UCA or no UCA, that is the Question?!?!

Ok ok ok....do I neeeeed new UCAs as soon as I put a 3in lift on? Or can it wait until I have the "proper" funds to put them. Already spending $1700 on rims and tires and $1000 on the lift. Just want to know if the UCAs can wait....or if it's a necessity as soon as I lift it.

13 Taco TRD v6 DBcab
Upgrades coming...

3in suspension lift
33in KO2s

 

from what I found researching the forums is... its recommended. for anything over 2.5".

Im in the same boat as you, I bought my icon stage 2, scs rims, and tires... just debating over the UCA... since im taking the susp. off already I might as well save a little more for the UCA and do it all up one time. but thats just my .2

GL!

 

You don't NEED them at all... with a 3" lift you'll have a hard time getting a decent caster number on your alignment. you'll notice some drifting and mild dumpster without the UCAs due to a low caster number . You also might have an issue with over extending the pivot point in the stock UCA on your shock down travel. But, again you don't NEED them. you'll be able to drive just fine with mild annoyances.

Its highly recommended to get new ones at 3" to get the desired alignment numbers as far as caster goes. It will feel and drive better with them.



***Sometimes stock UCAs can rub with tires with a high offset depending on tire choice. you might need wheel spacers or a lower offset wheel. Also, bigger diameter front coilovers can contact the stock UCAs during max down travel.

 

If you plan to do UCA's now or in the future... it's cheaper to do them now. Unless you're doing all the labor for install yourself.

Upgraded UCA's are a really good idea with a 3" lift. If they're doing the springs/shocks and UCA's all at once you don't add much labor to the mix. Do them later and now it costs all over again.

My $0.02.

 

I'm sniffing what y'all are shitten, that's what I thought...don't need them, but it is highly suggested. Especially if I'm going to be doing them at a latter date anyways. Sounds good to me. Looks like I'm biting the bullet...thx y'all

 

@HeadStrong Off-Road if you haven't already found a vendor to buy all yer schtuff from!

 

If you haven't purchased the suspension kit yet, check out @HeadStrong Off-Road. They do very nice bundles on all sorts of kits for super good prices. free shipping and all.

you'll be able to get some Light Racing UCAs added onto a kit for cheap.

 

Beat me to it

 

Yea already looked at that site. $1200 for the shocks, struts, springs, leafs, and UCAs. Bilstein 5110 set up

 

You mentioned 33" KO2's. Are you doing 285/75/16 or 255/85/16 tires? The 285's will require a Cab Mount Chop so they don't rub the truck (especially when the shocks are compressed). The 255's may still require removal of mud flaps and some plastic trimming. But having the alignment done after lift install (which you must do anyhow) and asking them to give you as much forward caster as possible will help! I think I got mine up to 2.5 or 2.7 to stop the rubbing with my 255/85/16's.

 

Thank you @brendanwebster911

 

Thank you so much @Kyitty

 

If you want to save yours tires you will need new UCAs. I found out the hard way. Still waiting to get my new ones to save my new tires.

 

The shop I ordered the rims from orders a set of 33s and 32s both is to match my new rimes. I can't remember exactly what sizes off the rope of my head. But they did that to see which ones fit better. So far EVERYONE has said 33s will fit. With the removal of the front mud flaps. Sorry I'm a novice to this stuff.

 

33's will fit with a 3" lift. The question is how much trimming is going to be needed. If you never stretch the suspension you might not have to trim once the mud flaps come off. But if you set the suspension through it's paces it'll start rubbing for sure. I went to Moab with my 255/85/16's and had no issues until AFTER I started stretching things out. Then bam, every bump I hit I rubbed the fender liner. Took chunks out of my tread. Forward caster on the alignment helps a bunch.

 

Ok I this is what I'm getting...

LT285/75/16 KO2s -6 offset

 

I haven't heard that one before. I like it. I'll use it during the next meeting at work.

 

Sounds good man, literally just put those on this weekend. They will likely ride a little more stiff than you might be used to with the stock tires.

Coot