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Convince me NOT to buy Freedom Offroad UCA

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by 00TundraZ, Jun 11, 2019.

?

Buy the Freedom Offroad UCA's?

  1. Yes - DO IT!

    43 vote(s)
    48.9%
  2. No- Never in a million years!

    45 vote(s)
    51.1%
  1. Nov 29, 2020 at 10:10 PM
    #121
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    That's the limit in my opinion to drive safely and be able to get alignment in specs. I don't think it's coincidence that 5100s max out at 2.5" of lift.

    I drove almost a year above 3" on stock arms and it was making horrible sounds every time I hit a speed bump. I had weak caster too, lots of bump steer and pretty twitchy.
     
    MDHinSD and SouthPaw[QUOTED] like this.
  2. Mar 6, 2021 at 4:49 PM
    #122
    Trailscape

    Trailscape Zip Tie Wizard

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    Going on about two years installed now. The right ball joint boot recently started to split. Otherwise, no issues of note.

    I actually really want to buy the JBA's, but I'm waiting until I at least need a new ball joint.
     
    arbucklejon1 likes this.
  3. Mar 6, 2021 at 5:27 PM
    #123
    SouthPaw

    SouthPaw The headlight guy

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    The JBA’s have cracked boot problems out of the gate. I’ve only had my installed for a few hundred miles but I’ve already been contacted but other members who have experienced this issue. JBA will send new boots but still, kind of a bummer. If your Freedom arms are working, I don’t see a reason to change them out.
     
    Trailscape[QUOTED] likes this.
  4. Mar 7, 2021 at 6:37 AM
    #124
    onesojourner

    onesojourner Here, let me derail that for you

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    I have heard reports of improved ride with new control arms even at low lift levels.
     
    arbucklejon1 likes this.
  5. Apr 2, 2021 at 5:11 PM
    #125
    Trailscape

    Trailscape Zip Tie Wizard

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    Here's how they are looking currently. All told, still pretty happy with them. The finish is all dull except for a few spots. I had given them a coat of Spraymax 2K clear when new for extra protection. Not sure if that's what is remaining.

    9A9D5FDC-7001-4FC3-BDE2-F86BFF84C278.jpg
     
  6. Oct 23, 2021 at 7:19 AM
    #126
    Jasont

    Jasont New Member

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    2.5 rough country
    I m expecting mine to show up today, will I need a press to get the old ball joints out of the spindle, or just a BFH? And I guess I’ll find out once they arrive will I need to press in the new ball joints, or are they already installed. Just wanna go to autozone once to rent the tools I’ll need.
     
  7. Oct 23, 2021 at 7:44 AM
    #127
    Dave8699

    Dave8699 Trackrat

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    NJ
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    Whole truck Raptor liner in olive green, leer camper cap, 5100 with OME, Wheelers AAL and Firestone Air bags.
    I want with the JBA snice they look nicer and review where alot better. JBA has supposedly fix the issue with boot issues with there new design and material.
     
  8. Oct 25, 2021 at 9:44 AM
    #128
    rock climber

    rock climber New Member

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    Press, 4x4 adapter kit and 3 jaw puller. I tried the BFH, but it didn't work for me.

    Also, I can't recommend these enough. I got one side out without it, but not the other, would have saved me so much time to just get them in the first place.
     
  9. Nov 9, 2021 at 7:53 AM
    #129
    stanghater

    stanghater New Member

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    New Mexico
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    ive had mine for about 5k miles, no issues and I was able to get an alignment without being harrassed due to the camber correction. My buddy at work here has an 06, just like mine but he went uni ball. He hates them.........
     
    Jasont likes this.
  10. Nov 9, 2021 at 8:23 AM
    #130
    Jasont

    Jasont New Member

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    2.5 rough country
    Got mine installed over the weekend with new lbj’s. Was gonna put bushings in the steering rack but now it’s started to leak. So new rack will go in this weekend. And then hopefully I can get it aligned. But for now it’s not to bad. Maybe wonders a bit on the freeway
     
  11. Dec 18, 2021 at 9:16 PM
    #131
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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  12. Dec 18, 2021 at 9:21 PM
    #132
    alb1k

    alb1k Always Coming From Take Me Down

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    It's good
  13. Dec 18, 2021 at 9:25 PM
    #133
    alb1k

    alb1k Always Coming From Take Me Down

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    It's good
    The dull is the added clear coat failing.
     
  14. Dec 18, 2021 at 9:29 PM
    #134
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    Could be a bad install. Could be bad ball joints. Hard to tell from the limited pics I've seen of their design. We need to know more about what that guy has on his truck too.
     
  15. Dec 18, 2021 at 9:40 PM
    #135
    alb1k

    alb1k Always Coming From Take Me Down

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    It's good
    It does make more sense that ball joints were so bad that misalignment created bind. The uppers were new with the arms, the lowers would have to be barely hanging on I imagine. But, travel limited so much on the upper arms at the bolts you could lift the truck? I like your thought better. If you welded the upper arms at the bushings to the towers, they would still break there. Bind is much more plausible at the ball joints, but still more at the upper. Is it possible that there is play in the bolt of the ball and not the ball itself? I don't see evidence but I think you are onto the problem with the ball joints.
     
  16. Dec 18, 2021 at 9:50 PM
    #136
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    Really hard to say. If you look at the OPs pics im actually curious if there is a problem at the pivots. His truck is on a jack and the arms are hardly drooping. Even with bent spindle and ball joints I would expect the force of his coils and weight of his tires to press further down.

    The ball joints are showing an awful lot of shaft too. Not sure if the boot ripped off and thats normal, or if the nut on the ball joints wasn't snug enough and allowed play. I can picture it being pretty awkward to tighten the nut under the ring on the spindle. There's a lot in the way and if you don't install the arms before the coilovers it would be fighting you.
     
    alb1k[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Mar 23, 2023 at 11:26 AM
    #137
    siznarf

    siznarf New Member

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    Just voted to tie it up.

    Very useful first post
     
  18. Jan 19, 2024 at 7:00 AM
    #138
    455h0le_dachshund

    455h0le_dachshund Viva la revolución

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    TLDR, did y'all convince em?
     
    Weagle likes this.
  19. Jan 24, 2024 at 10:05 PM
    #139
    bmf4069

    bmf4069 Yup, that's car parts in a dishwasher

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    20220403_191121.jpg
     
  20. Jan 24, 2024 at 10:15 PM
    #140
    455h0le_dachshund

    455h0le_dachshund Viva la revolución

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    I forgot about that
     
  21. Jan 24, 2024 at 10:23 PM
    #141
    bmf4069

    bmf4069 Yup, that's car parts in a dishwasher

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    Still going strong with no issues. They even took a good beating in the cinders at T2S.
     
  22. Jan 26, 2024 at 2:01 PM
    #142
    vst

    vst New Member

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    East TN
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    I like mine the only thing was I got some clunking after rebuilding my front end and it turned out to be my passenger side control arm didn’t have any or enough grease in the ball joint. I greased it and clunk went away. Other than that good bang for the buck
     
  23. Jan 26, 2024 at 8:45 PM
    #143
    Trailscape

    Trailscape Zip Tie Wizard

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    I finally decided to move on from mine. Went with the JBA arms. I had the original ones that scraped the coil bucket before a little grinding. I need to take some pictures.

    Also, if anyone wants them I'll probably let them go for the cost of shipping.
     

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