Alignment with 1.5” lift - why you might need upper control arms

I did a lot of reading before I installed my lift and there were many Debates about getting upper control arms with a 1.5 inch lift and dropping the differential versus 2 inch lift or higher. I settled on canceling the order for the upper control arms and decided to go with out the UCA’s and leave the stock ones in and revisit the issue later.

I got my 4Runner aligned at one place (let’s call it the lifetime unlimited alignment place) and they just couldn’t do it as you can see from the top alignment Picture. I then took it to the dealership the other day to get aligned. The before alignment wasn’t all that bad, it drove straight but the guy didn’t know how to align a 4Runner, let alone a lifted one. The dealer told me the previous place didn’t even adjust the rear front cams. Also he said the most common mistake with other shops aligning 4Runners is that they need to start from the tie rods and work there way in to the camber adjustments.

Anyways you camber is out due to the lift but not super critical at a 1.5” lift. He did suggest getting UCA’s, and the Total Chaos brand as well as a diff drop kit.

I thought I would share this alignment story. Also the Toyota dealer just got a brand new alignment machine which supposedly is the latest and greatest technology as well as a prototype machine. I guess it did good.

 

I just put a 1.6" lift on the front. I took it to Firestone to align and everything went fine. Everything was out of spec when I took it there, but they were able to get everything in spec. Camber numbers were 0, Caster was at 3.6, and I forget what the Toe was set at, but it was within spec. It drives better than before, IMO.

 

Yea I think it’s roll of the dice anywhere really. It’s all in the tech and if he or she has the experience and can do it.
The bigger name shops have more money generally speaking and can afford nice equipment and keep it maintained.

The 4Wheel drive place charges double of anyone else, and I read poor reviews

Do you have adjustable UCA’s?

 

No. Stock UCA. Yeah, I'm sure the tech you happen to get makes a big difference and whether they are familiar with aligning a 4Runner in the first place. But it's interesting that the dealership couldn't get it within spec.

I specifically told the guy at Firestone to set the Caster as high as he possibly could within spec. They said no problem and got it done.

What lift did you go with? Did you put it on yourself?

 

Interesting...

Good to know.
Maybe that’s the dealer strategy. “We can install them for $1200”
Which is what he said exactly!!!

But he did say you typically can’t get the caster out w/out adjustable UCA’s!!

 

Did you do a measurement before and after your lift?

I'm curious because some people accidentally install their spring perches upside down, giving them more lift than intended. If this was the case, you could be over 2.5" even though you're on the 1.5" setting.