Ill be doing a small lift soon using Radflo 2.5 coil overs in front, and want the suspension geometry to be spot on. I’m looking for the most transparent UCA’s possible. Ie: not looking for something that needs to be greased every 3-4 weeks, transmits more NVH through stiff bearings, etc. What are your recommendations?
UCA’s, ICON vs SPC vs Dobinson (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Hammeredsole
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I ran the Total Chaos arms on my tacoma and tundra. They'll shortly be on the LC as well. No complaints and were rock solid units. I don't really think you can go wrong with any of the above choices. I haven't experienced any NVH with any arms I've installed.
I'm going to be doing the OME BP-51 and been looking at seeing if I need UCA as well, lots of guys have been using the SPC UCA, so I think I'm going that route unless anyone else says other wise
- Thread starter
- #4
I chose the Total Chaos UCAs. There is no adjustability, which is what I like about them. Built super solid and simple.
FWIW, I have stock suspension on my 200, but upgraded to Total Chaos UCAs from SPCs on my 120. I’m inching closer to upgrading suspension on the 200 and will likely be deciding between TC and Trail Tailor. People seem to be happy with their SPCs, I can attest that they have decent customer service, but only because I needed to deal with them several times over design issues/fixes. I’ve never once had an issue with my TC UCAs.
I have been very happy with my Black Hawk UCAS from Endless Horizon. I have had them on for a year with the OME kit I bought from Cruiser Outfitters. They aligned perfect and should be reliable with an OEM style upper ball joint and frame bushings.
Thought I'd add my recent experience to this thread rather than start another one. I would caution against the Icon UCA (and rear LCA).
Previous owner installed the full Icon kit - lift springs and shocks, UCA, rear LCA. Suspension now is creaking and groaning, showing some rust on the misalignment spacers.
I could *try* to get Icon to warranty the UCAs/LCAs, but I'm not optimistic. Check me on this.
Enough rant for tonight. Will advise how it turns out.
DN
Previous owner installed the full Icon kit - lift springs and shocks, UCA, rear LCA. Suspension now is creaking and groaning, showing some rust on the misalignment spacers.
- Icon UCAs and LCAs use tie-rod ends (aka "heim joints") to connect to the truck.
- Advantage: strongest, most direct connection. Race trucks use heims. Relatively easy to adjust/align.
- Disadvantage: Harsher ride. Not greasable. They squeak. Race trucks replace them after every race. Some of mine seized on the ball/spacers
- Solution: I ordered Johnny Joints (urethane bushed, greasable) to replace the rod ends and took it to a local 4x4 shop to swap them out
- Icon UCA and LCA are aluminum with steel threaded inserts for the rod ends
- Pro: Aluminum is light. The machined billet arms look sweet. Easy to adjust length of arms when installing
- Con: Aluminum + steel = galvanic corrosion. Sleeves seized in the arms. And the steel heims are seized in the sleeves
- Another con: aluminum is softer than steel, so if/when you can break the sleeves loose, it destroys the threads in the aluminum.
- Uniball (Icon, and Total Chaos?) vs. ball joint (SPC, TT?): I don't understand all the pros/cons here, but all I know is that they uniballs on my UCAs are completely shot - very loose.
I could *try* to get Icon to warranty the UCAs/LCAs, but I'm not optimistic. Check me on this.
- They previously told me their "lifetime warranty" is only for the aluminum arm itself, not the sleeves, bolts, nuts, or heims;
- Who knows how long it would take going back and forth with them hoping they would cover the [likely] damage to the arms caused by removing the heims & sleeves. To be fair I haven't raised this new issue with them, but I have a feeling they would say "installation error" or something like that.
- According to the shop] Icon is always on an 8-10 week lead time.
- I don't want to spend 2-3 months all in with my truck parked awaiting new parts.
Enough rant for tonight. Will advise how it turns out.
DN
- Thread starter
- #9
I struggled with this decision too. I went Total Chaos initially, they were a squeaky creaky gooey mess. I had to grease them almost daily to keep them quiet, and the uniballs collected sand and grit. All the gooey slimy silicon oozed all over the suspension and close areas. Switched to SPC’s. Absolutely quiet, totally adjustable, and look OEM. Very pleased, and grease them with black moly grease every 3-5k miles or so.
