JBAOffroad Upper Control Arm installation (3RD GEN Toyota 4Runner)

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In this video we show you how to install some aftermarket upper control arms from JBA Offroad. These JBA Upper A-Arms were designed for a spring lift or leveling kit for a lifted Toyota and will directly replace your stock upper control arms.
You can purchase the arms here:
jbaoffroad.com/jba-std-high-c...
The Ball Joint Range of Motion:
Up travel is 40 degrees off center line of the ball joint.
Down travel is 50 degrees off center line.
Full range of motion is 90 degrees
Cerakote clear to protect the ball joint.
JBA UCAs give you MORE!
- More spring clearance is More suspension travel
- More Caster
- More Articulation
- More Traction on the trails
Specs:
STD A-arm tubing 5/32" wall and 1" diameter.
Installation time: 1-3 hours
UCA Maintenance:
We would recommend using a lithium-based grease, one pump of grease in each bushing. Three pumps of grease in the ball joints after the install and every 3000 to 5000 miles.
When purchasing these arms, the package content includes:
- 8 synthetic elastomer a-arm bushings retaining washers
- 4 steel bushing sleeves
- 2 Upper Control arms, left and right with 2 JBA custom ball joints
- 2 Steering knuckle adapter bushings
- 2 Stickers
- Installation Instructions
Made of heavy-duty tubing, red powder coat finish, with replaceable ball joints, 4 grease ports for JBA EZ lube bushings, and ball joint.
Note: Left and Right UCAs are not symmetrical.
Why synthetic elastomer bushings?
Synthetic Elastomer is a long-chained polymer with many urethane constituents. Over the years the formulation has evolved to yield stronger, yet softer compounds ideal for on and off-road applications. As the compound advanced to yield higher tensile strength, elasticity, and dynamic load capacity, JBA uses the bushing to help aid and tune suspension geometry and they will not squeak like polyurethane bushings.
JBA offers a ball joint on their UCA's so what’s the Difference between JBA Ball Joint vs Uni-Ball?
Range of Motion
The Uni-Ball has 66 degrees total range of motion. The JBA Ball Joint, on the other hand, gives you 90 degrees range of motion. That is the widest range of motion that you will find on the market today! The increased range of motion you get from our JBA Ball Joints will allow you to tackle even the toughest off-road traveling in your Toyota 4Runner.
Use Case
The Uni-Ball was designed for offroad racing applications, these vehicles are disassembled and they replace worn parts on their vehicle after every race. In other words, the Uni-Ball is not designed for the everyday weekend warrior who uses their vehicle for regular transportation more than they go off-road. The open design of the Uni-Ball allows dust, dirt, salt, and other debris to enter the component and wear it out prematurely. The JBA Ball Joint, on the other hand, has a semi-sealed construction that keeps debris and the elements out, extending the life of the joint and allowing you to use it in your daily driven vehicle.
Maintenance
When performing maintenance on your off-road vehicle, you will have a much easier time working with a JBA Ball Joint. Why? Because with a Uni-Ball, you must remove the control arms, press out the Uni-Ball to remove it from the control arms, wash it out and re-lube by hand, then press it back into the control arms, then reinstall them onto the vehicle. But the JBA Ball Joint comes with a grease fitting to expedite maintenance.
*HELPFUL TOOLS*
If you're looking for other tools not used in this video, check out Timmy's Master Tool List.
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*OTC Front End Service Kit
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*Snap Ring Pliers
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*Mini Grease Gun
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*Red Devil All Purpose Grease
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*CDI 1/2" Drive 30-250 Foot Pound Torque Wrench

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*CDI 3/8" Drive 10-100 Foot Pound Torque Wrench
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*1/4" and 3/8" Flex Head Ratchet Set - (used the 3/8" ratchet in this video. These ratchets are super functional and will make your wrenching life easier)
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*1/2" Drive Flex Head Gear Wrench Ratchet - (used for the bigger fasteners)
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*1/2" Drive Deep Metric Impact Socket Set
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*1/2" Drive Shallow Impact Socket Set
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*Brake Caliper Hanger Hooks - (much better than using bailing wire)
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*OTC-7249 Ball Joint Service Set
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**PDF on how to assemble all the adapters with the c-press to get the job done. www.otctools.com/sites/defaul...
**As Ebay Partner Network members, we earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
**As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases.

