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Bent A Arms... what options would you recommend for upgrading?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by redlight, Jul 7, 2011.

  1. Jul 7, 2011 at 9:59 AM
    #1
    redlight

    redlight [OP] fresh taco

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    Thornton, CO
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    TRD Cold Air Intake & Cat Back Exhaust 3" Toytec ULK, Kings in the back Dual Battery Lights, electronics, etc...
    SO, after a totally awesome wheelin' experience in Wyo for the 4th weekend... I managed to drop my front passenger wheel into a ravine slightly larger and deeper than my wheel. I was able to hobble around without any problem, and only realized how bad it was when I finally got back onto pavement a couple days later. I drove it to get diagnosed, and was told my Upper Control Arms and lower control arms are both bent and need to be replaced at a cost of about ~$2300.

    Sob story out of the way... I've been looking to make some changes to beef it up since I'm going to be spending a lot of money anyway. I first thought, hey, why not go Long Travel? But then I realized it's just not practical for my daily driver and really for my mountainous terrain. Plus I don't really want to spend the money to do the front and back (yeowch it's pricey!). Same with SAS... just overkill for my needs. I think just beefing up the mid-travel is the right option for me.

    In my research I've only been able to find that Total Chaos makes a stock size aftermarket LCA/uniball assembly. While it looks solid, has the matching UCA and adds a second mounting point for another shock, it seems like I may also have to replace the stock TRD brakes.

    Edit: I should also mention my setup, although it's in my profile...
    '08 DC Shortbed w/Toytec Ultimate

    So my questions are:
    Any other options I should pursue?
    Any other manufactures you're aware of that make a stock size (not LT) LCA?
    Any other upgrades I should make while I'm doing this? (beefing up the steering system, spindle gussets, etc?)
     
  2. Jul 7, 2011 at 10:10 AM
    #2
    NetMonkey

    NetMonkey Well-Known Member

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    2010, 4x4, DC, off-road, shortbed, automatic
    Toytec Ultimate Lift @ 3", Mickey Thompson MTZ's 285/75/16, Moto Metal 955b, rear 2" ALL, Marlin Crawler sliders
    i have a pair of stock UCAs that you can have if you will use them (i dont want to give them to someone who will just turn around and sell them).

    i live in westminster, co. let me know if you are interested.
     
  3. Jul 7, 2011 at 10:17 AM
    #3
    redlight

    redlight [OP] fresh taco

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    @ Oswego - I looked up the Moog ball joint and saw your other post about a few Moog parts... think I ought to put the Moog Tie rod in while I'm at it? I'm not more than an amateur with suspension, so do you think I could have damaged it with the A arms?

    @ NetMonkey - did I meet you at Slapps a few weeks ago at the mod day? I may take you up on your generous offer (much appreciated!) if I decide to just replace w/OEM, although right now I'm thinking I want to put some aftermarket UCAs. We'll see what happens when I tally all this $$$ up!
     
  4. Jul 7, 2011 at 10:56 AM
    #4
    NetMonkey

    NetMonkey Well-Known Member

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    Toytec Ultimate Lift @ 3", Mickey Thompson MTZ's 285/75/16, Moto Metal 955b, rear 2" ALL, Marlin Crawler sliders
    ya, i went to his place for one of the mods days, but it was a few months ago.
     
  5. Jul 7, 2011 at 12:43 PM
    #5
    PreRunnerSeth

    PreRunnerSeth Well-Known Member

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    Get a second opinion. Have a hard time believing that you bent both the upper and lower control arms and didnt bend the shit out of your spindle and or break a ball joint completely off and even managed to drive the truck home. I think whoever diagnosed your truck is trying to rip you off. Have never never heard of someone bending a LCA or even a UCA for that matter.
     
  6. Jul 7, 2011 at 12:47 PM
    #6
    redlight

    redlight [OP] fresh taco

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    She's an '08 but just turned 60k, so might as well. I'll see if I can have some of the local guys take a gander to see if they can tell if the damage was more extensive.

    I still am going to check in on the TC LCA vs brakes issue to see if that really is an option or not, although with your input, those good options I hadn't considered could really save me some money. :thumbsup: Many thanks!
     
  7. Jul 7, 2011 at 12:55 PM
    #7
    redlight

    redlight [OP] fresh taco

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    TRD Cold Air Intake & Cat Back Exhaust 3" Toytec ULK, Kings in the back Dual Battery Lights, electronics, etc...
    X2! Definitely choked on my gum with the quote they have me. I was hoping I could get away with an alignment, but it was pulling hard right. Also, whereas I was occasionally rubbing on the front fender liner before with the lift and ~33" tires, (even with cutting), I'm now rubbing the BACK of it and it's making some strange sounds when turning.

    I'll try to post some pics just to show how hard I hit it, the video of backing out of it, and the result. Probably a learning lesson for those who have so far managed to avoid the gap.
     
