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1st Gen Tundra Freedom Off-Road Upper Control Arms

Discussion in 'Product Reviews' started by speedtre, Feb 8, 2020.

  1. Feb 8, 2020 at 1:29 PM
    #1
    speedtre

    speedtre [OP] New Member

    Joined:
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    2006 BSM Toyota Tundra DC TRD 4x4
    Full Disclosure: This product was provided to me at a significant discount up front and once they were installed with feedback and reviewed, I am to be re-reimbursed for that discounted cost making them free to me.

    When I received them they felt like quality pieces...very stout and solid as you would expect for an UCA. These are their non-uni-ball UCAs. They also offer a set of uniball UCAs but I can't comment on those as I've not tried them.

    https://www.freedomoffroadusa.com/5...fu-front-upper-control-arms-for-2-4-lift.html

    The reason I was testing them out for Freedom Off-Road, is because their original UCA design for 1st Gen Tundras made slight contact with the upper shock tower. They weren't alone in this. Some other more expensive well-known brands had the same issue based on my research. They redesigned the UCA to completely clear the shock tower.

    I have a 2006 Toyota that I had installed Bilstein 6112s (set at the highest recommend positon, clip 6 on passenger side and clip 8 on the drivers side) front and 5160s in the rear, new OEM LBJs, Wheeler's AAL (overload left in), TRD SEMA Wheels and Falken Wildpeak E-rated AT3 255/80R17 tires on.

    After the install the shop aligned the truck within in factory specs with no issues, so the Freedom Off-Road UCAs passed the first test. I asked them to get the caster toward the high-end of factory spec because that is the preferred starting point (google DJs alignment specs) for these trucks.

    Specs for a 2006 4x4 Tundra:

    https://www.autozone.com/repairguid...Alignment-Specifications/_/P-0996b43f80378d81

    upload_2020-2-8_15-44-17.jpg

    My alignment after initial install:

    upload_2020-2-8_15-56-50.jpg



    My shop told me to go drive it for a week or so, to let the suspension settle down a bit and bring it back in so they could check everything over and make any adjustments to the alignment based on how it drove. Well, I could tell pretty quickly that on the highway my truck was a little skittish compared to stock. I expected it to handle different (this is not my first lifted truck), but for the relatively small lift, I still felt it was a little to lively at highway speeds. I drove it for two weeks and it did settle down a bit, but still needed some seeing too. After doing some research, these trucks seem to really like caster 2+, and some people go as high as 3. I figured 2.5 with camber and toe in spec was a good number to shoot for, so that's what I asked for. Fortunately the Freedom Off-Road UCAs enabled the shop to get it to 2.5 caster with camber and toe in spec without any issues:

    My 2nd alignment:


    upload_2020-2-8_16-0-47.jpg


    After getting the caster up to 2.5 the truck drives great. No wandering or skittishness on the highway anymore. It drives exactly as I would expect now. So, overall I have to give the Freedom Off-Road UCAs two thumbs-up. There are no clearance issues and they allowed us to get the truck aligned to a point that it drives great down the road. If I have any other trucks/suvs in the future that will get lifts (and I more than likely will), I would definitely use them again.

    Here are a few pics of the UCAs installed and the truck:


    UCA1 (2).jpg UCA2 (2).jpg upload_2020-2-8_16-20-28.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2020
  2. Feb 13, 2020 at 9:35 AM
    #2
    Trailscape

    Trailscape Zip Tie Wizard

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    Looks like they made some substantial changes to them.
     
    speedtre[OP] likes this.
  3. Feb 14, 2020 at 7:56 AM
    #3
    TX-TRD1stGEN

    TX-TRD1stGEN Privileged

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    South East Texas
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    They should let me test the uniball ones for them:boink:
     
    speedtre[OP] likes this.
  4. Feb 14, 2020 at 8:59 AM
    #4
    rock climber

    rock climber New Member

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    Thanks for the review! The 6112 gave you about 1" lift, is that correct? What's your hub to fender measurement?
     
  5. Feb 14, 2020 at 9:05 AM
    #5
    speedtre

    speedtre [OP] New Member

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    I went with 8/6 which they claim is 2 inches.

    upload_2020-2-14_12-5-19.jpg

    I can take the hub to fender measurement and let you know later todya. My dumbass forgot to take before measurements...:(
     
  6. Feb 14, 2020 at 11:44 AM
    #6
    rock climber

    rock climber New Member

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    Thanks!

    A 2 " lift and still getting 2.5 caster is great! That was the only thing holding me back on these UCA's was the unknown about how much caster they'd actually give. Did the shop happen to mention if they had even more caster adjustment to spare? Meaning if a truck had 3" lift would they still be able to get 2.5 caster?
     
  7. Feb 14, 2020 at 11:53 AM
    #7
    speedtre

    speedtre [OP] New Member

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    He said he may have gotten a little more caster, but not much with my lift. It drives good like this, so I'm leaving it. If you are going to a 3+ inch lift, you may not want to risk it.
     
  8. Feb 14, 2020 at 1:14 PM
    #8
    speedtre

    speedtre [OP] New Member

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    Center of hub to fender lip is 22 3/8.
     
  9. Oct 23, 2021 at 3:08 PM
    #9
    Jasont

    Jasont New Member

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    Jason
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    2.5 rough country
    So I just got my freedom uca’s today. Waiting on new lower ball joints to install it all at once. I did not get any instructions with my arms. What did you use if you can recall to torq the ball joint to the spindle.. also no washers for the inside of the bushings? Thank you
     
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