Thoughts on used suspension components...

All,

What are your opinions on purchasing used suspension components? For example, I found a guy selling a pair of Icon front coil overs on CL. What should I look out for when buying these kinds of items used?

Example: https://cosprings.craigslist.org/pts/d/05-15-toyota-tacoma-icon/6440341584.html

 

There is always a risk on buying used, look for any leaks is an obvious. Ask for a receipt for when he said he had it rebuilt in February.

For me I'd rather buy new unless it was stupid cheap. If I did purchase used coilovers I would have them rebuilt for a piece of mind.

 

I don't think I could have said it better. If you arnt familiar with shock rebuilds, it normally involves shipping the shocks to a shop, material and parts for the rebuild, and then shipping them back. Many ballpark this without ANY major issues with the shocks to run about $300 to simply swap oil and refresh the seals.

In your example of that Icon listing, they are non-reservoir shocks which would make them around $1000 new. Its up to you, but if you have to rebuild them right away then you are already in the hole over buying new. Many times if shocks have significant mileage (20k+) then many guys tend to try to get half of what new is as the buyer will likely have to rebuild them. Good thing to research too is spring rates, but for Icons I would stay around the 600 spring rate instead of 650 as that can be a little stiff without front armor and Icons are already quite stiff with being digressive (stiff at slower speeds, gets soft at higher speeds) suspension.

 

Not bad looking if you ask me. I've seen a lot worse sell for more. lol
Get proof of rebuild and order up a new #611019 hardware kit to freshen up the upper mount bolts.

 

@Coot83 hit the nail on tit. 300$ for both to get rebuilt directly from ICON or any other shop. I did it when I redid my front end. They don’t look in bad shape pice isn’t a steal by any means though.

 

icon sucks !

 

This! some came up today that I will be in the market for in a couple of months. $900 shipped to me with 31k on them. $1299 new. Not worth it IMHO for the ones I was looking at. From the looks of these, I would get proof and mileage. Mileage is a gamble as you can't prove that.

Proof?

 

both end caps exploded off when i was off roadin had to diver home on just on coils from OC WELLS

 

I bought some lightly used UCA’s and the uniballs seem tight with minimal wear. I think if I was buying shocks though I’d just buy new for peace of mind.

 

shock are fine to buy used just get them rebuilt

down south motorsports are in san diego there the best place to go for a rebuild

 

Bought my whole setup used didn’t have any issue with buying 2nd hand visually were in great shape an receipt for rebuild was worth the gamble for me. Buying used is always a risk.

 

Based on what information? I have Icon an totally happy with them are Kings better absolutely Fox for some but all big name coil overs are way better than stock. IMHO ADS are the best but also you pay for them.

 

I got a pair of Icons used on here for like $400. Bought the rebuild kit and oil for less than $100. Watched a few youtube vids and rebuilt them myself (no previous experience rebuilding shocks). 30k miles and 1.5 yrs later and no problems. Like previously mentioned if you aren't mechanically inclined or intimidated by rebuilding yourself, look for a couple hundred to get them rebuilt.

 

Funny how someone expresses an opinion and multiple people ask for proof.

Opinions don't need proof, they are established through experience and education.

Just because you have a good experience with them doesn't mean others do.

I dont have an opinion on Icon but I can say I see more complaint threads for them than any other manufacturer, rust, bad customer service, etc etc

 

Well some of it depends on your perspective and whats important to your personal liking in the truck.

I like a nice cushy feel for on and off-road, because I this I don't care for the harsh Icon feel. As an engineer, the gripes I have with Icon are as follows:

• Top Hat "C" design on their coilovers - notorious failures from weekend wheelers to racers alike, yet fox and king have a solid circular top hat on theirs
• Front coil bucket notching process eliminates middle area for some of their coilshock applications (LT) that take away a lot of the wheel well mid-structure
• As of AUG 17, rear remote resi shocks NEED to have a notched rear shock bucket mount or you WILL void warrantee on your shocks and they might leak prematurely
• Their product tends to rust the quickest over King and FOX (thanks to their new coating)
• Proprietary parts that are not interchangeable with ALL the other shock manufacturers out there, means you need to find an authorized Icon "servicer" for this most of the time

From being a long travel guy, I understand when things have to be adjusted and modified to handle new and aggressive environments. From an OEM perspective that is supposed to be a simple "bolt on" process, I don't understand why Icon feels that you need to modify your vehicle to suit their product with the said above discrepancies. As an engineer, I see that they tried to be innovative and come from a different approach on design. That's great, take the gains where you identify them, but don't keep bringing out the same flawed practices when you have a good amount of statistical data and years of these failures occurring.

There is a reason why King and fox dominate the racing circuit, because their product makes sense from a tested and reliable point of view. Not to say Icon doesn't exist on the Baja scene, but I want to say its somewhere around the realm of 10-12%. From an LT guy perspective, they don't even offer a triple bypass? That being said though, I think Icon's main customer base is the MT folks.

Sorry if this info seems rather forward, but if you arnt in the know about the product on your ride...might not be a bad idea to understand its capabilities in a not-so positive sense.

 

All valid I knew what I was getting into with short comings as you stated. That was a good knowledge drop an your insight rang a good tune with me. Only real reason for my purchase was a total package front to rear for just price of coilovers. I would rather have king or fox any day but I prefer the stiffer ride for DD since swaybar removal for bodyroll. Thanks for schooling us up.

 

No worries man, everyone has reasons for getting what they get. Half of the guys up by me have Icon and many didn't know about these issues until the past year or so after having their stuff for a year or two already. For most, Icon will serve its purpose as long as you stay within your limits as they dictate in their documentation, but they are also known for changing up their literature without notice which is bull when it comes to warrantees down the road. That being said, I hope you didn't take my response as any offense towards you...Im just a low key Icon hater.

 

None taken very insightful fairly thick skinned. Plus I drive like a grandpa.

 

there good shocks for on road /off road they suck! both end caps exploded off when i was off roading, had to diver home on just on coils from OC WELLS

there valving that comes with the socks are not really for off road 20% off road and 80% street

just saying depends on the way you drive to im going about 50-70 mph on dirt
that when i had mid travel TC upper arms with icons

 

I can understand that