UCA Choices Explained

Looking at suspension lifts is difficult enough, comparing front and rear shock types and leafs. Add in UCA options and my head is spinning. Can anyone give details on the pros/cons of the UCA choices out there for the Toyota Tacoma? Selecting a UCA is a large chunk of the cost of doing a suspension lift. I really have no education behind why to select one over another if I were to piece together a lift for my truck, or to even select from an option given from a kit offered by someone like Headstrong Off-Road.

Can anyone explain the differences of these UCA's? Why would one be selected over another?

• SPC Light Racing
• Camburg Uniball
• Camburg Balljoint
• Total Chaos
• Total Chaos Uniball
• Icon Uniball Billet
• Icon Uniball Tubular
• All-Pro
• Fabtech
• Baja Kits
• JBA
• Dirt King

 

It varies depending on what your needs are. Are you looking to just get back into alignment? Or looking for that extra 1" of down travel?

 

We have a UCA as well!

Just like @EatSleepTacos said, it'll come down what your needs are!

By replacing the stock rubber bushings and ball joints with Trophy Truck quality Delrin Bushings and Uniballs, our boxed UCA substantially increases the strength and handling characteristics of your suspension and increases down travel.

 

Good question, and I'm not sure the answer to be honest. My guess would be both. Let's say I'm trying to go with a lift between 2" and 3", from what I read I will need to replace the UCA for a 3" lift, hence the many options for UCA's. Extra down travel would be an added bonus? But at what cost?

 

First decide which kind of UCA do you want; Uniball or ball joint? Here's a basic breakdown of each.

Balljoint: This type of aftermarket UCA uses a sealed balljoint (OEM also uses a sealed balljoint) which is a balljoint which lives in a rubber boot and is sealed from the elements. This type of balljoint requires virtually no maintenance, is silent, and offers more articulation angle than the OEM balljoint. Here's a list of examples of each.

Specialty Parts Company (Light Racing SPC)
JBA Off Road

Uniball: This type of aftermarket UCA uses a uniball in place of the OEM style balljoint. Uniball is typically stronger than aftermarket ball joints, but is exposed to the elements which can lead to more maintenance and noise.

Total Chaos
ICON
Built Right
Camburg
Baja Kits
All Pro

Both styles offer more articulation than OEM and will get your alignment where it needs to be when lifted.

 

Added BajaKits to the lineup.

 

This right here!!

 

Curious to see more opinions. Im leaning JBA at the moment.

 

Thank you for explaining the differences pros/cons of these two options. The uniball/balljoint option is something that is not really explained on product pages.

 

JBA?

 

Its another aftermarket UCA manufacturer.

http://jbaoffroad.com/toyota.html

 

Added them to the list. So many options, and range of prices.

 

Yeah man, I'm sure I'm going to bring on the shit storm by saying this, but really just pick your UCA style and you'll be good to go. Unless you have specific needs you can't go wrong really with any of the list above.

 

Most all of the offerings now days are all good choices.

The main reason for the UCAs is to correct low caster issues that happen from lifting the front suspension. By either being adjustable or by design the new aftermarket UCAs will fix the low caster and bring the alignment numbers back into factory spec for optimal driving and handling.

As a secondary feature most of them also allow for some additional droop in the suspension. Providing a little extra travel.

And third, the majority of the offerings are also and upgrade in strength compared to the stock units.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...sion-mega-thread.364484/page-64#post-13912701

 

Personally if I needed UCAs, I'd go with SPC light racing UCAs. They allow for the most adjustability and they're the cheapest of all the options. I believe they're sub $500.

 

I will definitely make note of that. The range seems to go from $5xx to well above $1,000. It's difficult for me to understand why there is such a huge price difference for UCA's that essentially perform the same job.

 

I generally agree, but those billet Icons are beautiful. One might say, a work of art.

 

Quality of parts, look/design, brand name etc...

Kind of like buying jeans...you can buy Kirkland Jeans and it'll get the job done but people will shell out the extra $$ for Volcom and Quiksilver jeans because they like the brand and it looks better.

Haha!

 

There's a difference between "cheap" and reasonably priced. Majority of people run these and have zero issues meaning they're of good quality.