[@claytontycksen9472]

Got by JBA upper arms installed in my 1st gen Tacoma by watching your video like 5 times. Thank you for making this. It was SUPER helpful!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good to hear Clayton, we are stoked our videos are helping people like yourself be successful in their own garage! Now take that money you saved and buy yourself a nice steak dinner!

[@JohnDSmith]

This gives me confidence that I can do the JBA UCA myself! I love how the upper ball joint looks like a much easier install when you go with JBA over stock ball joints.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

That's what we're all about John, giving people the confidence to tackle their own automotive mechanical work. Good luck with the job.

[@christophergoodwin6846]

One tip for putting the puck in the spindle if your having a really hard time is you can throw the puck in the freezer for a few hours so it shrinks a bit then heat up the spindle with a torch and you can probably just tap the puck in with a dead blow hammer.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

solid TIP bro

[@jbissonette45]

Great video. Great you put the full contents of the box in the video. I just installed these on my 1st gen tundra 6 months ago.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for taking the time to to comment. I hope you’re liking the JBA Arms, we went on a trip to Death Valley after we installed ours and they worked very well.

[@cmaysautoyt]

Just installed these 3 days ago !!!! I had the hardest time pressing the ball joint adapter into the spindle but I got them completely installed in a few hours. Still gonna watch this video👍👍😎

[@TimmyTheToolman]

thanks for the love chase! Sicmods

[@rileyalexander9715]

Do these help with clearance between your tires?

[@cubencube]

Great video and helpful as always. Got mine installed as well, thanks again for the help!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

SICMODS bro! Thanks for stopping by the comments section and sharing your success!

[@jerryquintana2508]

Great video helped with the installation pf my sons third gen aftermarket upper control arms. Definitely different than an FJ Cruiser. Cutting what type of part of the upper ball joint off made it extremely easy to press it out.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for the compliment and great to know our video helped you out. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@masterdriveroftoyotazupr4164]

Just got these! Perfect timing.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Sicmods bro! Hope your install goes smoothly.

[@jakeluna6178]

Omg hilarious just installed spc & was searching all all over for a decent video. 🤘

[@TimmyTheToolman]

A day late and a dollar short. Oh well, hopefully the next time you need a video, we'll have just uploaded it for you to reference.

[@hatsofftoya3810]

just finished installing these on my 1st gen tacoma today. thanks for the video!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome. Glad out video helped you get your JBA UCAs installed.

[@alanflores6555]

Did you get alignment?

[@tbomb887]

Mine are on the way! Can't wait to install.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good luck with the install. Happy Wrenching!

[@thomaslam6821]

This is really for DIY guys like me because we don’t have all the tools like shops or pros! Good video bud! 👍

[@TimmyTheToolman]

We're all about DIY Thomas, but we always encourage people to make tool investments. The tools pay for themselves sometimes after just one job due to the money you saved not taking your rig to a shop.

[@44doink]

Hell yes! Timmy to save the day again! Thanks buddy for your great videos!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Well, it was actually Sean and Chris to save the day.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Nice install video guys Great work

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks

[@jsvallee567]

planing to upgrade to jba soon on the tacoma way easier to change a balljoint with jba than oem ones ! thanks for the video guys !

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good luck with the job. You're very welcome!

[@joeygabriele71]

I bought these, very nice...painted mine silver to match my springs

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Sicmods Joey. Thanks for stopping by the comments section.

[@SimpleBelieverInChrist]

Nice cameo appearance by the King of Kings!

[@tomlindelow7984]

Nice video i am thinking of switching from uniball uca's to these.

[@Georvanovic]

I'm no mechanic but watching y'all videos definitely helped me installing my 3 inch lift and my JBA UCAs. Definitely helpful videos though! I'm still having issues getting the alignment done. For some reason it's got positive camber 😒

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good to hear our videos have helped you out. Maybe find a different alignment shop.

