Do I need to buy UCA to go with this lift kit from Toytec?

I currently have a 2012 DCLB TRD Sport Upgrade and since I'm having to replace tires I'm putting in a lift kit while the wheels are off.

I've ordered the 3" LIFT KIT WITH BILSTEIN 5100 FRONT COILOVERS from Toytec (seen here: http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/3-lift-kit-with-Bilstein-5100-Front-Coilovers_p_364.html).

I've been reading threads all morning and I'm finally just going to ask - do I need to buy new UCAs to go with this kit?

I'm staying stock with the tire size (265/60-18) so this is just a lift for no other reason that to lift the truck up. I'm only stating the size because I'm not sure if it's relevant to the question.

If I do end up needing new UCAs - does anyone have a recommendation?

 

Yes, you will. Some say that you may not and my guess is those who say that don't know what an actual alignment is other than the shop saying "it's within spec" which isn't acceptable to anyone who knows about alignments. I did something similar to what you have and 1deg position camber w/a shit castor setting was the best he could muster w/stock UCA's. I don't see how anyone would be satisfied with that. Unless you got money burning a hole in your pocket go with Light Racing UCA's because they'll give you plenty of adjustment for a 3" lift and use a similar-to-stock upper connection which means similar-to-stock maintenance which is nearly none. Other more expensive ones use a fancy ball that requires more frequent maintenance. Your call. Either way they're a pain in the ass to install but will get you a 0, 0, 2.5-2.8 alignment which is what you want for your rig. Do them all at the same time and save yourself some effort by not trying to do a 3" lift w/o them because you will end up doing the same work twice when you're unhappy with a negative castor & a nearly 1deg positive camber.

 

Thanks for the advice. Do you have a link to the right UCA I can buy? I've googled light racing UCA and it's taking me to a million places. Are you talking about the Toytec ones?

 

I think many places carry them. I saw several being sold in the classifieds here for really good prices & brand new the last month or so. I was bummed because I had already bought mine and installed them. Might want to start your search there. If they're sold I'd just start with the popular vendors (Toytec for instance) and shop for the best price. I think I got mine from Headstrong Off-Road for like $375.99 shipped. The ones I saw for sale by members here were quite a bit cheaper than that and may or may not have sold already. I think Toytec's price was pretty close or slightly higher if you like to keep your business in one place.

 

I could not agree more with that.

 

OP dont even bother with that lift from toytec.

You can piece together the same lift for just about half that price.

 

You don't need UCA's. I have a Toytec Boss lift set at 2.5" and when I got my alignment the specs were identical to factory and when I looked underneath the eccentrics on lower control arms weren't maxed in either direction. I don't want to hear any "you don't know you're talking about in regards to alignment specifications" as I was a BMW technician and have plenty of experience with alignments.

 

Please post your alignment sheet.

 

Not going to start an online war..

 

I was simply asking for your alignment printout.

If I told you I had X-ray vision you would want proof, right?

 

probably kept the back end stock or the truck has little to no rake forward... this helps with being able to run stock UCA's at lifts above 2inches.

Now if your setup like mine and do 2 inches in all 4 corners to keep about 1.5in of rake its hard to get the desired caster numbers as the rake works against you in that sense.

Also.... your stock UCA's probably hit coils at full droop.

And lastly just because the adjustments are not maxed does not mean you are not maxed for caster. as changing those adjustments also change camber. so if you are aiming for 0 camber, you can only adjust the LCA so much forward or back while staying at 0 camber. any further then you start getting positive camber... which is bad.

 

I have the Toytec ULK and I didn't have the new UCAs for a year. It rode fine (I took it to Moab, and did some pretty hard off roading). I got the new LR UCAs and within a thousand miles the bushings in the UCAs started to squeak like hell (the UCAs were installed right before a second Moab trip). Whenever I go over a small swail it reminds me. The LR UCAs have no zerk fittings to help the squeak, so I might recommend something that does have them (I think the Total Chaos ones have them).

 

Also, I added the supercharger, pelfreybilt front bumper and skids, and winch, and now the truck sits about even as it did with stock. I would like to change to some heavier springs, like you can with the OME lift. So there's that.