Teach me: Aftermarket UCA's

[white_n_slow]

I have heard there are three primary benefits to aftermarket upper control arms on our rigs:

1) More alignment adjustability.

2) Tire clearance. Allows you to run 285s 305s or 315s potentially without using a spacer.

3) Improved suspension travel. This is the one I'm confused about. I have read a few times that aftermarket UCA's improve your travel, but I can't imagine how. Is this true? And if so, how exactly does it work?

I've been considering these, but the cost is hard to swallow.

As my truck currently sits (Tundra/Bilstein on the 3rd perch), the caster sits at 0* and cannot be adjusted any further. I've already got wheel spacers, so tire clearance is not a big deal, but it would be nice to get rid of the spacers to make maintenance quicker and keep things simple. I could also just spend an hour with the grinder and trim my stock UCA's to make room.

Mainly, my question is in regard to suspension travel. Is this a myth? How does it work?

 

[fourwd1]

It depends, are these aftermarket UCAs longer than stock and used along with a suspension lift ?

 

[TXRick]

Look on page three. Toytec says a little about your question.
http://www.toyteclifts.com/new/images/vehicle_info/96.024Runner.pdf

In my opinion, the Light Racing UCAs are a good bargain if you are installing yourself. I had to replace my UCA bushings and my upper ball joints and wanted to run bigger tires so with the LR UCA I got new ball joints, bushings and clearance all without having to run a spacer.

 

[CdaleR4000si]

I went with Light Racing UCAs when I installed my lift (Toytec Ultimate). My main concern was the ability to keep the alignment close to spec. I'm running 285/70/17s, so I also liked the idea of a bit more room for the tires, unfortunately I still had slight rubbing, even with the new UCAs. Ended up having to run spacers. But my alignment is spot on, so I'm pretty happy with them.

 

[white_n_slow]

Look on page three. Toytec says a little about your question.
http://www.toyteclifts.com/new/images/vehicle_info/96.024Runner.pdf

OK, so if I understand correctly, the light racing UCA allows for greater droop because it can sag farther before contacting the spring? I'm not sure I've ever drooped far enough for the spring to touch the UCA. If not, then that benefit is probably moot.

Maybe I should do some test-flexing and see how close it gets.

 

[cdrewferd]

You can swing by my place this weekend and check mine out if you want to. PM me and we can figure something out.

 

[NateMob]

OK, so if I understand correctly, the light racing UCA allows for greater droop because it can sag farther before contacting the spring? I'm not sure I've ever drooped far enough for the spring to touch the UCA. If not, then that benefit is probably moot.

Maybe I should do some test-flexing and see how close it gets.

It droops farther because it has an oversized balljoint that wont bind like the smaller stock one. Allowing it to be used along with extended travel coilovers. LR UCAs are also the only adjustable arms on the market for less than a grand. All others have a bit extra built in caster(2*) and fixed camber.