Icon Lower Control Arm for 2nd Gens - Design Flaw?

I purchased some new LCAs from Icon Vehicle Dynamics along with their billet UCAs and struts. @Icon_Adrian

Anyone else here running ICON's LCAs on the 2nd gen Tacos? Any thoughts on if this is an installation error or a design flaw?

The installation instructions from Icon are not very helpful due to lack of sufficient images and details instructions. There's no installation video out there that I know of either.

Upon installation I noticed that where the bump stop has been welded into the icon LCA is grinding into the back of the trucks wheel mount (sorry if that's not the right term) and the cupped "shoe" on the trucks's LCA bracket is grinding into the Icon LCA where the bump stop is supposed to be.

Attached are photos of the OEM LCA and where the bump stop is on it, and the ICON LCAs currently installed.

I've sent a few messages to Icon over the past 2 weeks and still haven't received a reply.

Icon LCAs (SKU 54300):
https://www.iconvehicledynamics.com/accessory/25229/icon-accessories-icon-2005-2023-toyota-tacoma-front-lower-control-arm-kit/

Instructions:
https://images.iconfigurators.app/pdf/I54300_REVA_3079.pdf

 

The hemispherical piece on the bottom of the knuckle is the steering stop. When that engages the LCA it can make a terrible squeaking sound. Strangely enough it looks like the striking pad on the LCA that is designed to line up with the steering stop is mounted on the back (rear facing) of the LCA instead of the front.
Some people remove the steering stops from the knuckle, I think this is somewhat common for long travel setups.

 

no response for 2 weeks on $2k control arms
Guess that crosses those off the list

 

Yes, it's starting to look more and more like a design flaw to me. I'm still on the IFS setup and not comfortable with removing the steering stops...yet. The engineering team at Toyota obviously put more thought into it than the design/fab team at Icon, not to mention the support at Icon has gone AWOL at this point.

 

The instructions are a bit vague although it does say

"7. Remove the lower ball joint bracket from the factory ball joint using a ball joint separator and 24mm. Note the orientation of the steering stop to the arm (Front/Back). [FIGURE 5"

Then in step 8, it shows the steering stop bracket installed in normal orientation.

OE arms have steering stop pad on front side of arm. Icon arms, the steering stop pad is on the back side. You could try swapping the brackets left/right and see if the stops line up better. I'm pretty sure the only difference in left and right brackets is where the pad is located.

Also, What is the part in figure 5?

 

Maybe try calling their tech support. @Icon_Adrian might have some input.

 

I'm not sure it's a good idea to swap the brackets left/right since that completely changes the angle of the LCA, not to mention that it would violate the warranty.

Besides, look at the image of the truck with the Icon LCAs on their website...it shows it installed with the steering stop pad on the rear side. That's why I'm really trying to figure out if this is a design flaw or an installation error since the instructions leave much to be said for.

I believe that's the ball joint separator in Figure 5, a tool that's recommended to be used during the installation process.

 

Done that several times. It's just a recording and left a message. I've mentioned @Icon_Adrian in the first post as well.

 

I don’t think even Icon could have fucked up this bad. Not sure why they’ve done it this way, but at first look it seems you’re supposed to swap the brackets that go on the bottom of the knuckle left to right so that they will line up with the stop tabs on the Icon arms.

 

Your suggestion to swap the brackets makes the most sense; however, figure 8 in the installation instructions show the brackets in their original position, and there's no mention of swapping the brackets.

Suggests to me that either the design is wrong or the instructions are wrong.

 

I have Camburg stock length LCAs and they have a horizontal strike pad built in to the arm to contact the steering stops. Here’s a couple pics showing them in action.

 

Now that's how I would expect it to look like.

 

The arms are side specific (2) different part numbers, I cannot see icon making that big of an oversight. Are you sure you have the correct arms on the correct sides?

If those tabs are both pointed toward the rear of the vehicle then I would have to say they are on the wrong sides

 

I'm pretty sure they're on the correct side, unless Icon themselves tell me that they're wrong. The images in the truck with them on the Icon product page shows it the same way, and so do the installation instructions. The most plausible theory here is that the brackets are supposed to be reversed; however, that's not in the instructions and figure 8 in the instructions does not show the brackets being reversed.

In addition the product page mentions "relocated steering stops"...but there's no mention of it in the instructions or the images in the instructions.

I'm waiting for an official reply from Icon and will keep this thread updated.

 

Maybe you got 2 of the wrong arms. Hopefully Icon responds soon. They aren't known for responding quickly

My Total Chaos LCAs also have the steering stops, and I didnt need to modify anything, nor does anything rub

 

The hydraulic bump stops that I got from icon were mis marked left and right, they clearly would not fit on the wrong sides though.

 

Cut them off the rear and weld them onto the front. At this point that seems the easiest solution.

 

Strange - as shown above, most LCAs have that strike pad in the front to work with the steering stops. It looks like Icon may have had the idea to move that strike pad to the back ... maybe negating the need for the LBJ steering stops - or using both as a limiter but not really accounting for the scratching away you'll continue to get ... and you're seeing both contact? I tried zooming into icon's pics on their site and I'm not 100% certain but it sure looks like they removed their steering stops --- so maybe on their truck it only hits the back strike pad? Strange design and I'm watching to hear Icon's thoughts on the design and recommended next steps.



FWIW I have the BTF LCAs that push the LBJ forward (great for 35s). I have a similar issue with the stops slowly grinding into the LCA. I could reshape the steering stops or remove them, because it did slightly limit steering, but I just add a layer of grease to the steering stops and put a few good tacks where it's rubbing every summer and it's good. Although in my case I talked to BTF and that portion of the LCA is a solid one piece block versus boxed so it is more of a scratch. Not sure about these?

 

So I just spoke with my contact over at Icon. They are now aware of this thread and the concerns. They will be chiming in shortly

 

That's great. Thank you for doing that. I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to say.