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Alignment With 3" Lift & Stock Control Arms?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by rustytoys, Feb 23, 2020.

  1. Feb 23, 2020 at 10:54 AM
    #1
    rustytoys

    rustytoys [OP] New Member

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    Can you get a proper alignment with a 3" lift and stock control arms? Reading old threads it sounds like your caster will never be ideal unless you buy the control arms, but wanted opinions.
     
  2. Feb 23, 2020 at 11:30 AM
    #2
    bdpeelgren

    bdpeelgren New Member

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    Talking about a 3” spacer?

    If you are, then no. Never.
    It will be close, and even be “acceptable” on their print out sheets they give you. But It will never be 100% correct.

    You will always get wear on the outside edge of your tires too.
     
    chugs and 2010bigdog like this.
  3. Feb 23, 2020 at 11:32 AM
    #3
    Danman34

    Danman34 New Member

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    Proper? No. Close?....eh...that’s subjective. It will never be ideal for longevity of your tires without an adjustable uca.
     
  4. Feb 23, 2020 at 11:57 AM
    #4
    rustytoys

    rustytoys [OP] New Member

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    What do you think would be off exactly, or out of spec?
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2020
  5. Feb 23, 2020 at 11:58 AM
    #5
    rustytoys

    rustytoys [OP] New Member

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    What was off on your truck before control arms, was it the caster they couldn't get?
     
  6. Feb 23, 2020 at 7:05 PM
    #6
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 New Member

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    Our trucks have very limited adjustments on the front end when it comes to alignment. Some guys keep the stock UCAs when they lift, but green on the alignment sheet doesn't mean its correct. I currently run stock UCAs with a Readylift 3/2 spacer kit but switching to SPCs when I swap over from the Readylift to the Boss kit. I already have the SPCs in the garage. Sparks has them for around $550 and Amazon often has them on sale for around the same.
     
  7. Feb 23, 2020 at 9:22 PM
    #7
    rustytoys

    rustytoys [OP] New Member

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    Thanks, if you remember, do you know how much caster/camber were you able to get with the stock control arms?
     
  8. Feb 23, 2020 at 11:58 PM
    #8
    xtyfighterx

    xtyfighterx New Member

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    Caster will be lower like around 2 should be at 3.5 but that didn’t stop me. Going on 5 years now no issues.
     
  9. Feb 24, 2020 at 5:03 AM
    #9
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 New Member

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    Here is my alignment sheet from the dealer after I installed the kit.
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Feb 24, 2020 at 2:43 PM
    #10
    rustytoys

    rustytoys [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for posting; I saw another members printout who had a 3/1 lift too - it looks like you both are stuck around 2 degrees caster - Im only around 2.6 right now and totally happy with my truck, so not sure that half will matter much?
     
  11. Feb 24, 2020 at 2:46 PM
    #11
    rustytoys

    rustytoys [OP] New Member

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    Yes, that seems to be the case from these alignment printouts; I'm only around 2.6 right now after my 1.6" initial 5100 lift and they basically did nothing, so assuming I could at least pull 2 also. Just not sure if there is much of a difference going from 2.6 to 2?

    So you're happy with your highway ride and everything?
     
  12. Feb 24, 2020 at 3:34 PM
    #12
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 New Member

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    Yeah I'm not too sure but there are some very knowledgeable alignment guys on here. I'm not too worried about it since I have some SPCs in the garage.
     
  13. Feb 24, 2020 at 3:36 PM
    #13
    Berdine

    Berdine Voodoo Sport

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    I ran 3.5" on boss coilovers with stock ucas, no issue and drove straight on my 2016
     
  14. Feb 24, 2020 at 4:44 PM
    #14
    xtyfighterx

    xtyfighterx New Member

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    Drives straight keep in mind every truck aligns differently to. But I’m sure you will be fine. Might get a little positive camber not to much to really do anything significant. Try and keep your toe as close to 0 as possible. I’ve ran 3.5 “ on my Tacoma stock ucas everyone said it wouldn’t work and tires would wear out wouldn’t drive straight and I never had an issue there either. New UCAs don’t only get you a proper alignment but will give you the extra travel to if you get a like a mid travel set up. So keep that in mind to if you want the most out of your suspension especially if you off road a lot it’s something to consider. Just daily driving and some logging trails you should be fine stock. As long as the truck is driving straight handles good and no tire wear I personally wouldn’t upgrade the uca
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
  15. Feb 25, 2020 at 6:27 AM
    #15
    r1-superstar

    r1-superstar Kailua Boy

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    Some people say they have, most say they haven't. I wasn't able to so I bought SPC UCAs.
     
  16. Feb 25, 2020 at 6:32 AM
    #16
    Hbjeff

    Hbjeff New Member

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    Just save up and do it right. If the added caster wasn’t a good thing, all these companies wouldn’t be making upper control arms.

    A truck may drive fine with a decent alignment, but it will drive much nicer with a great alignment
     
    rustytoys[OP] and r1-superstar like this.
  17. Feb 25, 2020 at 6:45 AM
    #17
    r1-superstar

    r1-superstar Kailua Boy

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    ^^^ This!
     
  18. Feb 25, 2020 at 1:57 PM
    #18
    rustytoys

    rustytoys [OP] New Member

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    It's odd that Toyota never updated the control arm on late model tundra's to add more caster? - most other trucks have at least 1-degree more positive caster stock from what I am reading.
     
  19. Feb 25, 2020 at 2:05 PM
    #19
    Hbjeff

    Hbjeff New Member

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    Well toyota initially didnt plan on adding 3 inches of ride height to the a arm position... the pro is very recent, and they stopped at 2 inches for the alignment reason im sure
     
  20. Feb 25, 2020 at 2:12 PM
    #20
    rustytoys

    rustytoys [OP] New Member

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    I just mean that even at stock height it barely pulls 3-degrees caster, whereas F150's pull over 4-degrees. Many sports cars pull close to 10-degrees which I think is what gives them that insane high speed stability. Just not really seeing the downside to lots of caster when you have power steering? But there must be some method to Toyota's madness.
     
  21. Feb 25, 2020 at 2:48 PM
    #21
    frichco228

    frichco228 Valued Member

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    In my experience, on a lifted truck if the truck tends to have light steering at speed- and wants to wander a little at interstate speeds. It could benefit from UCAs. Low speed I never really felt any issue. I also think that lifted trucks that could benefit from UCAs tend to be more sensitive about tire pressure in the front. Dialing in the right pressure will improve drive-ability and stability somewhat.
     

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