Stock UCA fail!!

I haven’t done it on a Toyota, but I’d rather just replace the ball joints and save cash vs buying new arms. Id definitely swap out those spacers. Get a good 2” lift like the 5100 suggestion and keep your stock arms to save money. Figure out why you have in the rear but I doubt it will be an issue to keep it as is. You don’t want to be driving your family on the highway and have your upper arm separate like that…

 

It’s one of things where people will complain about the cost of professional maintenance because they can’t see the value of a professional inspection… until something happens.

(Not you OP, just speaking in generalities)

 

Hard to say for sure, but my suspicion is whoever put in the spacer lift tore the boot on the ball joint and moisture and dirt has been wearing at it for a long time. The play allowed by the ball joint coming apart over time allowed the contact with the spring. Those are big heavy parts moving dynamically so it would not take a long time for it to show like that on your spring.

 

True! I had an off-road shop spend an hour poking around under the 4Runner last year. I'll probably have them go over it again soon. It sucks to spend money for people to just look at it, but the peace of mind is nice.

 

Sometimes I feel like I spend too much time looking around when Im under the 4runner changing oil, rotating tires, etc. But I think it pays off over time since you are in a better positiin to catch anything that happens.

I got an idea… we should totally do a garage tech day where we just crawl under our trucks and just look lol haha

Thinking more about the OPs situation, it looks like a relatively high lift, so Im surprised the 285s on aftermarket wheels cleared with the alignment restrictions of stock UCAs. Unless there were other mods like a body mount chop?

 

My problem is that once I lay down under there, I just want to go to sleep.

 

Thanks everyone. I am trying to decide on coil overs and UCA’s. I reached out to JBA, as I really like the look and quality of their arms.

However, my wheel backspacing is too much to run these (6”) without a wheel spacer. Not sure I like the idea of a wheel spacer.

I’m running into a lot of variables.

It seems the last owner may not have went the extra mile with quality suspension upgrades, but whoever installed it seemed to know what to do. Such as avoiding KDSS lean, sticking with oem uca, running 285/70/17, choosing the perfect offset and backspacing to initially avoid issues.

I don’t agree with all these choices but I’m not looking to get new wheels as well.

Sort of scratching my head as what to do here

 

You don't really need new UCA's unless you plan on going over 2" of lift. Stick with the stock UCA's and replace the ball joints. Get a set of 5100's or Eibach adjustable shocks, set them to 1.75" and leave it at that.

 

NIMBY, will this allow for my current wheel/tire setup?

 

I have 285/70/17's with a 1.6" lift. They clear without any issues.

 

So I think that’s what I’m going to do. I already ordered the oem uca on Thursday and removed old one. Just going to replace it all.

So the consensus is stuck with the 5100s?

Should I replace the original coil springs due to the spacers being on top for so long? Or am I overthinking this..

 

Ordered a set of 5100s. Will be here Monday.

Found out a ton on here.

You guys are great!! Thank you

 

Your stock coils should be fine. They aren't that old.

I would replace both ball joints, however. No need for new UCAs......just the ball joints.