3" and no UCA's

That's what I'm at right now. Not my favorite, but it'll do since this isnt my DD

 

I just returned home from the trip, 75% of it was in twisty mountain roads and the return trip I was loaded with about 700# of rock for landscaping. The truck nearly drove itself,tracked great and held a solid line with no "twitchy feeling" both ways.

And to @jmaak that said "lmao alignment tech".

I grew up around cars and was doing the tuneups on my fathers vehicles at 10yo back in the day when you had to actually set the dwell and adjust the carb. Through high school my best friend and I were working on stock cars, I graduated from Northern Montana college in 1986 with an associates in Auto tech and cut my teeth professionally on all the fucked up emissions shit in the early/mid 80's and got my ASE Master certification in 1992. I also did a couple seasons running modified in NHRA bracket drags. Most of the guys in the area that race SCCA bring their cars in to me to set them up......So I would say I know a few fucking things about cars.

So go ahead and tell yourself whatever you want to justify spending the $$$ on UCA's to be in the cool crowd.

 

Glad you're happy with it

 

what he said wasnt made up though. its well known since the early 1st gen days that adding extra castor while lifted WILL improve driveability. I know first hand the difference it can make. is the difference worth $500-700? probably not. there are thousands of taco owners at 3" on stock ucas happily driving around. Id only do ucas to allow an ext travel coilover personally

 

Cool story. Mine's in the green here.

 

I'm willing to say that you'd realize UCAs aren't just parts people spend money on if you put a set on your truck. It's hard to realize what you're missing until you've seen both sides of the situation.

 

He's a Master ASE stock/drag car mechanic. We know nothing.

Oh and an alignment tech.

We're graced to have him in our presence. You may want to bend the knee.

 

i thought uca is for caster and clearance so it doesnt hit your springs when your at full droop if your lifted

 

** Never mind, early morning brain cramp.

 

That is incorrect. The car will pull to the side with the least amount of caster.


edit for video link - https://youtu.be/lgZ8PbZ1na0?t=57s

 

....I spent the money on new UCA's on my last taco and I will on this one when I lift it as well.to each there own but it's not a huge amount of money for the numbers and piece of mind and clearance but that's my 2 cents lol

 

Same here. You can get away without them but it is definitely not ideal for driving quality and tire wear.

 

LT knowledge!

 

That settles it for me. Caster is a meaningless measurement. I'm not even sure why they put it on your alignment sheets?

 

I guess you missed my point. After 30+ years in the business I have grown sick of the absolute disrespect people have for my profession and I took offense at his comment so set the record straight.
I got news for you guys,the public is going to be screwed in a few years as guys like me say fuck it and retire. The newer generation of kids are not going into the trades and we are already starting to feel it even at the entry level positions. We find it hard to find people that have the mechanical aptitude and the work ethic to even show up regularly.

I see you are a paramedic,noble profession,much respect I have to ask you though,how much did you pay a guy like me that you obviously have no respect for to do a job you couldn't do....

Point of my post was that you can get a "3 lift without UCA's and get an acceptable alignment as long as you are not trying to stuff in 35's,long travel suspension's ect.

 

Caster does not wear tires

 

For the more inclined UCA gurus...would 3 inches of lift be pushing the limits of stock UCAs from a structural standpoint? I know I have seen stock UCAs fail in the past where the spindle bolts have sheared off, but wasn't sure if a case like this might induce that.

 

If your caster is pulling one way, and you have to counter that, yes you are wearing tires.

 

Can you come give my truck a front end alignment before you retire?

Seems to be my last option on earth...​

 

I don't think structurally wise you will have problems. It is more of an alignment and drive quality issue than structural problems.