Can I modify the upper control arms to fit big tires?

M

MonsterMaxx

New member
Well, to be honest, they aren't that big.

I'm trying to put the wheels and tires off my '94 PU onto my wife's '97 4runner

20160511_145437Large.jpg


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The stance is very nice, but the tires are 'just' hitting the upper control arms.

I suppose I should wait and get the 4runner her own wheels and tires, but my pickup just blew the rear ring and pinion and it's going to be down a while so I thought I'd put the good tires on the 4runner.

They just don't quite fit.

Not a huge fan of wheel spacers and truthfully, I'd rather put the $225 (Bora .75" + shipping) into a proper set of wheels.


:(

Oh well. This is probably a non-starter
 
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I just measured the track width. The front is 1" narrower than the rear.

I've done a little suspension design and this is exactly backwards from what is normally considered 'right' where the rear is narrower than the front.

Makes me think that even with the right wheels and tires, I'd still need about .75" on the front to make it 'right'. Right where the Bora .75" spacer is. Anyone else make a quality hub centric spacer? Maybe one that doesn't cost $50 ea?

Now to see how much wifey likes it.
 
Tires hit when sitting on the suspension? Or when truck is on a jack- suspension unloaded?
Mine rub when fully drooping, but not enough to cause any damage. I've been running them like that for 15k miles, and that's including some off-road fun.
Sidewall has a ring around it, and paint is worn off the UCA, but no rubber is actually missing from the sidewall; there is no "groove" in the sidewall at all.
 
On the jack or sitting on the ground. There's just not enough room. I think w/ the jacked up nature of the suspension now that I need some .75 spacers on the front to even up the track width no matter what tires and wheels I eventually put on there.
 
Cheaper spacers mentioned in this thread.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/234753-wheel-spacer-advice-needed.html

I'm in the same boat, I want to run the 2004 Sport rims which have a 1/2" inward offset compared to 3rd gen stock rims. They have some 265/65/R17's on them right now which don't seem to rub, but very close. I haven't checked during full droop. I want to put on some larger tires, maybe 265/70/R17 or even 275/70/R17, basically the biggest I can get without a suspension lift or any wheel well modifications.

As you say the front wheels are stock 1/2" inwards each compared to the back. I'm not too keep on spacers but a set of 1" spacers up front would bring these wheels just in line with the back wheels. They would stick out 1/2" beyond stock which seems OK if I get a body lift. They say with lock-tite on them they are reliable.
 
I didn't realize the front was narrower than the rear. That is strange. To answer your question, yes you can take a flap wheel to the UCA. I did to make my tires for while I waited to get spacers. It was close at ride height but hit during any droop. After shaving a bit off, it was enough to get me by. I opted for G2 spacers, roughly $90/pr so that's definitely more than you want to spend.
 
Renegade_Medic said:
I didn't realize the front was narrower than the rear. That is strange.
Click to expand...
In stock form, the width is the same front-to-back. The front gets narrower as we lift them, because the arms increase angle- effectively decreasing width. As you can see in the OP's pic- his front end is lifted quite a bit.
 
Tyler James Inc said:
In stock form, the width is the same front-to-back. The front gets narrower as we lift them, because the arms increase angle- effectively decreasing width. As you can see in the OP's pic- his front end is lifted quite a bit.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. That makes sense, I was trying to figure out how far in my front is with the lift. Doesn't really matter that much the me...
 
Tyler James Inc said:
In stock form, the width is the same front-to-back. The front gets narrower as we lift them, because the arms increase angle- effectively decreasing width. As you can see in the OP's pic- his front end is lifted quite a bit.
Click to expand...
You nailed it.

A pair of Bora .75" steel spacers have been on the truck a couple weeks now with the bigger tires and are working well. Plenty of clearance and nearly the same track f to r.

20170423_150933Large.jpg

**edit, yes, I know the f-bumper looks bad, I'm making a replacement, but it's not done yet
 
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Falonious said:
There are many threads dealing with this....search is your friend

Here is just one. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/214459-shave-ucas.html
Click to expand...

I've done it to several UCA's in the past, and I did it two different ways. The first time I removed a lot more material than was needed, and I did this because other people did. From the second time on I only removed the lobe, and it cleared without spacers.

You might as well change the bushings while you have the UCA's out.
 
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