One of the best videos explaining upper control arms (UCA), lifts, and alignment

[Rkgzx9leftcoast]

Great video on alignment, lifts, and upper control arms.

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[Draughon]

That was actually really helpful! I put a 2'' lift on my Bronco last xmas - and want to run larger tires - now I know a teensy bit more about what I need to do. Thanks for posting!

 

[604Bronco]

Great video - Really helpful information, presented in pretty basic terms and examples.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Fordified1]

They’re in the business of selling control arms. My Bronco aligned just fine with stock uppers. My son did the alignment and at my request added additional caster.

 

[Rkgzx9leftcoast]

Yeah, you can align to certain lift heights with stock uppers. The geometry, and how it stresses your CV joints at max droop and lift comes into play. Its more than just an alignment.

 

[Fordified1]

Yeah, you can align to certain lift heights with stock uppers. The geometry, and how it stresses your CV joints at max droop and lift comes into play. Its more than just an alignment.

I would trust stock uppers to not allow over extended full droop more than aftermarket. Per the video they are just building in some slight caster and camber correction into their aftermarket uppers. Not rocket science. But you spend your money how you see fit for a 2” lift .

 

[GroovyGeek]

When Bilstein was testing 8112s on my Bronco they said that the Bronco aligned just fine with stock UCAs and over 3.5" lift. They had lifted it that much just for testing. In the end I ended up with 2" lift on stock UCAs.

By all accounts the Bronco UCAs are designed better than the Toyota ones, at least in terms of tolerance for lift. From what I have read with a Toyota you do need UCAs with 2" lift.

 

[0ne]

It’s vanity, beefier looking pretty colored aftermarket ones are rad

 

[Aonarch]

When Bilstein was testing 8112s on my Bronco they said that the Bronco aligned just fine with stock UCAs and over 3.5" lift. They had lifted it that much just for testing. In the end I ended up with 2" lift on stock UCAs.

By all accounts the Bronco UCAs are designed better than the Toyota ones, at least in terms of tolerance for lift. From what I have read with a Toyota you do need UCAs with 2" lift.

Yup, the stock UCAs are great.

On my last Toyota I ran Bilstein UCAs. They were excellent and were necessary even with just a 2" lift.

 

[Rkgzx9leftcoast]

Like I said already...when you are adjusting camber mostly with the bottom arms(cams) only you are effectively lengthening your CV shafts. Which leads to issues with your CVs at full droop.

Good aftermarket upper arms move the ball joint location to correct this. Really good billet arms are adjustable at the top heim joints, allowing you to use them to adjust camber.

 

[Fordified1]

Like I said already...when you are adjusting camber mostly with the bottom arms(cams) only you are effectively lengthening your CV shafts. Which leads to issues with your CVs at full droop.

Good aftermarket upper arms move the ball joint location to correct this. Really good billet arms are adjustable at the top heim joints, allowing you to use them to adjust camber.

Now you’re just making stuff up lol.
Actually you have to bring the lower in to correct the camber at lift, but not that much, (shorter arm on top brings top of the tire in at lift) so you’re shortening the shaft a tiny amount. All well within the design limits.

Good aftermarket UCA’s are cool and necessary in extreme situations. But 99% of the folks who are buying them don’t need them and I would hazard a guesss that some of the cheaper ones are not as good as factory stock. And if they have heim joints, a double-sheer connection should be done at the frame so as not to bend the bolts when doing knarly stuff.

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