[@huntersmith8724]

After dealing with a terrible squeak and occasional clunk (uca hitting the shock mount) from the passenger front for at least a year I decided to give new (non adjustable) UCAs a shot. Its a long story but I was only ~75% confident the UCAs were the problem. I have a 2.5” lift and I can honestly say the reason why I went with the JBA ones is because this video made it so clear and of course the price (why the hell are UCAs so expensive?). I got the 4Runner apart and back together in a few hours and the most difficult part was finding another set of hands to get the bolt back in. It ended up solving every suspension issue I had and now I don’t have to slow down to a crawl when going over speed bumps….

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Glad you solved your issue with the UCA replacements. Good job!

[@billhickman4826]

I just installed these about a month ago, had to watch to make sure I did it right!! Lol

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Haha, doesn’t hurt to double check your install. We found the instructions were very thorough so that helped too.

[@plutosforest]

Just what I was about to do... once I wait 30-45 days for them to ship! But it's nice to study ahead of time 😄

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Quality arms for a manageable price tag. Let us know how your install goes!

[@michaelspangenberg4077]

I've been running these for about 6 months and I've been very pleased. The added down travel is noticeable. Now, when jacking up the front end from the frame, I almost max out my jack before the wheel clears the floor. Be aware, I had a heck of a time getting one of the bushing into the spindle. I had to run a file around the circumference of the bushing to take a few 0.001's off of it. Even then, it shaved off a tiny bit of the surface on the way in. Also, feeding in the upper bolt while installing the washers, is very difficult without an extra set of hands. I was able to do so, but it took a lot of time and patience. All things considered, I'm really happy with them. Great product.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Michael, thanks for sharing your experience, we didn’t experience fighting the bushing but one side did get a little uneven as it went in and we had to reset.. if it gets a little cocked as it goes in, it can be a difficult process. We have also seen over the years that other people had spindles that had a wider hole on top probably due to wear and tear over the last 2 decades so seeing that your spindles were tight for that bushing to use is a good thing. Because that means your spindle is still in a like new spec. Anyhow, thanks for stopping by the comments

[@thomascoolidge2161]

Hey just wanted to follow up and see how your were liking these at 1 year.. also how much maintenance do these need? Thanks in advance!

[@nofyfb123]

@@TimmyTheToolman See if you love them when they fail. Like it happened with me. Their ball joints are garbage.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@nofyfb123 What was the failure like? Did the joint come apart?

[@nofyfb123]

@@TimmyTheToolman If it came apart, I wouldn't be sharing my experience. It was not even loose [YET] but when I tried swinging it by hand - I had it disconnected for another reason which was a leaking [bilstein] strut - I heard and felt BAD scraping like it was full of sand. Which it was. Because jba used wrong boots with huge gap to studs so water and debris could easily get inside. They did know about this PRE-INSTALLED problem because they supplied an aluminum bushing to be installed between the knuckle and the boot but the boot was still loose. As a matter of fact, when I received the UCA's, I immediately questioned jba about this weird design and was assured that everything was correct. Big - no, HUGE - lie. I will replace these ball joints with chevy's which I hate to do but have no choice - OEM Toyota joints won't work with jba's stuff.

[@pradolover]

Great tip with the towel and zip ties. Might need a different kind of ball joint without 😄

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Taking a puller to the face isn't fun. One glanced off my face when breaking free the UBJ from the UCA so that's why we suggest the precautions.

[@edwardledesma9666]

Awesome video

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks!

[@andrewkavanagh1376]

Thanks guys !

[@TimmyTheToolman]

We got you Andrew!

[@bagged.s550]

Just ordered these and some oem lowers hope it’s worth the money lol

[@TimmyTheToolman]

100% bagged bro! that will be a nice upgrade to your front suspension

[@weijia8088]

nice, been wanting these on my rig, now I just need the funds or a 50% discount from JBA hah

[@TimmyTheToolman]

JBA only does military discounts I believe

[@providentpathfinders219]

compared to the other crap out there these are a really good price for what you get. if you what el cheapo there are some chineseum ones on Fleabay.

