1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Would aftermarket UCAs improve the ride significantly?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by cmtaz, May 28, 2021.

  1. May 28, 2021 at 12:26 PM
    #1
    cmtaz

    cmtaz [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2019
    Member:
    #8377
    Messages:
    68
    Gender:
    Male
    My rig:
    2018 SR5 prem, TRD wheels 265/70 R17 wildpeak tires (do not want to go bigger). Eibach Pro Truck lift kit.

    Currently I am running the factory UCAs, my driving is 95% around town / highway. When I've taken it off road, it has been the "easy to moderately easy" stuff. All in all, the ride of the 4Runner is very good, better than when it was stock.

    I am trying to decide if aftermarket UCAs would improve the ride "significantly" or would I be spending the money just to get "cool looking UCAs". After alignment camber was 2.8 degrees left and 2.9 degrees right. Seems to me the swapping out the UCAs may allow for more camber, but with the type of driving I do, I may never notice it.

    thoughts ????
     
    OverRunner likes this.
  2. May 28, 2021 at 12:32 PM
    #2
    LandCruiser

    LandCruiser I have Toyotas

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2021
    Member:
    #20965
    Messages:
    1,526
    Gender:
    Male
    East Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    5th Gen OG TE
    The only reason you would want an aftermarket upper control arm is if you lift beyond the alignment capabilities of the existing upper control arm.

    Or you would really like to introduce a bushing to the party that would start squeaking and clunking.

    The aftermarket upper control arms may also start causing clearance issues with your tires as they are typically meant to be used with a lift.
     
    Mtbpsych, Roland and Moon Landing like this.
  3. May 28, 2021 at 1:15 PM
    #3
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2018
    Member:
    #6172
    Messages:
    7,542
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Ramona Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2017 4-Runner SR-5 P. Kings, Built Right uca’s, Durabumps, RSG sliders
    Most do not need them until you get up over 2 1/2”- 3”
     
  4. May 28, 2021 at 1:51 PM
    #4
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Member:
    #3777
    Messages:
    4,451
    First Name:
    Jake
    California
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5P
    How do you like the way it handles on the highway right now? Does it wander at higher speeds at all?

    If so, an aftermarket UCA that allows a higher caster setting will solve that issue by tightening up the steering.

    If you don't have that issue, leave it the way it is.
     
  5. May 28, 2021 at 3:58 PM
    #5
    kbp810

    kbp810 rebmem wen

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2019
    Member:
    #8935
    Messages:
    616
    Gender:
    Male
    Upper CA's would have an impact to handling, and more specifically, increasing caster, which helps it track straighter and give a sense of tighter steering (mitigates that loose flighty feeling when driving at highway speeds).

    No impact to ride quality, and in fact, technically speaking could have a very minor negative impact to ride quality as most use poly bushings, which aren't as forgiving or as good at absorbing road vibrations as stock rubber bushings. But of course the trade of here again is handling - the soft rubber bushings sometimes are a little too forgiving, and can lead to slopping handling overtime.
     
  6. May 29, 2021 at 4:05 AM
    #6
    Toy4X4

    Toy4X4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2020
    Member:
    #15580
    Messages:
    6,723
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeff
    Vehicle:
    2020 Offroad Prem. 4-runner
    RevTek 3" front- 2" rear leveling, JBA uca's, LED interior lights, Cooper 275-70-17 AT3 LT
    I take it when you said "camber", you meant castor, right? UCA's allow you get more adjustment range instead of being "maxed" out one way or another. As far as the ride quality the more the amount of caster, the more high speed stability you will have..... to a point. I do not believe they (UCA's) are going to smooth things out, at least ours didn't. The other 'plus' to aftermarket UCA's is the maintenance aspect.... they are greaseable. 20201222_095107[702]JBA UCA.jpg
     
    Roland, 21TOR, nimby and 1 other person like this.
  7. May 29, 2021 at 6:42 AM
    #7
    Agent_Outside

    Agent_Outside A Guy A Girl and A Trail

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2018
    Member:
    #8098
    Messages:
    1,933
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    Built 2011 T4R Limited
    Highway driving IS the situation that you would benefit from UCAs. 2.8 - 2.9 degrees of caster is too low on a lifted vehicle. Once you raise the center of gravity you want to want to increase caster past the factory spec. “Significant” is opinion based and some people or more sensitive and tuned in than others, but I would say yes, you will absolutely notice a difference being lifted going from stock arms with 2.8 degrees to something aftermarket with 4ish degrees.
     
