Who can figure out the origins of these UCA's? Chinesium

Undoubtedly Chinesium, with the Chinese Communist Party Red color, but does that make them bad? they appear to be direct knockoff of the Icon Billet, down to the shape, cap and Delta joint.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/364445855896?fits=Year%3A2017%7CEngine+-+Liter_Display%3A3.5L%7CTrim%3ATRD+Sport+Extended+Cab+Pickup+4-Door%7CModel%3ATacoma%7CMake%3AToyota%7CSubmodel%3ATRD+Sport%7CEngine%3A3.5L+3456CC+V6+GAS+DOHC+Naturally+Aspirated%7CSubmodel%3ATRD+Sport%7CEngine%3A3.5L+3456CC+V6+GAS+DOHC+Naturally+Aspirated

 

Is it worth the savings to have them fail and cause an accident?

 

can’t be worse than rough country? At least the color is on point.

 

There are a few billet aluminum UCA's with heim frame connections, but you're right, it appears to most closely copy Icon.

https://www.iconvehicledynamics.com/accessory/14635/icon-accessories-05-up-tacoma-billet-uca-dj-kit/

But there's also:

https://www.kibbetech.com/collectio...e-4wd-05-19-upper-arms?variant=18896169762873

https://camburg.com/shop/kinetik/up...05-kinetik-billet-uniball-upper-control-arms/

I personally wouldn't trust the heims or the ball joint on those eBay UCA's. They probably wouldn't fail catastrophically, but I bet they'd wear out in short order and you'd spend the initial savings on replacement parts.

Also, that red anodizing will probably turn pink and wear off quickly.

Put it this way... there's a reason you're paying significantly less...

 

Really puts the sus and suspense in suspension.




Found a bunch of similar stuff on Alibaba

 

A copied design means the geometry would be fine. And likely the machined aluminum isn't the worst thing in the world. Likely the corners/price was cut with the moving components. Instead of actual rod ends, they have a bushing and sleeve. Bet that polyurethane(ish) bushing deteriorates in less than a year and you can't get replacements. And instead of a heim at the end, they have a ball joint. And probably the lowest of low end ball joints. Assuming the frame side of the arms don't use a funky size thread, you could easily get some nice rod ends, and presumably find a decent replacement ball joint once you had the arms to take measurements. You'd probably still come in under the price of icons that way, but not by much, so you might as well get the good stuff without the hassle at that point.

 

https://www.heimjoints.net/collections/3-4-750-heims

 

I am a gambler, so the safety factor is worth a roll.. having my UCA's turn pink may be a bridge too far. There is the heim joint store... https://www.heimjoints.net/collections/3-4-750-heims

 

Or, it could be the safe exact thing from the same factory, built after hours with different labels.

 

That is my thinking "Hey we ran the 5000 that Icon ordered and we have all this extra material and time.....?"

 

Except that Icon doesn't use bushings and ball joints. Which supports what i initially said......aluminum arm is likely fine. Moving parts are very different.

 

Wise man say:
"there's no honor among thieves"

 

The uniball design would have me steering clear of these with unknown origin.

 

They look like they're the same UCA's from a company called thrashedoffroad who sells them for nearly double, that ebay seller is probably the manufacturer selling direct lol but I've seen good things about them, however the ball joints look a little different in the pictures.

 

Chinese companies make a lot of good stuff. No reason these aren’t a great product for a good price. My made-in-USA SPC arms are on their third set of ball joints in three years. Total crap quality. Might have been better with made-in-China myself.

 

Ouffff. it seems to be a common trend with spc’s.