[@timothyandrewnielsen]

Start praying to Jesus

[@SVSky]

@@TimmyTheToolman Oh nice =). Time to break out my ID card.

[@rollingedges9469]

I know it's an old video but the tips were excellent I did it solo in 3 1/2 hrs. Just a heads up ordering the ball joint press kit in description the kit didn't include the catch cup for the oem ball joint or the small cup to fit over spindle for jba ball joint bushing my buddy had a maddax kit I used those adapters instead. Over all this was money well spent, just wanna say thank you for the tutorial!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yeah, you’re right - that doesn’t include the adapter cup and you have to buy it separately BUT, cutting off the end of the ball Joint shaft allows you to use the cups that come with the kit. - Sean

[@rollingedges9469]

​@@TimmyTheToolmanI tried the cups from the otc 7294 kit but receiver cup over lapped the spindle and looked to mushroom if it got alot of pressure. It looks like an omt kit you show in the video.

[@unshapingtheearth7916]

I could tell you guys are pros, but the nail in the coffin is when you hit that little bracket with paint after cutting it. LEGENDARY

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You just made Sean and Chris very happy. Thanks for the comment.

[@hunterjohnson4954]

The Holiest of control arms! :)

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Haha! I see what you did there...

[@nofyfb123]

Not in my case. Thinking of putting OEM's back...

[@israelrodriguez6986]

@@nofyfb123 why?

[@nofyfb123]

​@@israelrodriguez6986 Their ball joints suck - they don't fit the control arms correctly, are not fully seated. The boots are wrong - there is a .1"+ gap between the boot and the stud so water and sand get in. They attempted to fix it by adding aluminum bushings but they are not thick enough to close the gap. Also, the balls are not smooth as they are supposed to be so they wear out fast when sand/dust is introduced.

[@israelrodriguez6986]

@@nofyfb123 thanks for the info, I'll just buy the Genuine Toyota Upper Ball joints, and save a ton of money. Keep up the good work on digging up info, helps the rest of us make informed decisions.

[@bellfartsonme]

I think I'm going to get a set of theses after i rebuild my bj42s front axel

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good feedback from these arms

[@panard0]

Hey guys! thanks a lot! I really mean it! what I've learn after your videos on replace/fix UCA (JBA OffRoad), CV axles, Spark plugs, valve covers, injectors, LCAs, Tie Rods, Steering and Sway bar bushings, Tundra brakes upgrade, and so is immense!!! My wife said what I spent on it, is immense too, but she does not know how much we saved. Now, I have somewhere in my garage the parts needed to replace the body mounts on my Tacoma 2000, 3.4 4x4. I would like to start this project with a little bit of guidance or even better watching a video of yours on how too...would you guys produce one? thanks again German from Tahoe City, CA

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey German, great to hear how much our videos have helped you with your 1st Gen Tacoma. You are right that you saved an immense amount of money doing your own work. The closest we can come to helping you with the body mount replacements is our body lift video we did on a 3rd Gen 4runner. I think that will give you enough information to get the job done. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGrXdWWfh9F5bbs Good Luck and Happy Wrenching!

[@nofyfb123]

Stick to OEM. Don't ask me how I know...

[@404Offroad]

where were you last week when I was installed mine, thanks for the content

[@TimmyTheToolman]

We were here. Where were you?

[@justintynan2435]

They have made some revisions since I had purchased my set 2 years ago. My arms didn't have the hole drilled for the abs wire I had to zip tie it on. if I remember correctly on the development of these arms the original ball joint used was from a 3/4 ton chevy, not sure if they have kept the same pattern. some thing to keep in mind if for some reason you needed a quick replacement.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

thanks for the comment, Justin. hope your arms are working good for you

[@phatnguyen6834]

Phenomenal video as always👍. Please support this channel guys, and God Bless America✌️

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Brother! We appreciate it!

