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Upper control arms

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by Tundra174x4, Jan 19, 2020.

  1. Jan 19, 2020 at 8:18 PM
    #1
    Tundra174x4

    Tundra174x4 [OP] New Member

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    Hey guys, I just bought some icon coilovers stage 4. It came with front and rear suspension with leaf spring. I’m worried because I still have stock upper control arms. The coil overs are the 3” ones. Do I have to upgrade the UCA?? I got about 500-$600 I can spend if I have to. All help is appreciated.

    A26CFF18-C02E-489A-A69B-6D643CB93357.jpg
     
    Bigboitundra likes this.
  2. Jan 19, 2020 at 8:21 PM
    #2
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    None yet
    I've read on here if it's more than 3" lift, it would a good move to replace UCA's, maybe someone else will chime in and help you out, but you should be ok with stock
     
  3. Jan 19, 2020 at 8:32 PM
    #3
    Tundra_power

    Tundra_power New Member

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    JBA uca or spc uca balljoint both are great companies.
     
  4. Jan 19, 2020 at 11:35 PM
    #4
    reno_tundra

    reno_tundra New Member

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    I’ve read that at the 3” mark it is hit or miss whether people can get back into spec on stock UCAs. I’d guess you could get “close enough”? But I figured I didn’t want to take my front end apart (dramatic, sure) twice and it’d be a whole lot easier to do it all at once so I grabbed some SPC UCAs when I got the lift.

    TL;DR
    I did SPC UCAs when I lifted 3 and haven’t regretted it.

    Edit: That’s a badass lift, can’t wait to see it on!
     
    Tundra174x4[OP] likes this.
  5. Jan 20, 2020 at 3:57 AM
    #5
    LT75

    LT75 Seasoned Pro

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    SPC’s would fit right in your price range. I had them and they worked great. 3” is usually the max on stock UCA’s give or take. Every truck is different, some can go slightly past 3” and some can’t.
     
    Cement4WD likes this.
  6. Jan 20, 2020 at 4:27 AM
    #6
    Tundra174x4

    Tundra174x4 [OP] New Member

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    Great I will look into SPC, hope I don’t have any issues with my 35” tires
     
  7. Jan 20, 2020 at 4:35 AM
    #7
    Tundra174x4

    Tundra174x4 [OP] New Member

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    Would SPC be of for moderate off-road?
     
  8. Jan 20, 2020 at 4:39 AM
    #8
    Ob1

    Ob1 New Member

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    Good call.... The caster numbers are hard to dial in anything past 2.5 inches of lift. Unfortunately for some odd reason most alignment shops have no idea how to align a lifted truck period. SPC are adjustable which throws another curve ball at these individuals that can't align to begin with. Then there is also the fact that if you any off roading you can knock your alignment out of spec if pushed hard. That's why icon is one of the top choices here but unfortunately they are high maintenance. I went with JBA myself because the ease of maintenance and the tough build quality.
     
  9. Jan 20, 2020 at 6:47 AM
    #9
    Tundra174x4

    Tundra174x4 [OP] New Member

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    can you do moderate offroad with that UCA?
     
  10. Jan 20, 2020 at 7:01 AM
    #10
    Ckatz53

    Ckatz53 Newish

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    20200114_160728.jpg

    Cant speak on SPCs, but I just picked up my set of JBAs. Ran them for 6 years on a daily driver Jeep that I took to Rausch Creek off-roading several times a year so I got a new set for my 2020 Tundra. So a "mild" off roader I guess you could call me. Fully serviceable, new bushings that are greasable, and the MOOG ball can be unbolted and replaced without taking everything apart. Just my experience! My understanding is cant go wrong with SPC either.

    You may be able to get away with an alignment with up to 3" and stock UCAs. I know I'll be 3 inches or below on my build, but decided to grab JBAs anyways because I like them lol.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2020
  11. Jan 20, 2020 at 8:18 AM
    #11
    SoCalRandy

    SoCalRandy New Member

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    The JBA website doesn’t seem to even list the Tundra as an option for their UCA’s?
     
  12. Jan 20, 2020 at 8:20 AM
    #12
    Ob1

    Ob1 New Member

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    SoCalRandy[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Jan 20, 2020 at 8:21 AM
    #13
    reno_tundra

    reno_tundra New Member

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    My truck is still pretty new to me so I don’t have any big trips under my belt, but they’ve held up fine for me with the desert stuff I have done so far.
     
