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Aftermarket Upper control arm question. Please advise

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by bodhi armor, Nov 27, 2016.

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  1. Nov 27, 2016 at 7:05 PM
    #21
    Adventurer_Alex

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    Adventurer_Alex Generic mall crawler

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    Both of these questions have been beaten to death before, no reason to make even more new threads about it. Searching is the best way to find answers ;)
     
    Adventurer_Alex, Nov 27, 2016
    #21
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  2. Nov 27, 2016 at 7:31 PM
    #22
    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    JBA doesn't make them for first gens unfortunately, I don't think so anyway
     
    eon_blue, Nov 27, 2016
    #22
  3. Nov 27, 2016 at 7:31 PM
    #23
    Delta00

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    Delta00 ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

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    Delta00, Nov 27, 2016
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  4. Nov 27, 2016 at 10:17 PM
    #24
    Digiratus

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    Digiratus Adventurer

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    Ah, yeah, you might be right.

    The reason for doing aftermarket UCAs is two-fold. One reason is for offroad, the other reason is for driveability on pavement.

    As mentioned by others, their design allows the arm to droop further before there is interference with the coil spring. This allows you to run shocks with extended travel. This is advantageous on high flex situations when off pavement. It helps to keep from lifting a front tire because when you do, you lose traction in the front altogether.

    Also mentioned previously, aftermarket UCAs typically will dial in 2* of positive caster. This helps with wheel alignment issues caused by lifts and the associated changes in suspension geometry. The lack of caster after lifting will show up in how the truck steers, especially at higher speed. These trucks really need more that 2* of caster so they are not affected by road imperfections and side winds. Without an aftermarket arm, your alignment tech will be lucky to attain 1* of positive caster. And only if the LCA cam bolts are free and functioning correctly.
     
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    Digiratus, Nov 27, 2016
    #24
  5. Nov 28, 2016 at 8:41 AM
    #25
    bodhi armor

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    bodhi armor [OP] 02’ Dbl Cab- "The Luck Dragon"

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    ^^ thanks for the respose.
    Im going to use aftermarket uca's to correct alignment issues, rid my truck of highway sway, & improve driveability overall.
    Im now trying to decide wether or not i need uniball joints or standard ball joints.
    If the uniball joints are only really used for extended travel and dont provide additional pavement handling, would i be better off using a less expensive uca w/ standard ball joints that require less maintainance?

    Also, you guys keep saying uniballs need to stay clean. Is that as simple as blowing them off at the car wash occasionaly? Or is it more involved?

    I dont mind something that requires frequent minor cleaning but im not sure i want something that will require constant attention.
     
    bodhi armor, Nov 28, 2016
    #25
  6. Nov 28, 2016 at 8:44 AM
    #26
    Delta00

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    Delta00 ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

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    I don't know about "cleaned" but they need to stay lubricated. I use, and a lot of other people use, dry triflow for the uniball and they are always quiet.
     
    Delta00, Nov 28, 2016
    #26
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  7. Nov 28, 2016 at 9:15 AM
    #27
    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    That's why I ended up going with the SPC Light Racing UCAs, I have no need for extra travel with my suspension setup and the SPC's were more within my price range while still allowing me to obtain better alignment numbers. Plus, they're easy to maintain...just put a pump or two of grease in them every oil change or so (the instructions say to put 1-2 pumps in after every off-roading trip but when I do that, the boots get overfilled with grease so I just make it a point to do it every oil change).

    Uniballs are nice and I would have gone that route if I had the extra $300 or so to spend without worrying about it, but the SPC's get the job done. Plus there was a good deal on a groupbuy for them last month lol.
     
    eon_blue, Nov 28, 2016
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  8. Nov 28, 2016 at 9:22 AM
    #28
    Delta00

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    Delta00 ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

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    I got my built right uniball uppers for $470, uniball aren't always $300 more expensive
     
    Delta00, Nov 28, 2016
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  9. Nov 28, 2016 at 9:27 AM
    #29
    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    I'll admit I hadn't even heard of them when I was looking, if I had then I may very well have gone that route. They look good
     
    eon_blue, Nov 28, 2016
    #29
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  10. Nov 28, 2016 at 9:36 AM
    #30
    quetzal

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    quetzal Well-Known Member

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    I have AllPro uniball ucas and absolutely love them. I too was going to go the SPC route but @ $520 shipped for the APs I'm glad I waited for the better deal.
     
    quetzal, Nov 28, 2016
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  11. Nov 28, 2016 at 9:44 AM
    #31
    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    I got the SPCs for about $430 brand new on the groupbuy but if I was looking at them for full price I'd probably go the AllPro or Built Right route
     
    eon_blue, Nov 28, 2016
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  12. Nov 28, 2016 at 11:05 AM
    #32
    beachingtaco

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    beachingtaco "We have assumed control"

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    beachingtaco, Nov 28, 2016
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  13. Nov 28, 2016 at 7:53 PM
    #33
    bodhi armor

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    bodhi armor [OP] 02’ Dbl Cab- "The Luck Dragon"

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    I assume dry triflow is the ball joint lubricant?
    Quiet is of paramount importance to me. I almost rules uniballs out because they make noise, so that is a tremendous tip. Thank you!
     
    bodhi armor, Nov 28, 2016
    #33
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  14. Nov 28, 2016 at 7:57 PM
    #34
    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Okayest Member

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    Triflow lube is a lubricant you can buy at any hardware store
     
    eon_blue, Nov 28, 2016
    #34
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  15. Nov 28, 2016 at 7:59 PM
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    Glueman

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    Glueman Yersinia pestis

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    Glueman, Nov 28, 2016
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  16. Nov 28, 2016 at 8:13 PM
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    3rYODA

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    3rYODA Don’t sell to me, I don’t pay.

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    3rYODA, Nov 28, 2016
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  17. Nov 28, 2016 at 9:33 PM
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    Delta00

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    Delta00 ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

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    Delta00, Nov 28, 2016
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  18. Nov 28, 2016 at 10:18 PM
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    Glueman

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    Glueman Yersinia pestis

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    Glueman, Nov 28, 2016
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  19. Nov 29, 2016 at 9:52 AM
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    gottaToy

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    gottaToy Well-Known Member

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    You are NOT suppose to lube uniballs according to manufacturers and FK Bearing. That is some shit TW and a few misinfirmed vendors made up. Just think about it, it is completely exposed on the bottom, so what the hell is a couple of drops of "dry lube" really doing, other than collecting dirt and causing the teflon to break down? Just clean the mud and crap off them with water every once in a while. And for those who think dry lube doesn't collect dirt, put a dab on your hood and drive around and see how much dust it collects.
    Most of the noise comes from improper install procedures, or from the poly bushings, not the uniball.
    Just go with a balljoint UCA's if you aren't offroading much.
     
    gottaToy, Nov 29, 2016
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  20. Nov 29, 2016 at 10:16 AM
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    04yota

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    Any idea how the uniballs perform in the winter? can the snow and salt make them squeal?
     
    04yota, Nov 29, 2016
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