[@chrisfordham3890]

I have a '98 3rd Gen and just put on the Eibach 3 Stage Front Coilovers w/ Eibach Rear Springs and have been super happy with them plus the price of that whole kit was super reasonable and it's a local company out of Corona California which is nice as I'm in Anaheim. I've been looking for some UCA'S as they're definitely needed since these 3rd Gens are pretty bouncy as it is so I'm hoping these UCA'S will help a little with that absorption also allowing a more even tire tread wear. I was going to go with the SPC'S until I saw these! These are exactly what I've been looking for. Do these compliment the Eibach Coilovers for an overall good set up?? Thank you guys for the best 3rd Gen 4RUNNER maintenance & upgrades walk through video's! Your channel is always easy to follow along with as well as great tips.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

I think these UCAs would work well with any coilovers really. If your suspension is "bouncy", control arms aren't going to make difference. What makes a difference is better shock absorbers.

[@DogSpeak]

I just Installed these on my 97 with new tires and new front disks and all aligned to perfection. I week later a woman crossed into my lane and hit me head on. My poor truck is totaled. I saved for 3 years and put a lot into it. It was such a beautiful truck! Toyota forest green with OME and bilstiens and those pretty red control arms. I actually cried when I saw the wreckage. I'm so bummed and they are getting so hard to find.

[@DogSpeak]

Actually it looked a lot like this one.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Really sorry that happened to you. Hope you can find a nice one for a fair price.

[@thatcarkid2719]

Man I feel bad for you, I've had my 98 forest green extra cab 2.7 4x4 5 speed for about 12 years. Stays on my driveway

[@Expl4rnr]

Where was this six months ago when I installed these😅 I had the hardest time pressing the sleeve in.

[@Expl4rnr]

Also just an FYI for anyone reading I had to reuse my old ball joints in another vehicle so I used a three jaw puller with an impact socket to remove them.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

it can be tricky to get on there if you don't have the right tools. in our previous upper ball joint video, we removed the entire spindle so we could get a good grip to press it out.

[@providentpathfinders219]

threw mine in the freezer overnight and they popped right in

[@404Offroad]

Same here brotha. It was not that easy for me either. The press I had was way to big and ended up using a 4’ bar

[@alziegelejr6262]

Great video as always I was wondering what type bumper is that on Chris’s 4 Runner also you said there was a four-wheel-drive ball joint kit can you tell me which one that is thanks

[@TimmyTheToolman]

His bumper is an Addicted offroad front plate bumper. Check back on this response as we will update this post with the 4wd ball joint adapter sleeve kit.

[@benriewer7817]

Another great video guys. Any plans to do a video on the Total Chaos UCA cam tab gussets? Like a lot of folks, mine are bent and cracked. I know the SPC UCAs are adjustable but I already upgraded to fixed the ones similar to the JBAs

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Are you talking about the lower control arm tabs? The upper control arms don't have tabs or cams for adjustment.

[@benriewer7817]

@@TimmyTheToolman Yes, misspoke. I was referring to the TC LCA cam tab gussets. I mentioned the UCAs because some folks recommend getting the adjustable SPC UCAs in combination with the alignment cam eliminator plates to compensate for the busted cam tabs, but I’m already invested in fixed UCAs and was interested in the gussets. However taking a grinder and air hammer to part of the frame always gives me pause…

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@benriewer7817 Gotcha. We might do this one day but we would have to find someone that needs it done.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Nice

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks

[@KurNorock]

I'm looking at these arms for my Tundra. The trick to fitting large tires on a Tundra is a LOT of backspacing (or positive offset). These arms seems to have a lot of "meat" on the outside of the balljoint, which is good for strength, but not for clearance. I'm wondering, what is the backspace on these wheels? Looks like you have maybe an inch and a half of clearance between the tire and the UCA here?

[@JohnEboyee]

Nicely done. A couple things I did different. Driver's side would only take 2 thinner washers on the inside rearward bushing. Kinda bummed because the passenger's side accepted all 4 of the thick washers perfectly. Hopefully I don't see problems down the road. My BJ sleeves also seated perfectly by hand, then I slowly tapped them in with a hammer. Silicon paste inside the bore helps the process. Can also throw the sleeves in the freezer for a few hours. Now excuse this atheist for an hour. I've got a DVD to watch.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

That DVD is a family favorite! - Sean

[@constructcinema527]

I want this on my rig

[@TimmyTheToolman]

🤘🏼

[@stevedavis8526]

I did this last summer. Very nice although I have been disappointed with the durablity of the coating.

