Aftermarket vs OEM UCA for ~2"~ Lift with OEM Shocks

[mitchclem]

My sincerest apologies as this topic has been beaten to death, but after staring at this screen for hours and being more indecisive than ever, here goes nothing. I'm doing a full front end refresh as well as a lift using new OEM Tokico's, OME 2860 springs, and my OEM torsion bars cranked to whatever will give me .5" of rake once the springs go in the rear. I have stock bumpers, travel relatively light, and spend a fair amount of time on forest service roads. I've ordered replacements for every component that moves or is made of rubber in the front end, including OEM CV axles, 555 inner and outer tie rod ends, Whiteline steering rack bushings, OEM sway bar bushings and TT extended sway bar links, a TT diff drop, lower control arm bushings, and in the last 2,000 miles I've replaced my upper and lower ball joints with 555. I've held off on ordering UCA bushings as I'm unsure what to do about UCA's in general. When all is said and done I will probably be sitting 1.5"-2" over stock in the front, and with the OEM Tokico shocks, I've read differing opinions whether or not an aftermarket UCA is really necessary. My train of thought was to put everything together, and if I can't get an alignment in spec with my OEM UCA's I would then order aftermarket. But if the consensus is that I could benefit from them based on what I am doing, and it is unlikely I will get an alignment or droop in spec, it sure would be handy to do them while I'm in there doing everything else. If I do end up going the aftermarket UCA route, I am leaning towards Dobinsons as they accept 555 ball joints and I can save some coin by swapping my lightly used 555's into them.

 

[JunkCrzr89]

I have the same setup. No issues getting alignment in spec with OEM UCAs.

 

[mitchclem]

I have the same setup. No issues getting alignment in spec with OEM UCAs.

Have you had that particular setup long enough to see any signs of premature ball joint wear?

 

[JunkCrzr89]

Have you had that particular setup long enough to see any signs of premature ball joint wear?

Had it for a couple of years. I rebuilt the UCAs with new bushings and ball joints at the same time. No issues.

 

[yackowski]

If you end up swapping those 555 to the Dobinsons - get rid of alllll that paint before you even try and press them unless you have much better luck than I do. What a pain to press straight lol

 

[mitchclem]

If you end up swapping those 555 to the Dobinsons - get rid of alllll that paint before you even try and press them unless you have much better luck than I do. What a pain to press straight lol

I've heard that! I've got a shop press which should help but ill definitely remove the paint if I go that route. How has your experience been with the Dobinsons control arms?

 

[crimsonaudio]

Have you had that particular setup long enough to see any signs of premature ball joint wear?

I've been running 2" lift with OEM UCAs and shocks for ~110k miles now, lotsa off-roading but mainly as a DD - zero issues. OEM UCAs have >200k on them.

 

[yackowski]

I've heard that! I've got a shop press which should help but ill definitely remove the paint if I go that route. How has your experience been with the Dobinsons control arms?

Oh I'm hardly the guy to ask about things like that on this site. I didn't put UCA's on a GX I had and never liked the way it handled- so opted to just go ahead and put these on while I had this one apart baselining. I will say they're a quality product. Really solid compared to OEM and look nice when you peel off the little vinyl letters. I hardly drive the thing and when I do its a mall cruiser at best. I honestly only got it to hike in Colorado a couple times a year. I wasn't about that stock mobbin' my 4cyl Camry up to trailheads like I see so many do haha.

 

[mitchclem]

Well I think I am going to hold off on aftermarkets until I am faced with an obvious need for them. I'll just replace my OEM UCA bushings and hope my local alignment shop can sort it out. If not, there will be a set of used UCA's with new bushings for sale on here soon. Thanks.

 

[Bomar]

I have over 200k miles between several trucks running OEM UCAs and will not run aftermarket. You can easily get 200k miles out of OEMs and no issues.

 

[mitchclem]

I have over 200k miles between several trucks running OEM UCAs and will not run aftermarket. You can easily get 200k miles out of OEMs and no issues.

Is that at stock height? Or are you lifted?

 

[Bomar]

Both trucks are lifted at least 2 inches running 34s on both.

LC OEM T Bars and Iron Man FCP shocks and 868 rear shocks and I am very heavy truck. 285/70/18 Ridges replaced original UCAs at 220k because I wanted too they still had life but tow a lot now.

LX Sensor Lift 285/75/17 Toyos still original UCAs

 

[mitchclem]

Both trucks are lifted at least 2 inches running 34s on both.

LC OEM T Bars and Iron Man FCP shocks and 868 rear shocks and I am very heavy truck. 285/70/18 Ridges replaced original UCAs at 220k because I wanted too they still had life but tow a lot now.

LX Sensor Lift 285/75/17 Toyos still original UCAs

Awesome! That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks.

 

[JunkCrzr89]

The aftermarket UCA pitch for these trucks is a scam for all but the minority of owners.

 

[Bomar]

So true @JunkCrzr89....