Freedom UCAs

Anyone install Freedom UCAs? If so, are you happy with them. I’m in the market and wasn’t looking to spend 6-700 dollars on them. I’m open to other suggestions as well.

Thank you!

 

If you buy them without the UBJ pressed in you can install Toyota OEM ball joints I believe.

I'm running Apache Off Road UCA's which have a similar design. Currently using Moog problem solver ball joints.
Working just fine

Edit: If you want trouble free UCA's I'd go with Dobinsons. They are a bit expensive but worth it imo. They use OEM ball joints and are built to last. A little pricey but worth it.

 

Jba uca are one of the best on the market. And reasonably priced.

Check em out.

 

Camburg is a good choice but you pay for quality. $930

https://camburg.com/shop/suspension...er-03-performance-x-joint-upper-control-arms/

 

Thank you everyone. I should have said why I think I need them. I have a 22 and ever since I did the eibach lift to level it I hear this noise. Nothing drastic but it’s occasionally there. Coming from drivers front. I’ve done everything to make sure it’s not a tie rod or bearing and everything checks out. My gut is telling me it’s the oem UCA. I’m at a loss. Again only happens once in a while but damn it’s annoying. When I go over a hill fast I hear it. When I’m stopped and give it gas. I hear it.

 

you are UCA shouldn’t be worn out already. I think your Ibach lift might be making noise. I’m running a 2 inch Beilstein in the front and have no noise With stock uppers.

if you loosened up the upper and lower control arms to do your install, make sure they’re torque to spec.

 

How much lift are we talking?

 

I can second that recommending Dobinson's. Stellar reputation, reliability and simplicity.

 

2.75

 

Thank you. I will do that.

 

Thank you. Question. I thought you needed to replace the UCA because the ball joint couldn’t achieve the correct angle. But you’re saying to put in an oem ball joint. So is it the UCA can’t achieve the correct angle?

 

ahh, you could be pushing the stockers kind of far.

 

Ya think? I’m not a newbie to working on cars and I’ve checked everything else. I’ve called Eibach and spoke to them. They had no clue either. I just feel I’ve checked everything else and I keep coming back to the UCAs. Thank you for the reply. I do appreciate it.

 

Yikes! $1,200. Totally get that they are really good but that’s a little outside my budget. I’m now looking at the JBAs.

 

i wasnt insinuating you were a newbie. Let us know how things turn out if you do get new uppers. Just a thought, is the spring centered in the top hat and also torqued down good?

 

Is the noise your hearing a clunk?

 

Oh no. Not at all. I apologize for that. Wasn’t saying you were. At all. I was saying I’m not a newbie working on cars and that I’ve checked everything. Listen I so appreciate people responding to me and am appreciative that you responded. I’m at a complete loss so anything anyone can offer is so helpful. I think I’m going to start with basics and recheck the torque on the uppers and lowers. Please keep sending me your thoughts and advice.

 

No at first it sounded like the wheels were rubbing on the wheel well. So I shaved them back. But that’s what it sounds like. The tire rubbing on the plastic in the wheel well. I’ve shaved it back and removed the mud flap.

 

Ok. When I had eibachs I used to get a random clunk. I could never figure out what it was but others told me they had the same issue. Once I removed the eibach and installed trd pro struts it went away.

 

Just a wild ass guess but is your sway bar contacting either the strut or the lower radiator support bracket?

my guess would be something is contacting. But if you can’t find it I’d put the car on jackstands and start trying to look for play to indicate bad bushings.

Kind doubt that’s the case sense your rig is new

 

They’re $795.

the ones you’re looking at are likely Dobinsons “billet” UCA’s. Thats overkill for most people.

Though I’m not sure UCA’s will fix the problem you’re describing

 

Is that common after a lift? I’ll check that out

 

Depending on the kit it can be.


I’d look around for rub marks or interference before throwing UCA’s into the mix.

Also, it would be helpful to describe what the noise is and under what conditions it happens.

When my SPC UBJs went bad I would get a clunk when turned to the right hard with speed.

One day I jacked the up and noticed the ball joint was toast. I would have never found it without jacking up the rig and physically trying to move the top of the wheel toward the UCA.

 

Thank you. Great post. In a previous post I did mention it sounds like the tire is rubbing on the wheel well. It’s not though. So like a low hum and it’s not all the time. When I’m at a stop and then accelerate I hear it until 5-10 mph. Also if I hit the backside of a hill it will do it for 2 seconds. I looked in the wheel well I see no indications of a rub.

 

Nothing wrong with Fredom. But I very highly recommend going JBA or better. A couple hundred more goes a long way. I do lift kits every week for folks on this site and TW. I've installed just about every upper control arm there is.

 

I would suspect driveline vibration (driveshaft angle). Or needle bearing needs to be replaced with an ECGS bushing.

 

Uppers are only really needed for extended travel shocks since something like Eibachs are still stock travel. You eat up downtravel to get lift.

Billet is a waste of money and I would find the noise before throwing parts at it. I had SPC control arms on my Tacoma with Fox Shocks and thought my uppers were causing the noise I was hearing over speed bumps. I went with Icon tubular uppers and still had the noise. Turns out the shocks were drooping out and causing the noise so I reduced the amount of preload which lowered the lift amount but the noise went away unless I was really drooping the suspension out.

 

I'm happy

 

Stock UCA will still articulate through the same factory range as long as you are using them on a long-travel setup.

Have you solved this problem yet? I don’t think it’s the UCAs I can’t imagine a good reason they would be making a rubbing noise.

 

It will if it has polyurethane bushings that haven't been greased with synthetic grease. I like polyurethane for durability, but I read reviews about squeaking. I haven't replaced a rubber one ever yet.