upper control arm, alignment problem

How is the upper control arm suppose to sit? The first pic is the driver side, second is passenger side.

 

Are you having trouble getting the ball joint shaft in to the control arm? If so, loosen the UCA mounting bolts just enough to get the UCA to move freely, then attach the BJ to the UCA.Do this for both sides, then, once the truck is back on all 4 tires on the ground, roll the truck a foot forward, then a foot backward, then re tighten the UCA mounting bolts to spec. I know 2nd gen Tacomas are 85ftlbs, but I'm not 100% what 1st gen Tacomas are. Good luck

 

whenever I hit the brakes its pulsing and drifting to the right. Toyota dealership said I had a bent driver side knuckle but that wasnt even the side of the wreck. I replaced it and its still doing the same thing.

 

The first pic, the UCA looks all bent up, but that could just be the pic. Try comparing each side to see if there is any differences. Sounds more like a bad caliper on the driver side, pulsating, and pulling to the right. Check your brake pads for uneven wear, leaking brakes, damage. Dealer ship guys are hit n miss, find someone you know, that knows whats up.

 

Yours look a little mangled to me. What did you hit?

Edit: Sorry didn't see you had a first gen... my question still stands, bending the UCA and potentially the spindle would mess with the caster, could maybe cause an issue braking.

 

Have you checked your spindles? if your UCAs are bent, the spindles might not be so great off either.... also shocks and springs too.