Upper Control Arm Suggestions

mulze42

Known Member
Oct 10, 2017
152
22
18
I was wondering if anybody could provide suggestions on aftermarket upper control arms? I have found three vendors, Camburg, Total Chaos, and SPC that offer them for the Tundra / Sequoia and wanted to know if you guys had an opinion on what was best.

Currently I have 265/65/17 or 265/70/17 (I can't remember off the top of my head) but I definitely have some positive camber after lifting the truck to the top notch on 5100s and would like to increase the size of the tire to 275 or 285s in spring sometime.

Any suggestions you can provide would be great. Thank you!
 

desertrunner04

Active Member
Dec 3, 2017
33
13
8
52
I read as much as I could find and then went with the SPC upper control arms. Sealed ball joints. I have 5100s in front and back, OME 2885 in front and OME 2862 in the back.
1stgenoffroad.com is another site and recently had a group buy on the SPC control arms.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mulze42

mulze42

Known Member
Oct 10, 2017
152
22
18
I read as much as I could find and then went with the SPC upper control arms. Sealed ball joints. I have 5100s in front and back, OME 2885 in front and OME 2862 in the back.
1stgenoffroad.com is another site and recently had a group buy on the SPC control arms.

Now that you mention it, I remember that about the group buy. Will have to dig up them email because it was a month old to see where that is at. Thanks for the reminder.

Is the only reason you went with SPC was because of the ball joints? Or did you have other reasons?
 

mulze42

Known Member
Oct 10, 2017
152
22
18
Great thank you very much. Will look at performing the install myself.
 

Nisken

Active Member
Dec 12, 2017
43
5
8
35
Upper controls arms are easy to install. Remove the upper ball joint nut, hit the upper control arm with a hammer to release the tapered fit, loosen the upper control arm bolt and remove it. Reverse to install. To remove the upper control arm bolt you will need to undo the black protective flaps at the back of the wheel well as the bolts are roughly 14 inches long. It's finicky to get the bolt out but it's doable.

Torque everything to spec WITH THE VEHICLE WEIGHT ON THE TRUCK. Whether you do that with a jack stand under the lower control arm to simulate vehicle weight OR actually install the wheel and torque down (more difficult).
 
  • Like
Reactions: mulze42

mulze42

Known Member
Oct 10, 2017
152
22
18
Will take this and a couple of youtube vids to see if its something I want to do myself. I swear I'm not afraid but also want to look at the cost benefit of having the shop do it all at once along with other maintenance @180k.
 

magic_bob

Active Member
May 12, 2018
20
3
3
38
San Diego/ Waipahu
Hello! Im a huge newb when it comes to suspensions on our vehicle.

Right now I have a leveling kit (3inch front/2inch rear) and will be installing my 5100 shocks this weekend. I was hoping to use the 5100 fronts on the middle notch for a little bit more lift.

At what point will I need upper control arms?

My front looks like it's much lower than my rears so I was hoping to squeeze out another inch from the adjustments on the shocks.

41851039374_e5f5370ea0_k.jpg
 

mulze42

Known Member
Oct 10, 2017
152
22
18
FWIW I'm a noob too but I think you can get away with the standard UCAs if its just at the middle notch. I had mine at the top notch for a 2.5" lift and I think at that point it needed them but I think it would be wise to put them on the first time if it fits the budget currently. That way you are ready if you ever wanted to go higher. I actually had mine lifted back down from the top notch to the middle notch and my ride quality got better and I can still fit larger tires onto my truck.

Also, are you using 5100s for the rear shocks? If so with what coils? If you are using the ARB OME 268X coils really think about swapping out the rear shocks with something like the Dobinson GS59-685. Sal has a huge writeup on it in his build post. I'll be updating mine this weekend hopefully
 

magic_bob

Active Member
May 12, 2018
20
3
3
38
San Diego/ Waipahu
I dont have any after market coils on the sequoia right now. I have spacers on for the lift.

I was wondering if it'd be possible to put the ring on at least the second from the bottom notch for a little bit more lift. I want my front to go up just a little bit more from where you see in the picture now.

I have the 5100 front and rear. The rear are those ones for the FJ and 4runner. I'm not really planning to take it anywhere too crazy but occasionally i'll hit up the fire roads for a drive.
 

mulze42

Known Member
Oct 10, 2017
152
22
18
Yeah I think you definitely could. I think the second notch gives you .65" of lift in the front and the middle 1.5" if I remember correctly so I say go for it. And I don't think you will need aftermarket UCAs to be able to align correctly.

If you do decide to go for aftermarket coils prepare to also swap out the FJ 5100s. My rule of thumb is, if in doubt, check Sal's build to see what he might have done.
 

Boba Fett

New Member
Jul 4, 2019
14
5
3
50
Upper controls arms are easy to install. Remove the upper ball joint nut, hit the upper control arm with a hammer to release the tapered fit, loosen the upper control arm bolt and remove it. Reverse to install. To remove the upper control arm bolt you will need to undo the black protective flaps at the back of the wheel well as the bolts are roughly 14 inches long. It's finicky to get the bolt out but it's doable.

Torque everything to spec WITH THE VEHICLE WEIGHT ON THE TRUCK. Whether you do that with a jack stand under the lower control arm to simulate vehicle weight OR actually install the wheel and torque down (more difficult).

What you are describing is the easy part I used a 3 pound sledge hammer and several good whacks to break the nut loose. I just put new JBA offroad upper control arms in my 2005 sequoia and easy is not the word I would use. On the sequoias you need a special Toyota ball joint adapter to press out the upper ball joint. I went to three different auto parts stores in my area and none of them had the adapter needed. I had to improvise I ended up cutting the top of the ball join stud off and pressed it out. You need lots of penetrating oil a 2'-3' cheater bar and muscle to press that ball joint out.
 

Jgrauman

Well-Known Member
Feb 18, 2019
221
53
28
42
What you are describing is the easy part I used a 3 pound sledge hammer and several good whacks to break the nut loose. I just put new JBA offroad upper control arms in my 2005 sequoia and easy is not the word I would use. On the sequoias you need a special Toyota ball joint adapter to press out the upper ball joint. I went to three different auto parts stores in my area and none of them had the adapter needed. I had to improvise I ended up cutting the top of the ball join stud off and pressed it out. You need lots of penetrating oil a 2'-3' cheater bar and muscle to press that ball joint out.
Crazy, never had this issue doing ucas or ball joints on any Toyota. Have done the ball joint with uca on and off alike without that problem. Sucks you had such a hard time with it.