UCA Comparison

Hi folks,

First off, my apologies if there is already a thread on this. Didn't see one.

I'm relatively new to lifting. I have a 2013 DCLB TRD Sport. I'm looking at grabbing the ToyTec Ultimate lift. I'm just wondering about upper control arms. What am I looking for in a UCA? The ToyTec lift gives the option of adding Light Racing UCAs, but in cruising some builds, I see people are using Total Chaos, Icon, All Pro and a few others. Now given that I'm not opposed to spending money to get good quality, what should I be looking for?

 

Light Racing/SPC uses an adjustable ball joint and is quite a bit cheaper than most aftermarket UCAs. Its also sealed so there is little to no maintenance.

Total Chaos, All Pro, and Icons tubular UCAs uses a uniball which will give more travel than a regular ball joint, but requires more maintenance and the uniball will need to be replaced when it wears out. They also can get squeaky from what I have read here on TW.
These are also non adjustable unless you want to upgrade to the TC heim joint UCAs, or the $1300 ICON billet aluminum UCAs which also have heim joints and a dustcover on the uniball.

 

Are you doing UCA's for better articulation or primarily for alignment ?

 

At the moment, I will be putting in UCAs mainly for alignment. But I might move to an LT setup down the road too.

 

Then save your money and go with the LR. You cant use the same arms for LT anyway.

 

The uniball will give a bit more articulation for offroad. Other than that they are more expensive, need more maintenance & less adjustable as has been stated....

 

x2. If you're going LT, then you'll be replacing both lower and upper control arms anyways.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll grab the LR UCAs for now! The ToyTec kit will mark the official start of my build

 

OTOH, any of those aftermarket arms, even used will sell pretty quick here on TW, for not a whole lot less than you bought it for. TC seems to be most desirable/common.

 

Does anyone know the differences in the 2013 stock UCA's vs prior? They seem to be a ball joint. Are you still able to gain some travel with aftermarket UCA's?