[@lukeneave]

Wonder how long the bushings last

[@stevedavis8526]

@@lukeneave They are greaseable and I have been keeping up with that so hopefully a long time. Just thinking since the coatings going away from ON ROAD use only they are going to rust to dust in short order. Paid way to much for that to happen.

[@stevedavis8526]

UPDATE. JBA offered to replace my UCA's. Seems they have a new 2 stage coating that holds up way better. Nice of them. Just have to muster up the balls to replace them again. Should not be so hard the second time...

[@jdmDC2ftw]

I'll take them if you want to get rid of them

[@robertbraun5172]

Is an alignment needed after installing new UCA's? I'm installing OEM UCA's. Thank you for these videos. You've saved me a ton of money.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yes, it's recommended because you're changing from OEM to aftermarket. If you were replacing OEM for OEM, you could get away without an alignment.

[@robertbraun5172]

@@TimmyTheToolman Thank you!!

[@alanflores6555]

Could I do alignment with this one’s cause I bought ones and my tires looks like the bottom is getting in like this ( / )

[@user-pm5bp2oc8i]

Read the instructions mine say .156 washer bushing one red steel aarm bong ,black bushing one .156 washer use the thinner bushings they can both go on the innerside of the rear bushings or one on the inner side of each bushings against th 0.156 thick washer. Hope this helps

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for the clarification.

[@timothyandrewnielsen]

Do you think it would be beneficial to cover the nuts, bolts and washers with either grease or oil to help reduce rust from forming?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

If you live in an area that salts the roads due to icy conditions, maybe that would be something to do to avoid corrosion.

[@Patrick.Weightman]

Those eibach coils on Billies? Was just thinking about making the switch from TRD coils on my Tundra 5100s myself I put on these JBAs a few months back and it's some of the best money I ever spent!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

They are indeed! Haven’t seen you comment for a while! Where have you been??

[@Patrick.Weightman]

@@TimmyTheToolman Been real damn busy! Middle of racing season! What perch are y'all running those Eibachs at? I really regret not getting these when i did my lift! They're cheaper and better than TRD coils it seems

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Are you guys also doing jba for lower control arms also?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

JBA doesn’t make lower control arms

[@keeganpetersen3618]

I am looking to do a lift in the future but need to do the ball joints now. I am contemplating just putting a set of these on. They wont do anything weird with just a stock suspension right? I dont see why it would but i thought it would ask.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

No, these UCAs won't do anything "weird" but you technically should get an alignment afterward because it could change your camber and caster values.

[@israelrodriguez6986]

Hey Tim, Do these upper contol arms also help in preventing rubbing of themselves with the inside of the tire, like do they create distance between the inside of the tire and the UPPER CONTROL ARM itself thus avoiding any running issues

[@israelrodriguez6986]

Sorry *rubbing issues

[@TimmyTheToolman]

They do give you distance away from the tire. The stock UCA typically would run on a larger tire like a 285. These JBA’s will give you extra room to clear those tires

[@soundbites1152]

Hi. Thanks for the video. When you took the truck to get an alignment after you instaled these arms, were they able to push the lower control arms out far enough and properly align the truck? I installed these arms and have replaced the lower controller bushings with white line and installed new factory cams and I cannot get to zero camber. There's a ton of positive camber. And there's no alignment settings with the cams that improve the situation that I can see. Thanks for your time and attention.

[@alanflores6555]

Did you get your alignment?

[@soundbites1152]

@@alanflores6555 Yep. I can be an idiot at times. Everything is fine.

[@alanflores6555]

@@soundbites1152 thanks i have problem with the camber and I hope this ones help me

[@10ring]

Did I miss in the video where they talk about special considerations for the other side? Especially how to get the through bolt out.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

The passenger side will allow the long UCA bolt to slide out freely without getting hung up on anything. Much easier on the passenger side for that reason. - Sean

[@10ring]

@@TimmyTheToolman Danke.

