Upper Control Arms, Yes or no?

Installing a 3 inch lift soon, do I have to buy uppers as well to avoid the stock ones failing on the trail?

Someone told me I should get uni ball uppers to avoid that. I prefer to not spend 500$ extra if I can.

Thanks!
Brian

 

I ran a lift with stock uca for a while, but to get the camber right you sacrifice caster and get bump steer. It's not bad, but since getting ucas it's a night and day difference. I would reccomend a new uca.

 

I didn't at first, but the bump steer was horrible.
Running 285's, I went with JBA'S and I'm glad I did!

 

I am thinking about going with a Dakkar pack in the rear and belstien coil overs in the front, shooting for maybe 2 inches of a lift. From what I can tell i wont need new uca unless i go over 2.5.

 

I'm running bilstein 5100s ome coils and Dakars.
@ 3" of lift. It comes down to alignment. You will be limited or maxed out the more you go. I didn't like the way my truck felt while driving. After I installed JBA'S and the alignment was set to 0,0 and 3° of caster it was a world of difference. You can get them later of course, but if I had to do it again, I would just spend the money and do it all together. Worst case, you will have to pay for another alignment. Choice on UCAS is up to you. I like that the JBA UCAS have a easily replaced ball joint and everything is greasable if that's a word.

 

I think that is what I will do. Ill get the dakar and shocks now and save up for some new ucas or wait for a deal on a used set comes along. Thanks!

 

You don't need them right off. Good alignment shop can pull 1.5* caster on stock ucas and is within spec.

 

Check out the new style SPC LR's. Fully adjustable for alignment, OEM style ball joint that flexes more than uniball and requires less maintenance. On sale sometimes for ~$375. Best bang for your buck! You'll need UCA's to get a GOOD alignment.

 

What I will say is just because they can initially put your caster into spec 1.5-2.5 doesn't mean it'll be that way a couple miles down the road.

Invest in SPC or JBA...

 

Even if I just do 2 inches for now? Still need UCA?

 

I believe the rule is 2.5 no you don't have to. Any bigger then that to get the alignment correct you should.

 

Anywhere near 2.5" of lift or more, it is HIGHLY recommended that you get UCA's. Unless you want to wander on the highway all the time or spend tons of time in the alignment shop and not driving..

 

I would just do the UCAs at the same time rather than having to go back and install them and get another alignment...you will have to decide if your time and added cost of another alignment is worth taking the chance...

 

3" lift, yes you should get UCAs or you'll have a hard time getting aligned and the stock uppers would likely wear much faster. Don't have to get uniballs, SPC Light Racing UCAs and JBA both make ball joint style aftermarket UCAs that are popular here and work great for lifted Tacos.

 

Thanks guys. Ill probably get them just to get it over and done with.

 

I spent the extra $350 and got new SPC UCA's before installing my 3 inch lift. Definitely worth it. Because they were able to adjust the UCA's and give me the correct alignment I didn't have to do any trimming and I have no rubbing issues. Also if you're going to do it in the future you're going to have to pay for labor twice. Might as well suck it up now and get it all done at once. You'll save $400 in labor like that so the UCA's pretty much pay for themselves if you do them now.

Yeah man you can get away with 2.5 lift and no UCA's but you're not going to be aligned properly and you'll be pushing the limits of the stock UCA's. I'd definitely reconsider and just put up the extra $400 now for some SPC's.

 

Ill be installing it all myself so not worried about labor but Yeah, I will just get them.

 

Smart. If this is going on your 2008 there is a good chance that your alignment cams are seized in which case you can still get aligned with the SPC UCA. They are worth it for that reason alone.

 

Very good point. Mine were and I have a ‘12.

 

Is there a different part number other than 25470 for the SPC LR upper control arms?

I'm not seeing them anywhere for less than $485.