Icon Tubular vs. Billet UCA's

[harkco]

Just wondering if any of you guys running Icon UCA's could comment on how happy you are with them. Specifically wondering if the billet UCA's are worth the extra expense.

 

[Vettethret]

Just wondering if any of you guys running Icon UCA's could comment on how happy you are with them. Specifically wondering if the billet UCA's are worth the extra expense.

For what its worth, I was told by both Demello and DMZ that it was more eye candy than anything else and that I would be more than good with the tubular arms (I actually asked for the billit arms initially).

 

[swimmerdude1127]

For what its worth, I was told by both Demello and DMZ that it was more eye candy than anything else and that I would be more than good with the tubular arms (I actually asked for the billit arms initially).

You'll get guys that like both. I have heard the billets are easier to align. I have tubulars and just ordered tubulars for my Tacoma. No issues.

 

[KVA]

Totally tubular here...no issues dude! :biggrin2:

 

[Jeremy556]

The billet ones attach with heim joints, so they can be adjusted for length. The downside is that heims tend to get noisy and wear out quickly. I wouldn't use them unless I needed the adjustability.

 

[harkco]

The billet ones attach with heim joints, so they can be adjusted for length. The downside is that heims tend to get noisy and wear out quickly. I wouldn't use them unless I needed the adjustability.

So no other advantage other than a little more adjustability?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

That and Billet is PR-BS for $$$

Don't get me wrong I think they look amazing, but my machinist friend and I always laugh at everything that's BILLET! and how it goes from $ to $$$ with that magical word.

 

[harkco]

That and Billet is PR-BS for $$$

Don't get me wrong I think they look amazing, but my machinist friend and I always laugh at everything that's BILLET! and how it goes from $ to $$$ with that magical word.

Cool. Thanks for the replies. Tubular it is.

 

[Jeremy556]

So no other advantage other than a little more adjustability?

Well, bling, of course. It might, possibly be stronger (though just as likely not, when compared to 4140 chromo tubing), but the LCA is much more important in that regard, anyway. Heims have no place on a daily driver, imho.

 

[Jono.ful]

@ op: Any reason you're only considering Icon? Lots of other options out there that will give you more bang for your buck. Specifically, I'd look for a stainless steel ptfe lined uniballs and heim bearings over the carbon steel ones icon uses. Considering they bill themselves as a high end parts manufacturer and charge a premium price, it's drives me nuts that they use cheaper components

 

[Jeremy556]

Yes reviving an old thread, but the this last message intrigued me. Why is it not recommended for a DD? I was just about to pull the trigger on a Dirt King w/ Heims and this quote gave me pause. Intended use, DD w/ 70 miles/day and heavy trail and mountain use on weekends and occasional dirt play and whoops jumps (very rarely). Holy Jim is about the only trail I won't touch... yet

They wear out quickly and become noisy

 

[wfo9]

Yes reviving an old thread, but the this last message intrigued me. Why is it not recommended for a DD? I was just about to pull the trigger on a Dirt King w/ Heims and this quote gave me pause. Intended use, DD w/ 70 miles/day and heavy trail and mountain use on weekends and occasional dirt play and whoops jumps (very rarely). Holy Jim is about the only trail I won't touch... yet

I know two people with heims on daily drivers and I'm about to install them with my long travel TC.

Rockmen has boots and tool for them that seems to work great....

One set has been on for over a year with 0 issues or noises.

The benefit is 0 deflection and the ability to adjust camber and really dial in the alignment if you are willing to spend the time pulling them off and adjusting....

Clearly not for everyone.... I plan to run the boots.

 

[sandcrawler]

@ op: Any reason you're only considering Icon? Lots of other options out there that will give you more bang for your buck. Specifically, I'd look for a stainless steel ptfe lined uniballs and heim bearings over the carbon steel ones icon uses. Considering they bill themselves as a high end parts manufacturer and charge a premium price, it's drives me nuts that they use cheaper components

if i'm not mistaken, that may have been true in the past but ICON's upper control arms now have PTFE-lined stainless steel uniballs.

fwiw, i'm with [MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] re: avoiding heim joints on my daily driver; particularly living in a marine/maritime environment as i do.

 

[Simpleman74]

@ op: Any reason you're only considering Icon?

If he is still considering UCAs after 2 years then he needs to sell his rig LOL

 

[ECUDrummer]

Bling-bling.

but yes, what [MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION] said.

 

[harkco]

I ended up going with the billet UCAs. They have about 40,000 miles on them so far with zero issues (knock on wood).

Also, FWIW, it also looks like Icon has a new billet UCA kit...

2003-UP Toyota 4Runner Delta Joint Billet Upper Control Arm Kit

 

[honda250xtitan]

I know two people with heims on daily drivers and I'm about to install them with my long travel TC.

Rockmen has boots and tool for them that seems to work great....

One set has been on for over a year with 0 issues or noises.

The benefit is 0 deflection and the ability to adjust camber and really dial in the alignment if you are willing to spend the time pulling them off and adjusting....

Clearly not for everyone.... I plan to run the boots.

in a dry climate, mine have held up great on my daily driver titan. been running them for 5 years and have rebuilt them 2x fully. replaced the 1" uniballs 1 extra time. that time period includes 2 winters in chicago. which MURDERED the uniballs quickly. the heims were fine. when they go bad they make noise but quality heims last quite a while for people who don't use them on their race truck in the baja 1000 lol

 

[Jetboy]

FWIW - the UCA sees very little loading. Even tubular is probably overkill. I'm only aware of one ever having been broken and that was a stock arm on a LC200 with 37" tires racing in the Baja 1000. And even then it was after quite a few races. It failed at the bushing where it cracked and tore out.

I have had a tubular one fail - but it was the misalignment spacers that were improperly made from China off EBAY that failed on a tubular one. It broke in the home depot parking lot.

The thin stamped steel arms are plenty strong - and far lighter than the aftermarket arms. Ideally if one of the aftermarket replacement arms could be made that would correct the caster - that would be my ideal UCA. And they only cost about $50 ea.

 

[Jono.ful]

If he is still considering UCAs after 2 years then he needs to sell his rig LOL

Yep, I definitely didn't notice the date of the original post

if i'm not mistaken, that may have been true in the past but ICON's upper control arms now have PTFE-lined stainless steel uniballs.

You may be correct, although it doesn't specifically say that the uniball is stainless, only the taper pin. They do now list ptfe liners at least. More research required.

 

[sandcrawler]

You may be correct, although it doesn't specifically say that the uniball is stainless, only the taper pin. They do now list ptfe liners at least. More research required.

it's weird: they call out the stainless uniball in the description for their tubular UCA cover caps.

it's a peculiar one for a company that's not infrequently maligned for being "heavy on the marketing".