ICON UCAs/Donahoe Racing Refurbishment

Hey everyone. New to the forums. Excited to finally have an excuse to post. Usually I kind of just ghost my way around to read what some of you crazy, talented, or crazy and talented folks are up to.

I won’t bore you with what my vehicle has or doesn’t have. Nothing original you all haven’t seen before, but I ensure it is tasteful thus far thanks to many of you. (Genuinely, thank you haha)


So my latest debacle is this:
Today I secured a hell of a deal. $75 for a set of the ICON Billet UCAs with the full front and rear sets from Donahoe Racing. (Pics attached later in post) A fella nearby ditched them from his FJ and wanted them gone rather than wanting a profit. I know the UCAs are certainly salvageable and I know it will all take some effort and additional cash to capitalize on this bargain. I just have a few questions.

1. The UCAs definitely need new bushings and a new ball joint. No doubt in my mind. What else are some concerns I need to look out for with these cool-cats?
2. This Donahoe Racing set. I understand that they were purchased out by ICON. That’s pretty cool and all but is it still possible for me to get these serviced appropriately? If so, who’s a reputable source? I’m kind of lost thus far looking into it. I would love to capitalize on this opportunity to give my vehicle a decent lift. God only knows how many miles are on this set. More pics below.
   
3. Final questions in this post. As you might have seen from these pics immediately above, there’s a leak. Still salvageable for this defunct brand? I know there is a hell of a lot more that some experts (possibly some of you) would like to see before they make final verdict. But let’s say… If salvageable, what financial damages am I about to expect?

Thank you to anyone who sends a reply. Just happy to be making my larger purchases and advancements towards my vehicle’s progression.

 

Damn did you get a deal. Nice job. This is just me, I’d take them to an off road shop and see if they could be rebuilt and have them swap the ball joint. Damn did you get a deal.

 

Without reading your whole post.

I have icon billet. It was a little challenging getting my resevoir line to not hit on full droop.

 

Yeah, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I found the gentleman on marketplace selling it all for $100. I messaged asking for just the UCAs and he hit me back with a how “How about you take it all for $75?”

Met with him today. Got all that and when he found out about my next big journey (about a 6000mi one-way ordeal) he threw in the tire rack that some FJ folk put over the tire. The guy said “Either it’ll be useful for you or you can flip it for profit so that it was useful.”

Hard to believe the whole interaction, I know. Thank god for FB Marketplace and kind people.

 

Noted. I’m not quite THAT cool yet but I aspire to be one day. I will remember this whenever I get there though, so thank you.

 

Man, the irony of this in a Donahoe/Ikon thread!

 

After learning about what happened with Donahoe Racing, I can see what you mean. The brand was certainly before my time, so when the seller told me about the brand’s founder, I was surprised.

 

1. The exposed heim joints will require spraying with teflon lube after every month and after every wheeling trip or they will squeak like crazy. Even with intensive upkeep they will probably wear out in a year or so and require replacement again. Race truck parts, race truck maintenance. Ironically these chineseium copies will last longer, with sealed flex joint inner pivots and off-the-shelf replaceable ball joints:
   $279 BST BSSP Pair Front Upper Control Arms for 2003-2022 Toyota 4Runner FJ Cruiser 2-4" Lift Kit CNC 6061 Forged Billet Aluminum Lifted Suspension UCA for 2003-2016 Lexus GX460 GX470
   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGLZLHJZ/
2. The shocks might be rebuildable with current Icon parts. Better to email Icon and ask directly. They may have had design changes that render their current rebuild kits incompatible, in which case you're SOL.
3. Rebuild costs can be as much as half the cost of new shocks depending on what the shop finds. The rear shocks look like 2.0" dia. IFP? They won't be economical to rebuild, because new ones are under $200 apiece:
   $190 ICON 1-3" Lift, Rear, 2.0 VS Shock, Compatible with 2007-14 Toyota FJ/03-Up 4Runner, 56505
   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F6E7WNI They're pretty nice in my experience:
   
   

 

Reach out to John Arriola at Keen Shockworks about those shocks. He can tell you if they’re salvageable/rebuildable at the this point in time. He does great work at an affordable price and you can send them in for a quick turnaround if parts are available.

UCAs should be rebuildable with an Icon parts kit. I’d call Icon and check to see if any of the size/specs have changed since they’re older UCAs. FK probably has heims that will fit if Icon doesn’t.

 

1. Noted. I think after some research that just the UCAs are salvageable for my desired application. It will be some effort but I think it is greatly worth the effort.

2. They unfortunately seem to match up one to one with ICONs 2.5 coilovers that are interchangeable for only 07-10 FJs, and 4th Gen 4Runners. Why that is, I’m not too sure yet b/c I would have thought that the front ends for 4th and 5th gens were fairly similar and close in geometry? I’m not calling quits on that just yet though.

3. Yes! Great eye, man. I like your thought process too. That’s more than likely my next move.

Thank you! I’ll see what I can get for some answers from him.

I’ll also get back to this thread for what I find out about the UCAs rebuild process. Excited to get this opportunity.

 

The lower shock bolt clevis spacing is wider on 5th gen, that's it. For coilovers it just means either longer reducer bushings or an added washer is used on the lower bearing. The lower bearing and reducer bushings are wear parts and typically replaced during a rebuild, so that's no loss.

I was more referring to internal design changes e.g. hypothetically new seals don't fit old design piston and now you need new piston and new shaft, etc. If 50% of the parts in the shock need to be replaced, then the rebuild may become uneconomical.

 

Just to make sure I understand correctly, it’s still a viable option and I would just need to address the wider clevis spacing with the aforementioned options to utilize these?
Seemingly rudimentary question probably but I’m a bit under-informed on this currently.

 

^That's correct.

 

You’re awesome, thank you.

I’ll update this thread as I proceed with my findings/work.
Thanks to everyone who helped clarify all of this. It is greatly appreciated.