles it, but the rear springs are at their limit, and if I were ordering again I would go straight to the higher spring rate in the rear. If your GX tows or hauls heavy, learn from my order sheet: heavy springs in the rear too. If you do not tow, the mediums ride great and this is a non-issue.

Wear and tear after 2.5 years

Two honest complaints, both survivable:

1. The coating on the springs has flaked off. The bare springs work fine, but they look ugly, and on a truck that sees Michigan winters I would rather have the coating intact.
2. The front end has developed some squeaks after two years. Given the abuse this truck takes on fast sand trails and dunes, I am not shocked, and it has not affected how it drives. But it is there, and a review that skipped it would not be worth much.

Nothing e

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Extremely durable under hard, fast off-road use
• Smooth and controlled in whoops and chatter
• About an inch more front travel than stock
• Excellent highway manners, loaded or empty
• Zero failures or drama in 2.5 years

Cons:

• Spring coating flakes off and the bare springs look rough
• Front squeaks after two years of hard use
• Medium rear springs are not enough for towing with a loaded truck (order the heavy rate if you tow)

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it if you want a lift you can beat on for years without babysitting it, especially if your truck sees fast dirt regularly. This kit is built for exactly the way I use my GX.

Order it differently, not instead, if you tow: skip the medium rear springs and go heavy. The only buyer I would steer away entirely is the one who cares more about a pretty finish than performance, because those flaking springs will drive you nuts every time you walk past the truck.

FAQ

Has anything broken in 2.5 years?

No. No failures and no repairs. The only wear items are the flaked spring coating and some front end squeaks.

Would you change anything about your setup?

Just the rear spring rate, up to heavy for the trailer. Everything else stays.

Is the extra travel over stock noticeable?

Yes. That added inch or so of front travel shows up most on uneven trails at speed, where the front end still has room to work instead of topping out.

How does it ride with a heavy truck?

My GX carries steel bumpers, a winch, skids, and a rack full time, and the heavy front springs shrug it off. It tracks straight and calm on the highway whether the truck is empty or loaded for a week out.

Final verdict

Two and a half years in, this suspension has never asked me for a single repair, an adjustment, or a second thought. It just works, trip after trip, in conditions that wear parts out. The finish on the springs is the weakest part of the package, and the rear spring rate was my own ordering mistake, not the kit’s fault. Judge the Foam Cell Pro by what it does instead of how the springs look, and for a GX470 that actually gets used, it is an easy recommendation.

About the author: Derek runs Mitten State Tours and has owned this GX470 for three years. Every product reviewed on Mitten State Reviews is tested on his own truck, on real Michigan trips.