Why upgrade UCAs and LCAs over OE?

This maybe a dumb question and I am sure I could do a search on the ol'www but I would like to hear from experience what is the purpose of changing out the OE UCAs and and LCAs for aftermarkets brands. What are the benefits; i.e. performance, handling, ability to add bigger tires, etc.?

 

Durability, able to get more articulation/travel from outer joint (different styles available), repositioned position of the upper and lower outer joint to help improve/increase caster. Going from stock length to longer arms will be needed to increase travel. You don't state vehicle but this is a good place to start for a fabricators point. Gen 2 Tacoma 05 to 15 6-lug – JD Fabrication

 

If you gonna be doing serious off roading, you upgrade to stronger components.
If you lift over 3 inches, you need to upgrade front end to be able to maintain proper alignment angles.
Some upgrade in anticipation of these future events. Others just for looks.

 

youre going to get a dozen different answers because theres a dozen different reasons to get aftermarket LCA, UCA. getting the right lca or uca depends on what your intentions are with the truck. not even going to start a list, just do some reading on google.

 

I swapped to SPC UCA’s in order to fit 285/70/17’s on 8.5” 0-offset wheels. The adjustable ball joint allowed enough caster to be dialed in that the tires clear my cab mounts at full lock. That same ball joint is also a huge improvement over stock, and is greasable so it won’t need to be replaced as soon or as frequently as OEM, and the flex joints where the UCA’s mount to the frame are a better design than OEM. Construction is of forged steel instead of stamped, so overall strength increases significantly as well. They offer more articulation than stock as well, though I’d imagine that is still limited by the stock LCA’s, so those would likely need replacement in order to take full advantage.

 

2013 ACab 4wd 2.7l. Currently running 29" tires, stock coil springs and Bilstein 5100s set at the lowest level. I did run Old Man Emu 2886 springs and Bilsteins set at highest level but experienced very harsh bump steer. I do like the lifted look but more interested in being prepared for all eventualities and excellent handling. If I am understanding correctly, extended control arms will allow the wheel to drop further and stay on the ground if for example I am traversing various angles while serious off roading. Does that sound right?

 

I just ordered my Dirt King ball joint UCA for my truck. Im changing out my oem UCA with 145k miles to the Dirt Kings because with the Labor Day sale they only cost $60 more than replacing with OEM. Makes it easy to justify the performance upgrade I'm getting. Especially getting polyurethane bushings over the factory rubber. I replaced my LCA with OEM but I might change out the LCA bushings with a polyurethane set.

Ball joints are more durable to the elements instead of uniball. I live in New England and uni-ball hate salt roads, and I don't want to have to grease them in the middle of winter. 6112s up front with 1" lift

 

Because Instagram/internet points.

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LCA's only if you are going really hard, otherwise stock are fine. UCA, typically to correct alignment after a lift, but there are other benefits too.

 

Just switched to the new @AccuTune Offroad Uca's from Spc's. They have a strong ball joint, and use heims at the frame side for all the adjustement you will need for bigger tires/alignment spec's you want.

Running stock Lca's still as they are pretty dang stout, but still need to do some poly bushings to help with deflection.

 

Ouch! That looks very painful on the LCAs. Do you have armor on those? I have some armor but have not put them on yet since they are so heavy, and may wait to install until an upgrade when the factories wear out. Got about 134k on them. Plus got an alignment when new tires were installed (about 2k miles ago) and no issues with getting into alignment specs.

Not sure if I understand deflection.

 

No skids, the Lcas dont need them unless you are plowing into a rock at high speeds. The Lcas are "cushioned" so it would take a hard hit to the Lca at full bottom out, to dent one and put it out of use. My old ones had some tiny dings in them but still held just fine.
Deflection is the flex that the bushings give

 

I think upgrading when the OEM wear out makes sense especially considering the cost difference. Salt is not a huge issue here in the lower Midwest but when I lived on the west coast the salt air attacked everything.

 

Does more flexibility provide a less harsh ride?

 

Yes, but in my case I want less flex in everything