What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

There's a lot of debate on uniballs vs ball joint UCAs...so this is just my opinion. I think ball joint UCAs are the way to go for most, like SPCs or JBA.

Uniballs are stronger but generally require more maintenance and tend to make a lot more noise if not maintained well. Ball joint UCAs are plenty strong as well, I've put my SPCs through the ringer and have had no issues with them in 3 years. But, uniballs are stronger and meant for trucks that really do some heavy and hard wheeling/go fast offroading.

In your case I think SPCs or JBAs will be the right fit.

SPCs have the advantage of being adjustable for camber/caster but in most cases you'll never need to adjust them, seems most people don't. But the option is always there. Ive managed to get 3.5° caster with my SPCs on the normal setting.

JBAs have greasable bushings in the arms which is nice, I do wish my SPCs had that.

JBA and SPC both have greasable ball joints

There's no denying though that brand new uniball UCAs do look really nice installed. But from a practical standpoint for a lot of people I think they're overkill

 

My camburgs have been amazing. No complaints here. But again, i live in cali. A nice rinse after wheeling and some good lube does wonders. Otherwise she sounds like the titanic, as my wife says

 

You really only need new control arms if you’re lifting your truck or you gonna use it. From what I understand.


If I were you, keeping my truck stock height (if I remember right), I’d just refresh the stock arms and roll with it.

But if you’re stuck on them I’d look for something other than uniball.

 

My upper control arms have 615,000 miles.

Figured the joints all need to be replaced and a complete setup would be easier to install and a bit more strength added for the UCA ball joint, with the kings and add a leaf for towing I gained 1” lets say.

 

I would stay with something that used a ball joint over a uniball. If you want the coolest, was it ICON that came out with a ball joint called Delta Joint? . And it could be run in any uniball spot i think. Super beefy and extra range of motion. I think. I better look at it again

 

You really only need new UCAs if you can't get a good alignment with the stock UCAs. Get the alignment first and then see if you need to drop $500.

 

What these guys say.

I went for 5 or so years with stock arms and it worked just fine. I finally switched to jba uppers due to ball joints and bushings going bad. I've been happy with them for about a year now.

 

youd probably benefit from the SPC arms more than anything.. at 1" of lift you dont really need all the castor added by the uniball uppers.

 

Sounds like that will be my choice then

 

You dont need afternarket UCA's with 1.5" of lift.

 

Don't dismiss JBA.

 

?

 

https://jbaoffroad.com/jba-std-high-caster-upper-a-arms-for-toyota-tacoma-1996-2004.html

And I like the idea that you do not need a specialty ball joint if you break down on the trail, go to the nearest parts store and get a GM 3/4 ton truck ball joint to get you home.

 

The jba is nice, but I think he’ll end up with too mucb castor for his list. Maybe not. But I’ve never tried uppers with less than 2” lifts

 

Like everyone else has said, you don’t really need UCAs until your lift starts to affect your alignment, 1” shouldn’t do that.

Really just new bushings and a balljoint if you need it. The stock joints have been plenty strong for 615k, why change it.
Just my opinion

 

Unless you plan on offroading it the stock arms is all you should need and rebuilding them will save you up to $600

 

My truck was bought with one installed and I love it. Coming from a 2nd gen 4Runner the throw is super noticeable. I go back home and drive the 4runner every now and then and it feels so odd compared to my truck. Highly recommend the short shifter

 

Ah I have those too, still haven't addressed it.

This ^ I was lifted on stock arms for years.

 

My upper bushings were no longer vulcanized somewhere around 250 and the upper joint started clunking over bumps around 270... i salute those bushings and balljoint

 

Do you have to extend the brake lines due to the J59 springs?
I just lurking for this quality of springs combine with 5100 all around set to 0 , don't wan't to go high .... prefer to stay as close as possible to stock BUT WITH SMOOTHEST RIDE AS CADILLAC......