Ironman 4x4 PRO FORGE UCA

Can't find a lot of information from anyone running these but specs look nice. Uses oem bushings and ball joints and are drop forged. I was considering the RA mevotechs but I think in the long run these might be better and look real beefy. Anyone running them yet that can chime in?

 

So if this uses OEM bushings and ball joints, what advantage do you get? Just that it's forged and not stamped? What's the point? You don't get any increased travel and they aren't adjustable. The stock arms will do what this does for a whole lot cheaper. Is this only for putting bigger tires?

 

Not sure exactly if they are oem or just oem style. The specs are kind of generic apart from the caster spec:

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

• Pro Forge Technology – Improved strength to weight ratio, with Increased directional strength reduced stress concentrations in corners and filets Increased strength and weight savings compared to machined, rolled, or cast parts
• Optimize Wheel Alignment at Raised Ride Height
• More Clearance for Larger Tires and Increased Lift
• Drop forged construction – 6082 T6 Drop Forged Alloy Construction. Zero tolerance manufacturing process compared to rolled steel and tubular constructions
• Hardened zinc coating – 75% more corrosion resistance over tradition paint or powder coating
• Built in 4 degrees of caster – for optimal wheel alignment at zero and full tuck, resetting the vehicle’s geometry to OEM specs.
• Optimize Wheel Alignment at Raised Ride Height
• High Strength and Durability
• Sealed ball joint – doesn’t allow for contaminates to be introduced to the joint through a dirty grease gun.
• OEM ball joints and bushings – tested and manufactured to strict Japanese specifications, with parts available at every dealership and parts store
• Manufactured in and conforms to Australian Design Rules (ADR)
• Kit is sold as a pair

 

I dunno man. Doesn't seem like it's worth the money. Unless there's something I'm missing, there's a lot of things to be desired here.

 

These are for 2 types of customers.

- People that don’t want to bother with greasing bushings or cleaning balls

- People with butt cheeks so sensitive they can feel a difference between OEM and Poly bushings

I remember for the 4Runner there were arms/links that were marketed as not changing ride quality. Basically DOM tube with OE bushings. They weren’t that successful last I checked.

 

I know a lot of 4Runner and Tacoma people using them. They do have the added benefit of the added caster built in plus the benefit of using the same style OEM balljoint is the fact that most auto parts stores will have them instock if you need one replaced quick

 

I guess I assumed they being aftermarket they would be better. So are these not much better than stock? Not adjustable ?

 

Running them on the wife’s 4Runner. Can’t speak for extended travel. They did align really well though. She has the stage 3 kit so they came with it.

The OEM bushings are designed for cost savings and the ability to be replaced if needed.....if I’m not mistaken.

Edit #2. Their foam cell pro kit is what I’m planning on running on the tundra as well...once I can justify starting build number 2. Wife’s is done. Now it’s my turn.

 

Video says they are designed to correct the geometry for lifts up to 4in..I’ve been at JBA’s..These look similar but stronger?

 

need more ball joint info. A factory ball joint will not support 4" of lift or even 3". 2" to 2.5" MAX lift on stock ball joint. If you're lifting your truck, I would ALWAYS go with high angle ball joints or uniballs. Travel is imperative; up and down. These are not adjustable. There's nothing on them to adjust.

 

fwiw they package this uca with their 3.5" lift

 

Are you looking at the foam cell pro’s too?

 

no i have bilsteins waiting to be put on

 

Ah ok.
Like mentioned earlier they aren’t adjustable like some of the Icon or the SPC’s and others. But they do have that 4 degree of caster correction built in. On the 4Runner the alignment came out awesome(at least from looking at the sheet). I have been to their shop and looked at some of their vehicles(Tundra,GX, Tacoma, and of course our 4Runner) Everything looks good.

I wish I could comment on the Tundra application. I know there are at least a couple guys on here running them.

 

i've considered selling the bilsteins and go to the foam cells or even dobinsons. i've read that both drive better than bilsteins. i didn't know until recently ironman made their own uca and it looks really nice. I'm narrowing it down to keeping bilsteins and probably will get the mevotechs or go with dobinsions and get the mevotechs. i would really like the iroman set up but it would cost more up front that the other options.

 

Looks great, clearance and caster correction is all you need. I bet this one does not squeak, I'd definitely get these over SPC or Mevotech.

 

I have them on my GX along with their 2.5/2.0 lift. They do appear to offer more clearance around the spring for down travel and there seems to be a little more tire clearance too. Haven't put them to any tests yet.

 

I have them on my GX460 and I just installed full Ironman4x4 stage2 kit on my tundra yesterday.
This UCAs are build for specific application. The ball joints are installed under different angles in the actual arms. This UCAs do full travel with 3.5 lift without any problem.
It’s very easy to find out how much are you limited with yours ball joints.
Just take your wheel off and disconnect the ball joint and you’ll see how much you gonna drop.
When I did install of Ironman UCAs I was able connect then in full drop with new suspension set for 3.5”
Lift and yes they are set it and forgot it.
I would highly recommend them.

 

I’m sold. That’s the marketing gimmick no one gets. It’s the shape of the uca that matters more, not the angle of the ball joint.

 

The shape of the uca matters most. Everything else is just marketing/feature buying. Sure, a higher degree ball joint would help most if you were racing Baja, or if your UCA’s aren’t shaped for the lift you’re running.

 

The issue with stock arms, aside from the geometry for lifted trucks, is the over extension of the ball joint. If you look at some lifted trucks with stock ball joints, you'll see that at ride height, it's very angled and it's towards the end of its articulation range. I, for one, need the extra travel. I get that most people don't, but don't run stock style ball joints on a lifted truck. You're going to top it out all the time and it's gonna ride like shit.

 

I get that, but these aren’t stock. The ball joint won’t be extended when you have a different shaped, wider uca. The geometry accounts for the extension of the joint.

 

Wait, these are wider? so they give you positive camber?

 

Not sure what your definition of wider is, but you can look on YouTube of the stock uca compared to the Ironman, and the geometry of the Ironman accounts for the lift.

You really think it would be better to have stock uca geometry with a greater angle ball joint or the aforementioned?

 

I don't. That's why I'm questioning this. I'll look into the youtube video. I'm just very skeptical of budget stuff. Most of the budget stuff I've run on other vehicles I've owned have fallen apart. I am hard on my stuff though.

I've ridden in a Tacoma with Ironman suspension. It was meh to me, so I have a meh perception of them.

 

Ironman is def not budget. Costs way more to make a forged aluminum uca than welding steel together like camburg and icon do.

 

These are Chinese forgings so not nearly as strong as one might think.
I’ll stick with JBA or SPC.

 

You do realize SPC is forged in China too.... along with pretty much everything you interact with on a daily basis.

fox, icon, king... you think their supply constraints are due to US manufacturing?

 

JBA

 

Just out of curiosity how would you know that?

I get that there are some crazy ways around built in USA vs Made in USA and what percentage of the product has to be made or built here to qualify for the branding. But these say Manufactured in and conforms to Australian Design Rules(ADR).

I personally don't care where they are made. Just curious. I already have a set on the 4Runner and have no doubts these will work just fine. But we also don't go blasting through the desert at 80mph.