UCA/3" lift question

[BIG EYE]

I am sorry if this has been covered, but i searched and did not find the answer.

Are UCA's necessary with a 3" lift? Will there be "float" due to alignment specs if you do not have aftermarket UCA's?
I am looking at the Toytec Ultimate and OME 3" so if you can provide any feed back on these as well, that would be awesome!

I currently have a 2nd gen Tacoma with a 3" lift and stock UCA's, and there is noticeable "float" due to the alignment specs.
I am considering a 4th gen T4R to replace the Tacoma, but want to get all the details of what I'll need ahead of time.

Thanks!

 

[G.I.G.]

Aftermarket UCA's are not necessary but I would recommend replacing them if you are running a 3" lift. What I did last year was to do the lift and the tires, then a couple months after that once I had enough money saved up, I bought the UCA's and had them installed. The alignment is much better after replacing the UCA's and it doesn't wander as much on the highway as it did before I replaced the UCA's with a 3" lift.

I know a lot of people spend big $$$ on the Total Chaos, Icon, etc. UCA's, but you don't need anything fancy. The most affordable option were the Light Racing UCA's. I bought them from Toytec and couldn't be happier. They allow you to get your 4Runner within proper specs for alignment, they are built much tougher than the OEM UCA's, and they are about half the price of the Icons and Total Chaos UCA's.

 

[BIG EYE]

Thanks for the quick reply!

So you did get some "float/wander" with out them?

I have that now in my truck and it drives me crazy!

 

[G.I.G.]

Thanks for the quick reply!

So you did get some "float/wander" with out them?

I have that now in my truck and it drives me crazy!

It wasn't major, but it was noticable. I still get a little of that, mostly due to the larger tires, but it is much better now. I was actually more concerned about premature tire wear, that's why I bought the UCA's.

Also, the shop that did my alignment even after I had the UCA's installed did a mediocre job so I took it somewhere else and it is much better now. I've always thought that the alignment tech doing your alignment factors into the end result much more than the machine they use.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Also, the shop that did my alignment even after I had the UCA's installed did a mediocre job so I took it somewhere else and it is much better now. I've always thought that the alignment tech doing your alignment factors into the end result much more than the machine they use.

That can't be said enough. Most techs that get paid by the job and not by the hour will just set toe, let it go and hope for the best.

 

[needsmoresalt]

G.I.G. is right, I have the same exact setup and the same results. Not a must have, but the correct UCAs are noticeable to me and worth the investment.