Cut and weld lower control arms

Only if that's what's used. Remember the guys at the muffler shop using coat hangers? I'm not saying that's weaker, just that you can use all kinds of material that's not correct.

To do it correct would be to know what EXACTLY the arms are made of. Exactly. No room for error there. That's the real key.

 

I considered doing exactly what the OP originally suggested but I have declined. It's a great idea and better than switching out the UCA's to get caster because it moves the tire forward instead of rearward toward the mid cab mount. Tacoma LCA's aren't forged, they're stamped pieces of steel welded together. The welder would have to be pretty poor at their job to end up with a weaker LCA. The angle of the ball joint isn't even that critical.

I could do it with coat hanger as filler rod...

 

I know this is an old thread, but it has been done. The guy did a really nice job with it and is offering it as a kit through JD fabrications. look over the fitting 35s with minimal trimming thread. It isn't cheap, but he did the legwork and has a working product.

 

Technically that thread is far more involved than just cutting a stock LCA and welding it back together.

 

That guy is me and the install is actually really easy- cut off the stock lower arm mounts, bolt the new lower arm mount subframe to the truck with the alignment tabs and then weld the new lower arm mounts to the frame. The install can easily be done in one day with very basic tools

 

Well you do great work. It's still not the exact topic of the thread because it's not a stock LCA cut and welded back together. I think I read that kit is almost a grand, but cutting and rewelding 2 stock LCA's is less than $10.

 

I totally get the cost aspect and personally played around with the idea of cutting the lower arm apart myself. I just came to the conclusion that I was willing to put in the extra work to fix a number of different issues with the Tacoma front end. And for the record 1” forward with stock geometry upper arms gives you perfect geometry... in other words do it!!!

 

Your extra work will pay off big time in how it drives.

 

I couldn’t be happier with the results. The truck finally handles and drives like I’ve always dreamed it should