Nitro UCA too good to pass up?

[onelittlestar]

Having owned my 200 for roughly 3 days now, I feel like I'm in a great position to make bad decisions on what aftermarket parts to purchase and install, so here goes....

Saw an Ad popup for Nitro Gear sale and went to check for potential 4.88's and much to my surprise, they were...not on sale. However, their UCA's were so dirt cheap I couldn't help myself and I ordered a set.

Nitro-Gear UCA's
$287 + tax

So, for anyone in the mood to make a potentially poor decision, though for that price and an hour or so of my time, can't be all bad, though your YMMV...

I haven't gotten to the UCA do's and don'ts yet, I still have stock ones on this truck, paired with some Kings in need of a rebuild, but I'll track down those squeaks and I'm starting with these.

 

[TLC2013]

Great price, I have been using these for a few years now. I like their UCAs, No complaints, quiet, zero squeaks, and my alignments are spot on for caster/camber.

 

[lx200inAR]

Well, hopefully these work out. I just ordered a set as well...

 

[onelittlestar]

Hey I’m going to count this as my first contribution to the forum!

 

[grinchy]

i don't even need uca and am considering this deal

 

[lx200inAR]

i don't even need uca and am considering this deal

That's where i landed...Figure the bushings in my OEM are 13yr old now...and these are mostly just beefier OEM arms with some extra caster...and with this deal cheaper than OEM.

 

[TeCKis300]

These do look excellent. I like that they use OEM style bushings. For a street car, IMO they are the best as they are durable and long lasting, have better NVH isolation, and are noise and service free.

For those fitting really large 34+ tires and minor lifts (AHC guys) - UCAs with caster correction may complicate and reduce the clearance against the body mount. That is because they inherently move the centerline of the front wheel back (towards body mount) to achieve more caster. Versus using the factory LCA adjuster to push the centerline forward (away from body mount) to achieve caster.

Can't say I'm not tempted as these are a great deal, but it wouldn't work for my 35x12.5 fitment unless I'm prepared to chop the body mount more aggressively.

 

[onelittlestar]

These do look excellent. I like that they use OEM style bushings. For a street car, IMO they are the best as they are durable and long lasting, have better NVH isolation, and are noise and service free.

For those fitting really large 34+ tires and minor lifts (AHC guys) - UCAs with caster correction may complicate and reduce the clearance against the body mount. That is because they inherently move the centerline of the front wheel back (towards body mount) to achieve more caster. Versus using the factory LCA adjuster to push the centerline forward (away from body mount) to achieve caster.

Can't say I'm not tempted as these are a great deal, but it wouldn't work for my 35x12.5 fitment unless I'm prepared to chop the body mount more aggressively.

Good point, though I shoot for at least +4 deg and these claim to give an additional 3 degrees, so hopefully not the wrong move once the lowers are adjusted too. I've got a set of SPC's on the 4Runner, but can't stand the noise they make, it's not squeaky, but it's a noise that doesn't agree with me.

If they don't work out, I'll just have to go full ham and order some TC uppers and lowers

 

[TLC2013]

@onelittlestar achieving 4 degrees of positive caster should be easy. With these UCAs on my LC I have flucated between 3.0-3.8 degrees of positive caster and my alignment tabs are pretty much in the middle of their adjustment range on the LCA.
With 34” tires I can’t go much over 3 degrees or the tire will be into Driver KDSS sway bar.

 

[lx200inAR]

Anyone who ordered these get any word on the shipping or anything? I’ve sent one email and gotten no response.

 

[onelittlestar]

Mine arrived on Wednesday

 

[lx200inAR]

Mine arrived on Wednesday

Well, i guess that's reassuring. I haven't received any notification that anything has happened other than the receipt i got from PayPal. Maybe the package will just show up.

 

[onelittlestar]

Well, i guess that's reassuring. I haven't received any notification that anything has happened other than the receipt i got from PayPal. Maybe the package will just show up.

I received a couple emails, one from justdifferentials.com with invoice payment details as well as a shipping email from DPIoffroad.com

Check your junk box

 

[lx200inAR]

I received a couple emails, one from justdifferentials.com with invoice payment details as well as a shipping email from DPIoffroad.com

Check your junk box

Thanks for the info, I just shot off another email to Nitro and DPI. My first one was to JustDifferentials, since that's what was on my receipt.

 

[jefo13]

Man, this site makes me $pend!
I ordered only because my OEM upper balljoints are leaking and I anticipate failure at some point. For this price, it was hard to pass... I also opted for the additional discount (Use code WELCOME5) so got them for slightly under $300

 

[lx200inAR]

Man, this site makes me $pend!
I ordered only because my OEM upper balljoints are leaking and I anticipate failure at some point. For this price, it was hard to pass... I also opted for the additional discount (Use code WELCOME5) so got them for slightly under $300

I noticed the WELCOME5 code on my phone, but did not get it on the browser..probably popup blocker. A customer rep from DCI responded to my email, but just forwarded to Nitro, who was also already on the email chain. So we will see what comes of that.

 

[onelittlestar]

I wouldn't worry about it, they're not a fly by night company

 

[lx200inAR]

I wouldn't worry about it, they're not a fly by night company

For that reason, i haven't been too worried about being made whole one way or the other...just didn't want my order to slip through the cracks for too long.

 

[onelittlestar]

Not a bad looking UCA setup for under $300

 

[OregonLC]

Thanks for the heads up on this deal. I needed to get replacement UCAs for the 100 but added these as well. My SPCs have about 75k on them. Have already had one set of bushings fail, will likely replace by 100k.

Having these for only $287 is a no-brainer. Hard to justify messing with pressing bearings and ball joints for that price. And I get shiny new arms. Love the OE-style bushing and sealed ball joint.