Do I need UCA with lift?

[mreedbmwm3]

Hi Guys,

Looking at buying the 2" OME kit from Slee. Do I need the UCA?

I have 150,000 miles on my 08 LC. Anything else I should replace while doing it?

Thanks!

 

[Markuson]

Hi Guys,

Looking at buying the 2" OME kit from Slee. Do I need the UCA?

I have 150,000 miles on my 08 LC. Anything else I should replace while doing it?

Thanks!

When you call Slee to order, I am very confident they will honestly steer you in the right direction there, and not simply sell you something you don't need. From what I understand, the UCAs help to make alignment a lot easier post-lift...

 

[mreedbmwm3]

Thanks Guys I just ordered the kit from Slee with the UCA! I'm soon excited!!! I can't believe I've done this!

 

[mreedbmwm3]

Kevin, how have you enjoyed the lift? Do you like the 285, or do you wish you would've gone with 275 70?

 

[Markuson]

Kevin, how have you enjoyed the lift? Do you like the 285, or do you wish you would've gone with 275 70?

Kevin, how have you enjoyed the lift? Do you like the 285, or do you wish you would've gone with 275 70?

33's fit extremely well...handle & ride well...and look great.

Here's mine...pre & post-lift. Mine are 17", but 18's work well too.

Personally, I think you'll be amazed at how this mod changes the "character" of your truck.
It visually abandons any association with comments like, "Is that a Highlander?" , to the Land Cruiser it always was.

Stock Wheels/Tires, Pre-Lift:

Pre-lift with BFG AT KO2's:

Post-Lift:

Couple More Post-Lift:

You're gonna love your lift.

 

[mreedbmwm3]

Thanks Bro, I can't wait, I appreciate the feedback!

 

[Haggis]

I just ordered up the same suspension. Glad I went with the UCA's. To be installed next week. With the ARB bumpers in the front and rear, I need this lift BAD!

 

[mreedbmwm3]

33's fit extremely well...handle & ride well...and look great.

Here's mine...pre & post-lift. Mine are 17", but 18's work well too.

Personally, I think you'll be amazed at how this mod changes the "character" of your truck.
It visually abandons any association with comments like, "Is that a Highlander?" , to the Land Cruiser it always was.

Stock Wheels/Tires, Pre-Lift:

View attachment 1238042
Pre-lift with BFG AT KO2's:
View attachment 1238044

Post-Lift:
View attachment 1238039

Couple More Post-Lift:
View attachment 1238045

View attachment 1238046

You're gonna love your lift.

What size tires are you running in the lower pictures, and did the Rock Warriors fit without any tweaking?

 

[Markuson]

What size tires are you running in the lower pictures, and did the Rock Warriors fit without any tweaking?

The tires you see in ALL photos (except for the first stock photo) are BFG KO2 all terrains in 285/70/17.

If you have stock wheels, 275/70/18 will actually get you a slightly larger tire, but close to the same.

Both of the above should fit just fine, with or without a lift.

 

[mreedbmwm3]

The tires you see in ALL photos (except for the first stock photo) are BFG KO2 all terrains in 285/70/17.

If you have stock wheels, 275/70/18 will actually get you a slightly larger tire, but close to the same.

Both of the above should fit just fine, with or without a lift.

Will 295 70 17 fit with my lift and the Rock Warriors?

 

[Markuson]

Will 295 70 17 fit with my lift and the Rock Warriors?

BFG doesn't make 295/70/17 in a KO2.

Beyond that... Not sure. Most brand's stated measurements are way off the mark compared with mounted size...

Here are some other models in that size:
295/70R17 Tires

 

[Mineral]

@Markuson - well done! Thanks for sharing pre- and post- photos; should have come from the factory that way!

@mreedbmwm3 - did you go 2" ome lift or did you go a different route? if the former, what piece of info convinced you to go with new UCAs?

@All - What height lift is the tipping point for needing new UCAs in order to maintain proper alignment? Some guys say their alignment is fine w stock UCA and 2" lift, others advocate for new UCAs as soon as the front goes up. Some use phrases such as the new UCAs make it "easier to align", but does that mean it won't align properly w a front end lift - or is just more challenging until a certain height necessitates UCAs? Seems anything above 2": UCAs are needed; below 2": they are not; and at 2": has been kind of subjective. Is that a fair assessment? If so, looking to shed more objective light on UCAs at 2" lift. If the tipping point is not 2", then looking for where it is on the lc200.