The shop said the TC's would "have the same problems the Icons do" -- but that didn't make sense since they don't have the rod ends, rather bushings. But I think he was referring to the uniball vs. the ball joint on the SPC. I don't know enough about the two joints to really articulate the pros/cons. But on this forum it seems there were a lot of happy customers of both. I think it comes down to individual needs / use cases.
The Trail Tailor ones look similar at the joints to the SPC. But I like the housed Johnny Joints in the TT. Easily rebuildable, and the greasable zerk fittings lets me pretend that I'm doing my own maintenance on my truck. The SPC is more adjustable, but on the TT the extra camber for the lift is built-in, as with the TC. Some prefer that simplicity, others the adjustability of the SPC. Horses for courses.
The Trail Tailor ones look similar at the joints to the SPC. But I like the housed Johnny Joints in the TT. Easily rebuildable, and the greasable zerk fittings lets me pretend that I'm doing my own maintenance on my truck. The SPC is more adjustable, but on the TT the extra camber for the lift is built-in, as with the TC. Some prefer that simplicity, others the adjustability of the SPC. Horses for courses.
Pretty sure there is a version of the TCs with the heim joints but I do hear they are more hassle than they are worth, plus they cost more. It's funny I hear people talk about the TCs being loud and I have to think user error. Either not assembled right the first time (ie torque set with truck on lift - should be on ground before torquing), or improper grease type. I grease mine mayyyybe every 5k miles (which takes all of 10 mins) and I've never heard a sound after 23k miles on them. Like you say though, to each their own and only time will tell how long these TCs hold up before they need new bushings or uniball.
I'm at 80k on my TC's and no real problems. A bit squeaky at times but pretty impressed that they've lasted this long. Refreshing to BP51's soon and it's time to rebuild or replace. Most likely just rebuild them given the performance so far.
Most ppl down under use Black Hawk UCA's. Icons have issues and down here take months to get any issues fixed. TC arms loose alignment, especially if you drive hard. There is some new arms out with adjustable Inner joints
www.superiorengineering.com.au
Superior Billet Alloy Upper Control Arms Suitable For Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series (Pair) SUP-LC200UCA | Superior Engineering
Huge range of heavy duty 4X4 accessories & suspension parts for most makes & models of 4WD vehicles. Buy online. Australia wide delivery.
www.superiorengineering.com.au
FWIW, I have ran both ICON and Total Chaos on 4Runners previously. The uniballs on the ICONs were creaking and popping within 1000 miles. I called in to their customer support and discussed it with one of the techs, and he determined it was outside of norms. They had brand new uniballs dropped shipped from their supplier FK Rod Ends. Overall, it was a positive experience.
As far as the TC Uppers, I had no issues at all.
As far as the TC Uppers, I had no issues at all.
Hey was wondering how are the TT UCA holding up I was thinking of getting a pair. TIAI have the Trail Tailor UCA's. Only about 1000 miles on them, they seem very will built, were easy to install and fixed my alignment issue.
Please ignore the excess grease on the zirk fittings, I cleaned them after the picture!
I'm wondering about the new OME UCA's and if they are better than the SPC, TT or BH? The OME's have that new GIIRO flex joint that I wonder how it will hold up over time and if it helps much with flex?
Also the OME says up to 2" lift but maybe they will work fine up to 3"?
Also the OME says up to 2" lift but maybe they will work fine up to 3"?
CharlieS
GOLD Star
I have a set of Dobinson's UCAs going on later this week. They look really good sitting in the box... . They have serviceable made in Japan 555 ball joints and rubber bushings like the factory arms. I don't need massive adjustability, just correction for a minor ~2.5" lift. I don't really "need" them, but the factory arms put me at the outer limits of the adjustment range. @crikeymike ('mud member) sells them and is having a sale right now.
. They have serviceable made in Japan 555 ball joints and rubber bushings like the factory arms. I don't need massive adjustability, just correction for a minor ~2.5" lift. I don't really "need" them, but the factory arms put me at the outer limits of the adjustment range. @crikeymike ('mud member) sells them and is having a sale right now.
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Thanks for the tag. Be sure to post up photos and your thoughts after they're installed.I have a set of Dobinson's UCAs going on later this week. They look really good sitting in the box...
Black Friday sale ends on the 30th!!
You do not need UCA'S with OME BP-51 I have that on my 2018 LC200, I went ahead and got the SPS UCA just for the fact I knew my alignment would be spot on, anything more than the OME BP-51 I would deff recommend UCA. I did it for piece of mind and the possibility of the installer having to dig back in there with more associated costs.
