Advice on UCAs

Got a 3inch lift coming in from Ironman 4x4. Should I stick with the same brand for the upper control arms, or does it matter? I like theirs, but I prefer the look of the Bilsteins. My 4R spends most of its time as a daily driver. Thank you in advance.

 

Any upper control arm should pretty much be compatible with any lift, unless you're going to long travel or something like that.

One thing to consider is to avoid a uni-ball type upper control arm if you drive your vehicle year-round and live in an area where they salt the roads in the winter.

 

Bilsteins has UCA?

If I'm not mistaken Ironman allow to use stock UCA. They only force you to buy their track bar and KDSS spacer blocks if you have KDSS (stock panhard bar would hit KDSS brackes when KDSS 4Runners lifted). I would keep stock UCA if it clear the tires and springs at full droop. I'm a big fan of SPC UCAs when it comes to alignment.

 

I went with SPC for my Kings. The reason is I want the adjustability for a proper alignment.

 

I think proper alingment, re-greasable nossle, trouble free balljoint part availability are advantages imo.

Cons - Toyota dealership has no jacksh** idea about these adjustable UCA when it comes to alignment when my car got the accident. I guess only good 4x4 shops should touch these.

 

That's probably the best idea.

After my lift, I had one shop ask me for alignment specs. I said to get it into factory specs, and they did a shitty job. There was no symmetry, each side had different results.

Finally, I took it to a good shop, and they got both sides perfect. To be fair, I told them exactly what I wanted.

 

Sorry in advance if this is a dumb question.

Alignment shop needs to know to adjust that nut with the plate on SPC right? Not only the bolts they usually adjust?

Sorry, have no idea about numbers.

 

With the 3” lift you should definitely consider new UCA’s as you are. As stated above, stick with one’s that use OEM type ball joint for basically no maintenance and also use OEM Type rubber bushings at mounts for no maintenance. The adjustable ones can be little difficult to get aligned as being discussed above. Tthere are many UCA’s out there that have fixed caster that will work just fine. I have both Dobinsons and OME UCA’s on my rigs and no complaints from either.

 

SPC has the most adjustability out of the aftermarket UCA's, that being said pick a product that fits your needs. To echo @Thatbassguy , stay away from anything uniball, they require a lot of maintenance and squeak constantly.

 

Yes Bilstein makes UCA's. Tubular chromo with OEM style ball joint. Just like OME and Dobison's. But they use polyurethane in the swing joints vice rubber.

Also, Ironman doesnt "force" you to buy any parts. They just put those packages together (the ones you screen shot) to make it easier than going thru and selecting each piece. Hense the Stage 1 is only shocks and springs...

 

and track bar and KDSS spacer blocks for KDSS. Yes you can buy Non KDSS stage 1 even if you have KDSS. I didn't meant to say company force you. I mean if you select stage 1 for KDSS those additional items will come with the kit. Correct? Or is there a stage 1 kit for KDSS with just shocks and springs? I didn't see on their lift kits. Having those items is a good thing imo as new KDSS owners won't know about this problem when lifting.

 

JBA?? Haven't had any issues out mine

 

SPC is what I put on mine. I got the Old man too in it.

 

OME BP-51? I've heard they can be the softest you can dial in. How do you like it? Did the shop recommended SPC over OME UCA? I too look at BP-51 when I was looking for my Limited. Little expensive $3200ish without UCA. So almost 4K with UCA. I bet you are extremely happy when it comes to comfort?

 

Yes. The shop and the experts help me go with the SPC. Big difference too using the old man BP51. I like it.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=huMztKaHsUE

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=InQnp42pfts

 

We went with the JBA's, they have an amount of additional caster "built" into them. I had to tell the alignment shop of modified specs., they are at about 4.0 caster, the toe in and camber are to factory specs. This might have a bit of bump steer at factory toe in and camber, but only at full movement one way or the other, which doesn't happen much. Tires cost too much now to be wearing them out prematurely!

 

I have the Ironman UCA. I figured if I am getting new UCA might as well get the one that Ironman designed and I like that it uses factory joints in the event of a failure I don’t have to get any special part. Dealerships/part stores would hopefully just have them.

 

Haha, beat me to it. After watching this, I'm kind of "meh" on the SPC.

 

I thought SPC is the best for alignment. And UCA won't use the full range of the ball joint, so its not a criticalfactor. Did i understood that wrong?

 

Yes, I’m meh on the whole lift thing. I watched his part 1 & 2 videos again on IFS lifts and it’s interesting that in most cases you actually reduce suspension articulation from stock when you lift, regardless of lift.

I enjoy the look and the ground clearance of my lift but it seems to come at the price of reduced travel.

 

I watched that video when it first came out, I don't even remember exactly what it was that turned me off about the SPCs. I think maybe it was the angle of the ball joint wasn't any better than stock? I don't remember.

Or it could be that I have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm kind of a dinosaur in that I believe that real off-road vehicles should have solid axles.

 

Yeah, I think at anything over like 1.75 in of lift is diminishing returns. It makes sense when you think about how IFS works, all you're doing is pushing the A arms down and making the ride height at a different point in its travel.

It's really evident when you watch lifted IFS vehicles off-road, and they lift the front wheels at the slightest little thing, because the lift has used up most of the downtravel.

People crap on bracket lifts, but that's technically the way to do it right and keep all your angles and suspension travel in its stock operating range.

 

AMEN..!!
Lucky Asia, Australia, (not sure what others) still get solid axle Land cruiser 70 series with TURBO DIESEL V8 manual transmission..!!

 

Yeah, they get some great vehicles. I mean we can still buy Jeeps if we want front solid axles at least. Whenever I think about modding my 4Runner for off-road, in the back of my mind. I always think how I could pick up an XJ Cherokee for just what a couple steel bumpers for my 4Runner would cost.

On the other hand, I wouldn't necessarily want to drive an XJ hundreds of miles to get to the trails.