  14. Jan 20, 2020 at 8:22 AM
    #14
    Ckatz53

    Ckatz53 Newish

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  15. Jan 20, 2020 at 5:00 PM
    #15
    Tundra174x4

    Tundra174x4 [OP] New Member

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    would you rather have SPC or icon UCA i live in the desert in california and am in the hills on the weekends
     
  16. Jan 20, 2020 at 5:18 PM
    #16
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 New Member

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    Fyi, the SPCs are on sale through Amazon at $556.00
     
  17. Jan 20, 2020 at 7:04 PM
    #17
    Tundra174x4

    Tundra174x4 [OP] New Member

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    I’m just worried that the SPC won’t work well for off-road. The hills out here get pretty bad. The adjustment bolt scares me as it may slip and really fall out of alignment
     
  18. Jan 20, 2020 at 7:16 PM
    #18
    reno_tundra

    reno_tundra New Member

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  19. Jan 20, 2020 at 8:03 PM
    #19
    r1-superstar

    r1-superstar Kailua Boy

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    SPCs work great! Email Darren @BOSS4x4s That's where I got mine from. He beat everyone's prices!!!
    20190319_111736.jpg
     
  20. Jan 20, 2020 at 8:07 PM
    #20
    ESTundra937

    ESTundra937 All American Paratrooper

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    Pretty good video here, taught me quite a bit about UCA's and all the options. Congrats on your new setup too!
    https://youtu.be/d4A3QGLEpTQ
     
    Tundra174x4[OP] likes this.
  21. Jan 21, 2020 at 6:01 PM
    #21
    LT75

    LT75 Seasoned Pro

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    With the jba’s only good up to 3” why get them? why not keep the OEMs on? There’re good up to 3” too.
     
    Bigboitundra likes this.
  22. Jan 21, 2020 at 6:26 PM
    #22
    Ckatz53

    Ckatz53 Newish

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    Beefier than OEMs as I do some light off roading here and there, my experience with them on my Jeep, and their serviceability. Super easy to swap boots/ball joints out. Plus higher caster helped correct alignment issues and get them closer to specs on the Jeep, so assuming that will translate to the same with my Tundra.

    Just an overall good experience with them :)
     
  23. Jan 21, 2020 at 7:14 PM
    #23
    Ob1

    Ob1 New Member

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    I don't know who came up with this 3 inch lift threshold. With Bilstein 5100's at top setting, at about 2.5 inches of lift, my truck got darty. Very hard to keep it going straight on uneven pavement. Also twitchy at high speed because the caster couldn't be adjusted past 2.4 degrees, which is low for a leveled Trundra.
    After replacing with JBA UCAs the caster was increased to 3.4 on the right and 2.9 on the left to create a cross caster of 0.5 degrees to correct for road crown. The truck is no longer twitchy nor darty and tracks like it's on rails. Mine is a 2018 and purchased new, so no alignment issues prior to the leveling.
    Unfortunately I learned the hard way and had to redo the job and realign again at my expense.
     
    jordan0317 and Ckatz53 like this.
  24. Jan 21, 2020 at 7:23 PM
    #24
    r1-superstar

    r1-superstar Kailua Boy

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    I agree. Each vehicle is different. I needed UCAs at top setting on my 5100s.
     
  25. Jan 21, 2020 at 8:29 PM
    #25
    Cement4WD

    Cement4WD New Member

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    SPC is my vote
     
  26. Jan 24, 2020 at 9:27 PM
    #26
    Tundra174x4

    Tundra174x4 [OP] New Member

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    Ended up going with SPC!!
     
  27. Jan 24, 2020 at 9:39 PM
    #27
    reno_tundra

    reno_tundra New Member

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    NICE!!!
     
  28. Jan 24, 2020 at 9:42 PM
    #28
    Tundra174x4

    Tundra174x4 [OP] New Member

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    I’ll upload pics when everything is installed tomorrow
     
    reno_tundra and r1-superstar like this.
  29. Jan 24, 2020 at 9:52 PM
    #29
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 New Member

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    My SPCs will be here tomorrow and put in the garage until I start ordering the rest of the stuff to swap over to coilovers.
     
  30. Jan 25, 2020 at 8:24 PM
    #30
    CPdaddy

    CPdaddy Why am I so tired

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    Boss 3" Lift, TRD Dual Exhaust, S&B Intake, TRD Rear Sway, 285/75r18 Nitto Ridge Grapplers on Fuel Beast Wheels, SPC upper control arm, Rough Country front bumper with LED bar and dual lights on each side, Rear bumper blackout covers, Go Rhino running boards, Morimoto XB Headlights, HIRev LED Tail Lights
    I also did the spc’s just to be safe. Actually looking through this forum convinced me to do so.
     

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