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Sweet affordable UCA's?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by The Juice, Feb 8, 2017.

  1. Feb 8, 2017 at 4:36 PM
    #1
    The Juice

    The Juice [OP] THE JUICE IS LOOSE !!

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    I've been looking for quality UCA's that won't break the bank! Does anyone have any input on these ZONE UCA's? For 450$ they appear to be a great option!
    t2300_b.jpg
    Here is a Youtube video displaying how burly these look!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui3AdEEaT1Q
     
  2. Feb 8, 2017 at 5:38 PM
    #2
    chphilo

    chphilo Tundra addict

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    Is this company the one that makes Zone lift kits? They do look beefy, but I have never heard of this product.
     
  3. Feb 8, 2017 at 5:48 PM
    #3
    831Tun

    831Tun heartless Bastrd

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    I looked into these 'cause they look sweet. You might be a little limited in your lift options. I've got around 3"-3.5" and as I recall they (Zone) didn't recommend them for my application. They were really nice and helpful when I spoke with 'em. I recommend calling 'em and talking with them about what you intend. And yes, same company as Zone and BDS lifts.
     
    The Juice[OP] likes this.
  4. Feb 8, 2017 at 5:49 PM
    #4
    joem1cha3l

    joem1cha3l New Member

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    The slogan they tout is "lift kits 4 less".

    Think I'd rather try my luck by spending another $50 and get a set of SPC's from @ToyTec Lifts
     
    TundraTss, CM-LENNY, Ardnut and 3 others like this.
  5. Feb 8, 2017 at 5:56 PM
    #5
    boardude

    boardude I am Batman

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    x2. I would go with the light racing UCAs for that price. I feel like I see these on sale with free shipping all the time..
     
  6. Feb 8, 2017 at 5:56 PM
    #6
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    SPC, TC ,Camburg..etc..not very far from each others in price. Buy Once, cry once
     
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  7. Feb 8, 2017 at 6:23 PM
    #7
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    SPC.. What I want. (ToyTec discount) Best bang for the $$$. Money no object and still reasonable/ doable.....Total Chaos. IMHO
     
    Toytec Lifts and T-Rex266 like this.
  8. Feb 8, 2017 at 6:47 PM
    #8
    joem1cha3l

    joem1cha3l New Member

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    They're two different animals from what I remember. Maintenance is a big deal when t comes to choosing between the TC and SPCs. Depending on where you live anyway...
     
  9. Feb 8, 2017 at 6:51 PM
    #9
    boardude

    boardude I am Batman

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    TCs are uni-balls and SPCs are ball joints so different maintenance. Uni-balls will run you around double the cost of ball joints
     
  10. Feb 8, 2017 at 9:01 PM
    #10
    Ardnut

    Ardnut New Member

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    The Juice[OP] likes this.
  11. Feb 9, 2017 at 6:46 AM
    #11
    The Juice

    The Juice [OP] THE JUICE IS LOOSE !!

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  12. Feb 9, 2017 at 7:01 AM
    #12
    Toytec Lifts

    Toytec Lifts New Member

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    TC control arms are very nice, they do require a little more maintenance(keeping the Uniball clean, and the poly bushing's lubed) but they are an extremely nice, durable control arm.

    SPC another great control arm. Little to no maintenance at all (greasable ball joint). Completely adjustable ball joint to get your truck back into alignment spec without any issues!!



    @The Juice feel free to PM me and we can figure out what would be the best option for you!
     
  13. Feb 9, 2017 at 11:05 AM
    #13
    The Juice

    The Juice [OP] THE JUICE IS LOOSE !!

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    --I'd like to keep this thread going in the interest of exploring more inexpensive options. I'm very curious as to why the prices for control arms seem so insanely high! The metal fabrication, especially bending tubes, the welds, rubber bushings, uniball and ball joint assembly can't possible be that expensive! I can see a CNC machined piece being more expensive but certainly no over 1000$!!! Seems like some serious price gouging, but I could be wrong.
    --I'm posting some more inexpensive options I've seen. If anyone has any experience using these in there applications can you post your opinions of them and issues you have had with them? Post any pictures of them on your set up? I'm sure there are consumers on here interested in affordable UCA's that don't need ubber expensive parts to handle rock crawling that a lot of us won't be doing. Also, if you've seen other options in the sub 500$ for a pair can you please share?

    --Tuff Country EZ-Flex control arms: Listed for 2-4 inch lift and found for 317$ for the pair on-line
    tuffcoutry50936.jpg
    -TUFF COUNTRY FRONT UPPER UNI-BALL CONTROL ARMS: 2-4 lift application and listed for 466$ for the pair online (A bit more burly than the prior arms)
    tuffcountry 50930.jpg
    READY LIFT SERIES 1 UPPER OFF ROAD CONTROL ARM KIT: Listed for up to 5" of lift: 892$ for the pair/ The only reason I'm listing these is because they are double the price of the zones at the beginning of this thread and appear identical!!! Why pay double?! Yikes!!
    44-5001_400_1.jpg
     
    GNTundra and Toytec Lifts like this.
  14. Feb 9, 2017 at 12:10 PM
    #14
    Toytec Lifts

    Toytec Lifts New Member

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    Those are very nice control arms but they are all going to need some sort of maintenance involved with keeping them up to par, that's the nice thing about the SPC control arms, maintenance free control arms that will get your truck back into alignment spec without any issues!



