Lower Control Arms Yay or Nay

No doubt it’s part of our culture; upgrade and mod our Taco’s to our liking.

What I want to know is this: who’s has made the lower control arm upgrade, which manufacturer, and was it worth it?

 

They are really beefy. I'd start with uppers and spindle gussets long before lowers.

I've yet to see a broken tacoma LCA in my career, but am aware of guys on here damaging them.

 

I have the TC arms. A few points...

• Stronger
• Higher clearance
• More droop
• Less deflection (poly bushings)

I'm very happy with them. Very expensive, and I'm not arguing that the minor improvements above justify the price, but I have no ragerts.

 

Here is the thread discussing the TC arms.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...s-lower-control-arms-from-total-chaos.606128/

And the video that ultimately sold me on them is in the quote below.

 

These are some of the exact point that I have been evaluating as well. As I own a 3rd Gen PreRunner, I look at further stabilizing the front end since I don’t have necessarily capability to “crawl” over obstacles.

 

That rubber flex

 

Same train of thought, cant really justify the price. TC cam tabs and LCA skids for the time being.

 

I don’t see the point of doing stock length aftermarket replacements unless your stock lowers were damaged. Only reason for new lower arms if for long travel setup.

I haven’t seen a stock lower get bent from abuse, usually a bunch of other shit breaks before lowers. I could be wrong though, and there could be that 1 guy on the innernet who comes in and posts a photo like “WRONG here’s my bent stock lower after sending it to the MOOON! Everything else survived but my lowers didn’t! Proof!”

 

Total Chaos is definitely pretty steep, even for the stock replacement. I found a marginal difference through Dirt King Fab but at the end of the day: reasons for dropping roughly $1,500.

 

I've seen plenty of ball joint failures. However, I generally agree, strength isn't the driving factor.

 

Improved ground clearance, able to easily add a bypass shock (if you get an LCA with a secondary mount), able to keep KDSS with compatible LCA, going from ball joint to uniball, eliminating that stock bushing flex and allowing much easier maintenance of bushings, retaining stock steering angle, and keeping stock width when many don't want a L/T.
Plenty of reasons for many to get a stock replacement but we understand it's not necessary for everyone. Always good to have options!

 

I have the "Race Series" TC LCA. Bought them used from a guy, rebuilt them myself. Total cost maybe $1350 ish..

Key points:
-Stronger
-Stiffer
-More Clearance

Right off the bat the front end feels more stiff and together, on the dirt I feel like my suspension is able to do more of the work as the poly bushings are quite stiff but it could all be placebo. If anything they look kewl.

 

I say yes..cuz why not (see reasons already stated above) and the gray finish looks so good.

I went with @TOTAL CHAOS based on these differences: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-should-i-upgrade.557728/page-9#post-24306491

 

My alignment cams were frozen. Firestone flattened the cam tabs. I justified the bespoke mod because of the effort to cut the LCA’s off and weld in new cam tabs.

 

Still a stock lower guy, they hold up just fine.
My other lowers were bent up about .25" per side, but that was after bending everything else.
My old ones were dented up a bit, but nothing horrible since the lowers are suspensioned, so it would take a really hard hit while at full bump to severely dent one. Run no lca skids as you just lose clearance
Wouldn't mind some poly bushings or even delrin/uniball at the frame though for less deflection.

 

Out of curiosity, how do you know the aftermarket LCAs are stronger than the stock LCAs? Have you tested both in a controlled test?

Also, are sure the LCA is the weak link? What about the bracket it is attached to on the frame? Or the spindle?

I think if you are going to try to improve the strength of your IFS, you should consider upgrading every component of it unless you know one component is the weak point.

 

as far as strength of the aftermarket LCA vs stock, ours are 4130 chromoly and entirely welded as well as having internal gussets. we've seen plenty of stock LCA's and UCA's get severely damaged in vehicle accidents that our arms survived and were used on people's new build after totaling vehicle. Yes it's not scientific testing but proof of real world testing backs it up.

 

looking cool adds 10hp and 2" of up travel. SCIENCE
Truck looks great and glad you like the LCA's

 

I mean, my stock LCA's are just fine, being an Off Road model.