Control arm questions.

Hey y’all, I am lifting my truck two inches in the front with aftermarket coil overs. Does anyone have an opinion on weather to keep stock UCA or go with a 2-4 inch adjustable UCA? Everyone has an opinion… how about does anyone know something that I should too.
Thanks in advance!

 

Upgrading UCAs along with your lift is generally recommended to keep stock alignment numbers. With that being said, yes I’d recommend it as well. There’s a few UCAs with heims that are great for really getting good alignments.

 

Given that the upper arms are at an angle, lifting the truck with stock arms changes you caster, which affects, among other things, steering. The greater the lift, the less positive caster you have. Less positive caster means less stable steering—as in the wheels will want to turn to the left or the right more without your input. In other words, if you took your hands off the steering wheel, the wheels will be less likely to turn back to straight and more likely to veer off to the side.

Less positive caster can make the steering feel "lighter", but in the days of modern power steering, that's not really something most people should consider. If you want your truck to be more stable in steering and less likely to want to turn to the left or right without your input, you should get arms that correct the caster for your lift.

That being said, plenty of people run lifts without aftermarket upper arms, but they do so with worse caster angles (among other things).

 

At just two inches, I don't think it's necessary. I'm at about +2" in the front with stock UCAs and mine has been fine.

 

At 2” they are not necessarily needed. You’ll be able to get your alignment numbers within factory specs. If you want more adjustability with your alignment then yes replace them a aftermarket uca of your choice.

 

Thank y’all, this is what I was finding as well.. I think I will spend the extra money and get it right the first time.

 

I did 2" lift (OME884s and 5100s set to the lowest setting), the alignment shop said the castor is marginal, any worse and they'd have recommended new UC arms. One a recent 3K trip out west I noticed what hoffengeering mentioned. In my case but it's something I could get used to, steering requires a little more input (attention) as there's a more tendency to drift off center. I would live with it but the truck is ready for BJs so I'll install more appropriate arms then.

I had lots of opportunity to feel the effect

 

I put the factory TRD Baja shocks on my 2013 sport which lifts the truck 2'. The Baja edition used the same stock UCAs. My alignment was fine.

When I replaced the coilover springs after one broke, I added a 1' spacer to get me to around 2.75' - 3' of lift. Alignment was/is still OK, but not perfect.

However, there is one sharp corner that I drive (only going like 35km/h) that always engages the traction control because it thinks the truck is losing control... I'm pretty sure it's because of the lift and alignment not being closer to spec. I'm hoping my JD Fab UCAs and alignment tomorrow will solve that issue.

 

why would you do UCA's?

-replace tired old ones
-better angles alignment and articulation
-stronger parts that matches other things more

2" you may not have to. Try and find out.
Buddy lifted 2" or more. Didn't replace UCA. Lower mile truck.
As a result there was a clearance issue at travel where it would smack and make loud noise.

remove it

 

Look up VSC recalibration. I had to do it after my lift. It 'resets' what the truck considers to be the resting ride height/stance. Seriously, read through it a couple of times before you attempt it, but it took care of my issues. Mine was like yours, right after I installed my lift.

 

Thanks, yes I have done that a couple times and it did not fix it. Will do it again after the alignment and keep my fingers crossed! lol