Lift kit

If I lift using and OME kit or Bilstien 3 in lift will I need to replace the upper control arms?

 

Depends on what size tires you are planning on running and your wheels. As far as alignment i was able to get it aligned with stock UCAs but later upgraded and it was much better. So, taking tires and wheels out of the equation, yes you can get away with stock but if you can afford to get aftermarket you wont regret it. There is a lot of information already out there about this if you search around the forum.

 

^^ actually I'm pretty sure that's not true.

stock UCA's may prove to be too limited in their range of angles to allow for a good alignment after your lift. It has nothing to do with them rubbing up against the sidewall of a tire. If that were the case people could just run wheel spacers.

If you go for a 3" lift then yes, there's a good possibility you will need aftermarket UCA's. Brand of lift doesn't matter. It's the lift height. 2" fine. 2.5" almost certainly fine. 3" at least 50% need new UCA's.

 

I plan to run stock wheels with 265/75/16 for now.

 

Keep the lift to 2.5 and you will probably be fine.

 

Thanks for input I think I am going to go this route. Rancho Quicklift 2.75" and

$607 SPC 25470 Upper Control Arm for Toyota Tacoma - Pair

SPC 25470 UCA's then just to play it safe.....

 

Like i said he may or may not need new UCAs. As far as wheel spacers go the reason prople dont run them is that with large tires there is a lot of torque put on them if you need to slam on your brakes and they have been known to break. I think most people will say dont run them but if you are dont cheap out and dont get over 1.25".

 

^ agree

 

I still don't think you're right. After installing a lift kit, its not the sidewall being in the way that demands new UCA's. It's the range of motion in the stock UCA. That's my understanding anyway.

New wider tires and/or wheels with different backspacing sometimes make the sidewall rub on the UCA too but that's a separate issue.

 

Oh i agree 100%. just saying that tires rubbing maybe another issue to conisder when determining whether you need new ucas. It probably isnt as important as alignment but since most people lift to fit bigger tires, it can be pretty annoying if you think you are going to get 285s on a wheel with terrible backspacing on stock UCAs.

 

If you want a 3'' lift, yes. I've not heard any other answer to that.

Lets put it this way:
Tires for the Taco cost about $800-$1,000 right? UCA's cost about $400 at the upper end. If you do a lift, then don't maintain a proper alignment you are going to rip through your tire life pretty darn fast. So for the $300-$400 for UCAs I say it's money well spent even if there is some small chance you can squeek by without them.

If you don't want to spend the money then get them, and then if you don't need them after install, send em back.