    -David
     
  15. Feb 9, 2017 at 12:44 PM
    #15
    ej63090

    ej63090 New Member

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    Honestly, I have read a ton about suspension on these trucks. I find that the total chaos uniballs are universally recommended and have yet to hear something bad about them. The SPC have more mixed reviews, but mostly those are saying that they wished they ponied up for the TC's.

    The TC's can be had for under $700 using the forum discount.

    My thought is, this is a 40k truck. Why skimp out? My same opinion applies to spacer lifts as well.

    If another product provides a tremendous value, you would have heard more about it right now as you have about Bilstein 5100/6112's.

    Different strokes for different folks I guess.
     
    Sunnier, TheBeast, Black Wolf and 2 others like this.
  16. Feb 9, 2017 at 7:29 PM
    #16
    CM-LENNY

    CM-LENNY No Complaints

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    Think those top ones are called EZ-Flex for a reason. No disrespect, but they may be $317 for a reason.
     
  17. Feb 10, 2017 at 10:08 AM
    #17
    The Juice

    The Juice [OP] THE JUICE IS LOOSE !!

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    Yup! I'll be "steering" clear of those!!! lol
     
    TheBeast and CM-LENNY[QUOTED] like this.
  18. Feb 10, 2017 at 10:09 AM
    #18
    The Juice

    The Juice [OP] THE JUICE IS LOOSE !!

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    Thank you for your response! You are the second member to say something good about these on their truck!
     
  19. Feb 10, 2017 at 11:03 AM
    #19
    Ardnut

    Ardnut New Member

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    It's all about your purpose for the truck. These fit my needs and budget at the time. If I end up moving out to AZ and want to go flying through the desert at 60mph+ this setup will no longer work and I'll be hitting up the vendors here for a sweet setup.
     
  20. Feb 14, 2017 at 8:34 PM
    #20
    Joeshaker

    Joeshaker New Member

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    I am looking at the zones to. Good price and don't they use tried and true no of ball joints? Heard stuff about the spc's having ball joint issues. It's been a while but I think zone saysthat you need like 5.5 inch backspace, so stock wheels won't clear. That seems to be the case with most of them.
     
    The Juice[OP] likes this.
  21. Feb 16, 2017 at 8:47 AM
    #21
    The Juice

    The Juice [OP] THE JUICE IS LOOSE !!

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    Not sure on the Tire Clearance specs for these. I'm calling Zone today to find out and I'll let you know. The hardware on the Zones is hard to beat! I have aftermarket wheels with 5" backspace and a Zero 0 offset so I'm sure I'll clear with the 33" KO2's I'm running......:fistbump:
     
  22. Feb 16, 2017 at 9:19 AM
    #22
    040Tundra

    040Tundra Teddy 2013-2019

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    A little of this and a little of that.
  23. Feb 16, 2017 at 10:10 AM
    #23
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    I got my TC UCAs from Toytec with the forum discount. Great CS as well.

    also listen to @jberry813
     
    T-Rex266, csuviper and Toytec Lifts like this.
  24. Feb 16, 2017 at 11:21 AM
    #24
    The Juice

    The Juice [OP] THE JUICE IS LOOSE !!

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    So I called Zone Today and was told that their UCA requires a 6" backspace on the wheel! This is for 07-16 Tundras. He said I would run into rubbing issues with my 5" backspace 0mm offset wheels when turning hard which = no bueno.....so there's that!
     
  25. Feb 16, 2017 at 11:29 AM
    #25
    The Juice

    The Juice [OP] THE JUICE IS LOOSE !!

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    Still hoping for an answer as to why the price on these components is so damn expensive?! Seems like some SERIOUS price gouging going on here.......
     
    MDHinSD likes this.
  26. Feb 16, 2017 at 12:47 PM
    #26
    Ardnut

    Ardnut New Member

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    I ran the factory 20"s with stock tires. Had they been any bigger before I got the wheel spacers then it probably would have made contact
     
    The Juice[OP] likes this.
  27. Feb 16, 2017 at 12:54 PM
    #27
    831Tun

    831Tun heartless Bastrd

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    Well, if it'll make ya feel a little better, Keith at Dirty Deeds makes UCAs. He doesn't offer a break on his price which is around $675 I think. He said there's no money in the UCAs. I don't even know if he makes 'em anymore, just not enough profit margin.
     
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  28. Feb 16, 2017 at 12:57 PM
    #28
    ej63090

    ej63090 New Member

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    This is why a lot of people go with the T.C. because they will clear just about everything.

    As for the cost and retail price - you are not going to want my opinion. I am a CPA that works with mostly small businesses. I can tell you people do not generally understand the cost of running business.

    Materials, recovery on r&d, recovery on equipment, labor, rent, utilities, website, tech maintenance, admin, regulatory costs, plus income tax on any profit eats away at a gross sales price rather quickly.
     
  29. Feb 16, 2017 at 1:07 PM
    #29
    831Tun

    831Tun heartless Bastrd

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    That's a fact! I am a small business and people do not understand all the ancillary costs of business.
     
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  30. Feb 16, 2017 at 2:14 PM
    #30
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    +1..it's not just welding 2 pipes together..it's a lot more than that..
     

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