  8. Jul 7, 2011 at 3:42 PM
    #8
    redlight

    redlight [OP] fresh taco

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    TRD Cold Air Intake & Cat Back Exhaust 3" Toytec ULK, Kings in the back Dual Battery Lights, electronics, etc...
    Because I know how people like pics... here's the truck in the ravine... couldn't see it at night, on a flat area and on the passenger side of the vehicle. Note to self: get more lights!

    taco_hole_cef729a2e7057b87365eb74bba791294390b7e90.jpg

    With full weight on, steering wheel STRAIGHT!
    Toed_close_1f6d54b8887a2e9be9816a955a1b461bb207add8.jpg

    outside perspective:
    Toed_1cb3ef0f4a71cdc93859242eda6ef6fac1e0917d.jpg
    top view, steering straight:
    P1000016_2e7181aec3448c1df7df8d78f5526cb93b1d5ba0.jpg

    all weight off the wheel to show how it hangs:
    P1000015_76bde14eb3c9a6f97897372df26b8de08f2288f6.jpg

    back view, weight on:
    P1000011_edb707a5ac345ccb9287f236b89acccbdd334a09.jpg

    I also took pics of the suspension with the wheels turned back and forth, and compared it to the non-damaged side. Not to say there isn't something tweaked on the drivers side, but it seems to be straight by my eye.
     
  9. Jul 7, 2011 at 5:21 PM
    #9
    PreRunnerSeth

    PreRunnerSeth Well-Known Member

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    Might be a bent spindle. Thats what Aarons shit look like when he bent his. Well to a much worse degree.
     
  10. Jul 8, 2011 at 8:34 AM
    #10
    redlight

    redlight [OP] fresh taco

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    I do see that the sway bar is visibly bent on that side, which indicates the spindle could also be bent. I didn't get any closeup pics of that to look at more closely, but will try to compare the sides tonight.

    Swaybar_3fcf57f56f80919a06c2b740f61c7fb9dc8cfaa1.jpg
     
  11. Jul 8, 2011 at 9:06 AM
    #11
    04LTtacoma

    04LTtacoma Well-Known Member

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    TC makes LCA gussets?
     
  12. Jul 9, 2011 at 12:37 PM
    #12
    G scott04

    G scott04 ...

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    Take that sway bar off for good!
     
  13. Jul 9, 2011 at 12:59 PM
    #13
    theduck911

    theduck911 Max's Canadian Twin

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    The TC LCA gussets are more of a skid plate they can be either bolted or welded on.

    [​IMG]

    Also, I believe the brakes the refer to that do not work with the TC LCA's are these:

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    Which I thought only came on X-Runner's?!:notsure:
     
  14. Jul 23, 2011 at 12:35 PM
    #14
    redlight

    redlight [OP] fresh taco

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    TRD Cold Air Intake & Cat Back Exhaust 3" Toytec ULK, Kings in the back Dual Battery Lights, electronics, etc...
    Just to follow up for people researching this... I emailed TC and they said:
    Thank you for your inquiry with Total Chaos Fabrication Inc. Our lower uniball conversion was designed using vehicles with the factory brakes installed. If you have upgraded your brakes to the TRD “Big Brake” package or something similar from a different manufacturer that uses thicker than stock rotors you may have some contact between the uniball bolt and the rotor. This can be fixed by grinding the end of the bolt at an angle to match the angle of the rotor at full up travel, we just like to let people know about this before they buy it. Please note, this is for the aftermarket “Big Brake” package, it did not come equipped on a Tacoma TRD truck from the factory.
     
  15. Jul 23, 2011 at 2:18 PM
    #15
    cummins6speed

    cummins6speed Well-Known Member

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    Custom extended travel 2.5" King RR coilovers, 1.25" Camburg uniball uppers, homebuilt tube bumper
    Looks like its time for long travel :D
     
  16. Jul 23, 2011 at 2:41 PM
    #16
    cummins6speed

    cummins6speed Well-Known Member

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    Got a part number for the moog LCA ball joints? I can't find them anywhere
     
  17. Jul 23, 2011 at 2:46 PM
    #17
    G scott04

    G scott04 ...

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    Those TRD Brakes are cool!

    edit nvm they are super lame for 2g
     
  18. Mar 10, 2012 at 7:30 PM
    #18
    Bens99taco

    Bens99taco WV Tacoma man

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    was the control arm bent our the spindle i am having the same problem don't no which one is bent. if you can tell it would help me a lot. i have had this problem for awhile
     
  19. Mar 10, 2012 at 7:55 PM
    #19
    medic2230

    medic2230 @Koditten Pirate Radio member #002

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    It looks like the spindle is touching the coilover near the bottom of the spring.
     
  20. Mar 10, 2012 at 8:06 PM
    #20
    Trifenix

    Trifenix Well-Known Member

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    With those prices might as well lt
     

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