Any info appreciated

anybody using these upper control arms from Freedom off-road? Are they any good? For 2 to 4 in of lift.

 

Do a search in the Suspension forum, I've seen them mentioned there.

 

All right the old thread about these said that they are pretty good for light-duty which is what I need mainly just getting around crappy job sites. I got them for $296 shipped for the pair today on extremeterrain.com after using the promo code.

 

I have these and they are great for the price.Not alot of caster built in but it does allow for proper clearance from the coil bucket when lifting. I would suggest you get the best you can afford though.

 

I'm pretty sure those are the exact ones that I ordered today

 

got the Bilstein 5100 struts and shocks and adjustable sway bar end links along with the UCA. Also going to do my needle bearing replacement while I have it apart with the tgcs bushing replacement.

 

Yeah looks like it. I also have 5100 but paired with Eibach 2.5" pro lift springs and some kyb top hats. I'm happy with it, I can go up another clip once I get my bumper and winch on.

 

I think I am maxed out at the 1.75 for inch and 3/4 notch without getting longer Springs with that is fine with me I have to inch old man emu lift leaves in the back already so that is what I was looking for

 

so I decided while I had my rig apart to install my East Coast gear supply solid bushing replacement for the needle bearing big thanks to gregthegypsy for the loan of the removal tool on a short notice during these times of trial it was fairly easy and went quickly the removal tool made the needle bearing removal super easy was out in about 5 or 6 minutes and while I took my time with the new bearing I had it in and press back in less than 15 minutes I use the long piece of metal pipe as I did that install with the differential in the vehicle to get a solid hit with the hammer outside of the vehicle this is where I bent the inner fender well in to remove the top bolt of my control arm the bolt on the driver side came out fairly easily after I made a small Bend in the inner fender well with only about a quarter inch tear in the bottom of the fender well metal definitely easy to put back in place the passenger side is a little harder I'm waiting on my buddy to come over so that he can bend the fender well in as I tap the Bold out it is tighter on the passenger side than the driver side

 

I have them. They clear the spring. They got my alignment in spec. I'm not wandering all over the road. They seem good. The price was definitely right.

 

also curious is anybody using similar style adjustable sway bar end links? Do you set them for the amount of lift you added? Or do you put everything back together set the truck down and set ride height?

 

so I got this thing all put back together it rides pretty good but I am not happy with how it is sitting so I'm going to take it back apart today and go up the last three quarters of an inch on the struts adjustment

 

Guess three quarters of an inch makes all the difference in the world got it back together just have to torque down my upper control arm through bolts and top off my front differential

 

So in the end I went with OEM replacement coils on Bilstein 5100 set at 2 and 1/2 in. It rides pretty good. The freedom off-road upper control arms seem to be pretty good my alignment seemed good at track straight and the wheel was straight but I'm going to have it aligned anyway. The shocks in the back fault me going in I had to trim down the bushing to get them to fit other than that everything installed fairly easily as it should have.

 

Still not quite in spec.

 

Have them on right now with OME 887s.
Handles like it's on rails compared to before.
Will post alignment printout when I get home.

 

I have them as well with 5100s and ome 887s and love them.

 

So, I'm going to post this on here because it's kind of related. Anybody doing similar repairs or upgrades to their rig probably we're chasing some of the same issues or noises. I was still chasing a hollow rattle even after doing the front suspension upgrades. I started to suspect my steering rack had rotted away from around the bushing, but this is a Florida truck not much rust, and I just had a frame replacement in 2018 so they might have said something then. No slop or play in my steering or at the wheels. Check the rack gently with a pry bar it is solid. What I found was the small U joint in the steering column is worn out. Would this be called an intermediate shaft? Has anyone had this issue before that can maybe help me out with some part numbers? I don't think it is the input shaft for the steering column I think it is just this little you joint is the only place that it is really sloppy and when I moved it it was very noisy

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-tacoma-intermediate-steering-shaft-replacement-and-review.544954/

I would think you would have felt it in the steering if it was going bad.. but anything’s possible

 

That's the funny thing there was no play in the steering wheel or at the wheels and I just took it and had an alignment and I would imagine if there was anything that they could up sell the they would but when I got underneath the truck and moved it manually you can feel the slop and play in the Joint