Aftermarket arms solve this by having a slightly different geometry than the factory ones. They also have more adjustability for alignment built into them. This extra adjustability not only lets you get back to factory specs, but it allows more flexibility when aligning your vehicle too.

Are aftermarket upper control arms necessary?

If you lift your 4WD, altering your vehicles geometry, then yes you will need adjustable upper control arms. An aftermarket control arm, when designed correctly like SuperPro 4x4 Control arms, will correct alignment and inherent clearance issues that arise when you lift or modify the suspension of your 4WD.

What do Aftermarket upper control arms do?

Upper control arms are found on independent front suspension (IFS) vehicles and generally connects the top of the spindle to the frame. The UCA is generally not a load bearing piece of an IFS suspension; rather, its purpose is to guide your spindle in a pre-determined motion when your suspension cycles up or down.

Do performance control arms make a difference?

If your desire is to restore the original comfort of a new-car ride, replacement control arms, bushings, and ball joints are your best bet. If your tastes lean towards tighter handling, ride height changes, or off-roading, performance components can make a noticeable difference.

What do adjustable upper control arms do?

Adjustable control arms are used to adjust wheel camber. Camber is the vertical alignment of the wheels. Negative camber means that the top of the wheel is tipped inward toward the center of the vehicle. Positive camber means that top of the wheel is tipped outward, away from the center of the vehicle.

Aftermarket Upper Control Arms (UCAs) - Filthy Motorsports

22 related questions found

How do I know if I need upper control arms?

If you have any steering wheel wandering, it may be a sign of a malfunctioning upper control arm. Excessively worn bushings and ball joints can cause the vehicle's steering alignment to shift in one direction, causing the steering wheel to turn by itself.

Do I need upper control arms for a 6 lift?

If your truck has stamped steel upper control arms and you want to level or 6″ lift your truck—you will need to install either an aftermarket upper control arm OR purchase the factory aluminum upper control arms to replace your stamped control arms.

What are the benefits of upper control arms?

The Top Five Benefits of Upper Control Arms

• Making Gains. Any mass-produced part is going to be a compromise, and OEM upper control arms are no exception. ...
• Getting Aligned. ...
• Coil Clearance. ...
• Better Balls And Joints. ...
• Unlocking Wheel Travel.

What does upper control arm connect to?

The upper control arm connects to the uppermost area of the front wheel and the lower control arm connects to the lower most area of the front wheel, with both arms then attaching to the frame of the car. If you have independent rear suspension, the design is similar.

Do tubular A arms make a difference?

Lastly, tubular control arms look great! They are welded and powder coated, and they let people know you have a performance handling ride! While stock arms are bulky stamped steel and not very appealing, QA1 tubular control arms will make your suspension look as good as the rest of your car!

When should I replace upper control arms?

Signs your control arm assembly needs to be replaced include:

• The steering wheel or vehicle vibrates while you are driving down the road.
• Loud noises, such as banging, when you go over bumps or potholes.
• Uneven tire wear.
• The steering wheel is not as responsive as it was before.

Do you need new upper control arms for a leveling kit?

Technically, most all leveling kits, for rams, dakotas, f-150s, and the like should have new upper control arms. The problem is, once the kit is in, and you are under full articulation, the strut is extended 2.5" longer then it should be, because the leveling kit displaced it 2.5" lower on the strut mount on the frame.

What do aftermarket lower control arms do?

Their main purpose is to support the up and down movement of the axles. The lower control arms also transmit the force from the wheels to the chassis. Of course, control arms are much lighter, and more effective in preventing axle wrap than the traditional leaf spring set up.

Why are UCA so expensive?

Drop Bracket, UCAs, Spindles all cost so much because you are not just paying for the product and the physical materials, you are paying for the engineering and the research and development that went into to making the products.

Do you need new upper control arms with Bilstein 5100?

There's no need for new uca's with 5100's on the middle or top settings. Mine are on the middle setting and I had no problem getting it within factory alignment specs with the stock uca's. Not sure why they said your ride wouldn't be good either.

Do you need new control arms for a 3.5 inch lift?

Yes, only need rear uppers to adjust the pinion angle for a double cardan. If you're doing only front, which I recommend for 3.5, then you only need front lowers to set the caster angle.

Should I replace both upper and lower control arms?

It is not necessary to replace both lower or both upper control arms if one is bad, but often they wear out at roughly the same mileage. If one control arm is bad and the other is on its way, it makes sense to replace both arms at once. This way, you only need to do the wheel alignment once.

Does upper control arm affect alignment?

Yes, when you do any major work to the front suspension, you need to have the alignment done. Even though the parts are "basically" the same, they are not exact. Newer parts will be tighter than old (less deflection and no wear), so will put the alignment into a different position.

Are aluminum or steel control arms better?

In most cases, an aluminum component is as strong or stronger than steel or cast iron. ... Aluminum is more heat sensitive than iron or steel. The heat from welding can ruin the temper of a component and make it more brittle. When inspecting a vehicle with aluminum control arms, pay special attention to the ball joints.

Do aftermarket upper control arms improve ride quality?

Aftermarket control arms often weigh less than OEM control arms, reducing unsprung suspension weight and improving ride quality. Aftermarket control arms can also accommodate replacement shocks that offer better all-around performance than OEM shocks.

Do you need new UCA for 2 lift?

You don't need the UCA. I did the 2.5” MotoFab level kit and worked great without issues.

Do you need new control arms for a 2.5 inch lift?

When putting a 2.5 inch lift on a Jeep Wrangler it is wise to replace the control arms. Without this modification, the strut and the control arm could rub against each other while driving leading to serious damage. New control arms may require some other modifications as well.

How long do control arms last?

Over time, the control arm assembly can become worn or bent. These assemblies normally wear out between 90,000 and 100,000 miles. They can wear out faster if you go over a large pothole or are involved in a car accident. Various parts of the assembly may wear out as well, such as the bushings or ball joints.

Does a magnet stick to cast steel control arms?

Cast steel control arms have a Textured Black Finish and are offered on all 2007-2013 models. If you have a 2014-April 2016 model then you must check to identify which control arms you have. A magnet will stick to forged and stamped steel control arms.

What happens if you don't replace control arms?

Having damaged control arms and worn bushings or ball joints could cause suspension parts to become misaligned. When this occurs, you may experience issues with steering and handling. ... If a vehicle rams your wheel from the side, it usually bends a lower control arm, but you'll probably notice that as it happens as well.