[@drumbumifyer]

I was told to wait on torquing the bolts until the weight of the vehicle is back on the suspension to avoid twisting the bushings. Is that not needed with these UCA?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Typically, most aftermarket components that have polyurethane bushings don’t have this requirement however you would need to rest the vehicle in its natural resting position before you torque the components to spec on an OEM style replacement bushing. - Sean

[@lrlapua8035]

been running them on my 20 Tacoma for about 5k miles and no issues...

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good to hear.

[@Smobro12]

Is it better for road driving to have a more free traveling upper control arm? I have a 2wd and I don’t drive off-road. My upper control arm doesn’t really move much as I found out while changing my struts yesterday. I’m going back and forth on do I just change the bushings or drop the cash to get aftermarket. Please advise.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You’ll find that your upper control arms do articulate quite a bit when driving if you stuck a camera up there, but because they are torqued to spec when the vehicle is at normal ride height, when you take off the wheels, they are hard to move and want to jump back to their happy place. With that said, you don’t need aftermarket arms unless you’re looking for A. More articulation (off-roading), B Tire clearance (not needed of you run stock size tires) or C. You have a lifted vehicle and are making contact with your new coilovers. Bushings would be just fine to replace but in most cases, the OEM rubber lasts pretty good and we haven’t seen upper control arms that were in desperate need of bushing replacement. You may just want to run your stock setup, but address other bushings on your truck.

[@Smobro12]

@@TimmyTheToolman that helps a ton. Thank you.

[@RicardoHernandez-tt5xy]

Good morning, You located in SF ? I’m in San Lorenzo. I need help on a sunroof just want to see how the cables go together.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

we are in San Jose, but unfortunately we aren't a mechanic shop for hire. jump on T4R.org, lots of good info on there for everything 3rd gen.

[@damacknificent151]

I feel like they will squeak a lot if not lubed frequently. Is that about right? They are polyurethane right?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yes, they are polyurethane bushings but they don’t squeak and if they do, it easy to pump the zerk fittings up with grease again. We have these arms installed on a couple rigs and none of them squeak. - Sean

[@Njkiller2008]

I have a question was the alignment able to dial in ? I have 3in lift and trying to figure out what uca to use

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yes no problem. It just pushes the camber out a little to clear the coilover - Sean

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

I'm going between jba and Total chaos fab so hard to decide

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Total chaos uses uni-balls and JBA uses actually sealed ball joints

[@thomascoolidge2161]

Question.. I noticed the grease zirks on these UCAs versus stock being maint-free.. What is the life of the ball joint and how often are they required to be regreased? Thanks in advance Timmy and Shawn!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Don't know the expected life of these joints. Maybe they have info on the website. I'd re-grease the joints every other engine oil change or every 10k miles.

[@thomascoolidge2161]

@@TimmyTheToolman Your right.. the website had a recommended service.. Just in case anyone else asks.. heres a copy past from the website.. Every 3,000-5,000 miles: (at the interval of every oil change) Grease the ball joint with 3-4 pumps of lithium complex grease fortified with moly (molybdenum disulfide), grease the A-arm bushings with 1-3 pumps

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@thomascoolidge2161 That interval seems a bit overkill, but they're the manufacturer so I guess follow it.

[@thomascoolidge2161]