  8. May 29, 2021 at 9:41 AM
    #8
    Daytonaviolet

    Daytonaviolet TRD Bro

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2019
    Member:
    #9167
    Messages:
    1,639
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    Blizzard Pearl TRD Bro
    265/70/17 no after market UCA is needed. 285/70/17 yes. After market UCA will give you more alignment options
     
    Toy4X4 likes this.
  9. May 29, 2021 at 12:37 PM
    #9
    Joekader

    Joekader New Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2019
    Member:
    #10017
    Messages:
    361
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joe
    Yes it will I’m using jba hi caster on a 2” lift and the on road performance is extremely notable
    J
     
    Toy4X4 and 7385 like this.
  10. Jul 10, 2021 at 2:19 PM
    #10
    Fishbum

    Fishbum New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2021
    Member:
    #21933
    Messages:
    318
    Gender:
    Male

    Can you elaborate on what you mean by notable
     
    7385 likes this.
  11. Jul 10, 2021 at 5:55 PM
    #11
    Joekader

    Joekader New Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2019
    Member:
    #10017
    Messages:
    361
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joe
    Spell check “noticeable improvement “
    A more stable steering response when in movement feels sure footed
     
  12. Jul 10, 2021 at 7:22 PM
    #12
    Fishbum

    Fishbum New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2021
    Member:
    #21933
    Messages:
    318
    Gender:
    Male
    Ahhh got ya
     
  13. Jul 31, 2021 at 12:04 PM
    #13
    Roland

    Roland New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2021
    Member:
    #21148
    Messages:
    782
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2019 Toyota 4runner TRD off-road premium
    A lot of different opinions, I have a 2.7 F & 1.7 R lift and 285/70/17 no UCA's replaced or diff drop. The rig tracks & articulates well on all kinds of speeds and off-road driving. The advantage of OEM UCA's they are maintenance free, as well the less you tamper with the geometry the better; taking limitations into consideration.

     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2021
  14. Jul 31, 2021 at 12:35 PM
    #14
    can0nfan2379

    can0nfan2379 New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2017
    Member:
    #4100
    Messages:
    108
    Gender:
    Male
    Arid-zona
    Vehicle:
    2019 T4R ORP...2013 TRD OR DCSB Tacoma
    I was running about 4 -5 degrees of caster on my Tacoma. People need to realize once you start changing lift and geometry, the in-spec alignment numbers go out the window on a modded vehicle so don’t shoot for those. Best alignments I got on that truck were done by an old school alignment shop rather than the monkeys at Firestone that just hook it up to the machine and try and make the numbers match what the computer says for that model and year of vehicle.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2021
    Joekader, Toy4X4 and Roland like this.
  15. Aug 3, 2021 at 3:39 PM
    #15
    cmtaz

    cmtaz [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2019
    Member:
    #8377
    Messages:
    68
    Gender:
    Male
    Thank you, I seem to be following that path. The Eibach kit gives you 2.5 - 2.75 upfront. So far in 7000 miles it has been handling as good as a 4Runner will handle (it's not like my 2007 350Z). Seeing that it's working great, I'm leaving it for now.
     
    Roland[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Aug 4, 2021 at 8:32 AM
    #16
    DRobs

    DRobs New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2019
    Member:
    #8335
    Messages:
    1,297
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Missouri Ozarks
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD OR - MGM
    Pinstripes, lots of em. Plus a couple dents.
    I also have an Eibach Pro Truck Lift put on in 2019. I had SPC UCA's added when I went to 285/70R17 tires back in April of this year - 2021.
    The steering feels tighter now.

    Though not sure I can attribute that to the significantly heavier tires or the UCA's.
     
    Roland likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top