Thanks!

 

[Markuson]

@Mineral

Here’s a pretty simple (brief) explanation of the benefits of UCAs when lifting IFS...and ya, it's mostly related to proper alignment.

Should you get aftermarket upper control arms?

 

[Mineral]

Great write-up Markuson. Thanks for sharing; I second your recommendation for others to read it, as well.

Sounds like the tipping point to upgrade UCAs for the author is 1" of lift for the typical IFS Toyota truck. At 2" the typical Toyota IFS truck will be left with neutral/negative caster resulting in a "darty" tendency on stock UCAs.

(Note: I had a Toytec 3/2 lift on my 05 4R on OEM UCAs for 5+ years and don't recall being concerned with a "darty" feel, but did notice the vehicle lost some of its planted feel after the lift.)

The author of the referenced post identified my two main concerns w aftermarket UCAs: noise/maintenance (uni-ball) or potential for catastrophic failure (ball joint).

The above 3 uca options (stock, uni-ball, or ball joint) appear to have their tradeoffs after 1" of lift; pick your poison.

However, there is a fourth option: Tundra front end conversion. There are a few guys running it on this forum and would be curious at what front end lift height they go from positive to neutral/negative caster w the tundra front end installed.

 

[mreedbmwm3]

@Markuson - well done! Thanks for sharing pre- and post- photos; should have come from the factory that way!

@mreedbmwm3 - did you go 2" ome lift or did you go a different route? if the former, what piece of info convinced you to go with new UCAs?

@All - What height lift is the tipping point for needing new UCAs in order to maintain proper alignment? Some guys say their alignment is fine w stock UCA and 2" lift, others advocate for new UCAs as soon as the front goes up. Some use phrases such as the new UCAs make it "easier to align", but does that mean it won't align properly w a front end lift - or is just more challenging until a certain height necessitates UCAs? Seems anything above 2": UCAs are needed; below 2": they are not; and at 2": has been kind of subjective. Is that a fair assessment? If so, looking to shed more objective light on UCAs at 2" lift. If the tipping point is not 2", then looking for where it is on the lc200.

Thanks!

Easier alignment. I’ve been very happy with the purchase.

 

[Climbingnut]

@Markuson, thanks for the link to that article. I too agree on the need for aftermarket UCA's, but am not sure about his viewpoints on the SPC's. I know you run them, Christo recommends and sells them, as do a number of others. I'm not saying the TC's are bad, but I think the author's view on the SPC's may be based on a limited occurrence. Has anyone had any issues with their SPC UCA's?

 

[TonyP]

@Markuson, thanks for the link to that article. I too agree on the need for aftermarket UCA's, but am not sure about his viewpoints on the SPC's. I know you run them, Christo recommends and sells them, as do a number of others. I'm not saying the TC's are bad, but I think the author's view on the SPC's may be based on a limited occurrence. Has anyone had any issues with their SPC UCA's?

A bushing failed on mine.

 

[Markuson]

@Markuson, thanks for the link to that article. I too agree on the need for aftermarket UCA's, but am not sure about his viewpoints on the SPC's. I know you run them, Christo recommends and sells them, as do a number of others. I'm not saying the TC's are bad, but I think the author's view on the SPC's may be based on a limited occurrence. Has anyone had any issues with their SPC UCA's?

Honestly, I posted that link because it gave a simple explanation of why you add UCAs.
Wasn't thinking along the lines of the author's choice in which brand.

 

[Climbingnut]

@TonyP , did you just change the bushing, or did you move to a whole different brand of UCA? If you could go back purchase the UCA's over again, would you have changed brands?

 

[TonyP]

@TonyP , did you just change the bushing, or did you move to a whole different brand of UCA? If you could go back purchase the UCA's over again, would you have changed brands?

Swapped the bushing. SPC would have replaced free under warranty but I bought from Amazon and they don't honor warranties from Amazon sellers.

Yes, I'd definitely purchase again.