@@TimmyTheToolman I gotta say.. yall are the best. You could have just pointed me to your video description but instead yall answered personally and you do this for just about every posting on your videos. I have used several of your videos for instructional how to's that I've followed. I ever make it out to Cali I am going to treat all of you and your team to a free meal at some place of yalls choice!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@thomascoolidge2161 Thanks Tom. We appreciate the compliment. We do sometimes simply direct people to our video description and pinned comments because we have lots of information there. I like to direct them there instead of just answering their question sometimes because then they see all the information they are missing out on. We try to do our best to answer every question and acknowledge every comment. We're not a huge channel that gets hundreds of comments and questions everyday, so we can do this. But, it still is quite a bit of work to keep up with them. Some guys are in the middle of the job and they need help. I just answered a question for a guy that is in the middle of doing a timing belt job on the 2UZ-FE V8 engine. No doubt he will appreciate the fact I answered his question in a timely manner. We can't always do this, because we have other jobs and responsibilities and we're not always glued to our computers. But, when we can, we get back to people in a very timely manner. It's a nice touch we can do for the people who use our videos. No doubt it helps when people like you notice this and acknowledge our efforts. It means a lot. Good to hear you have benefited from several of our videos. Yeah, if you're coming to the California Bay Area, come visit and we'll gladly let you buy us a meal and some drinks. I'm going to be leaving California in the next year and a half. Thinking of going into Nevada or Oregon. I never thought I'd leave California but it's just too expensive and it's consistently governed by idiots. My wife and I were both born and raised in California but we can't stand it anymore. When I retire, we're out of here. I don't want to be too far from California though because I love the topography for mountain biking, hiking, backpacking and 4wheeling.

[@unshapingtheearth7916]

Dont forget to get an alignment after this folks. To those not in the know

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good advice

[@providentpathfinders219]

Ya got some Jesus joints! I persuaded some mormon missionaries to install mine and i gave them the DVD.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

how long have you ran these for? how do you like them?

[@providentpathfinders219]

@@TimmyTheToolman I’ve had them on since March 13 2020. Daily driver. No squeaky nonsense. I did a couple torque checks early on and no changes. Shoot a pinch of grease in at oil change and that’s about it. For the money these honestly are a steal.

[@Lucas-ix8bg]

What about lower control arms with better ball joint system?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

We've seen people on forums show fabricated lower balljoints with a supposedly stronger uniball set-up and they talk about making them for others but it never really happens probably from the huge liability standpoint if their design fails and causes somebody to wreck their rig. There's definitely companies making aftermarket LCAs for long travel suspension set-ups but they still use an OEM balljoint from what we've seen.

[@lukeneave]

Surprised youse don’t have more electrical mods or diy videos, 12v can be a pain to understand ahaha

[@TimmyTheToolman]

What are you interested in seeing? We are interested in hearing your requests

[@lukeneave]

@@TimmyTheToolman maybe like gauges or dual battery system lights any general electrical maintenance

[@samaoki8798]

What year is this 4runner? I recently bought a 96 limited and it does not have the airbag sensor under the battery. I am worried it’s missing the sensor lol. Could it be located somewhere else in my year?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

No, all 3rd Gen 4runners should have the airbag sensors in the same place. And they should both have yellow wire loom leading to the sensor itself that is mounted under the battery tray on the drivers side and under the air intake box on the passengers side. - Sean

[@alanflores6555]

Could some one tell me what about the UCA level can i get the alignment with this one’s ?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yes, you can get your rig in alignment with these.

[@erniekropf665]

I am going to be putting a 2 inch lift on my 99 4Runner. Which upper control arms would you go with? JBA or SPC?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

With those 2 choices, JBA. I'm running Camburg on my 98 rig. Total Chaos is another option.

[@erniekropf665]

@@TimmyTheToolman out of those 4 which would you choose?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Tim has the uniball design which requires a lot more maintenance and attention. My opinion is the ball joint style that JBA offers doesn’t wear down like a uniball and therefore is easier to have installed for a daily driver. They are also more affordable. Just my 2 cents. - Sean

[@10ring]

How do you have enough clearance to get an impact on the top of the ball joint pusher? My brake line won't allow it outside of the wheel well.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Our impact barely squeezed on there. The Milwaukee shorty 1/2” impact gun we link in the video description is the one we used. What impact gun are you using?

[@10ring]

@@TimmyTheToolman Dewalt DCF911B, similar form factor to that one I think. I ended up detaching the points where the brake line was bolted on, and had to bend the hard lines a bit, but got enough clearance to get the impact on there. Ripped the rubber brake line shell in the process, it's not leaking but it's ugly and the core is exposed. An excuse to buy stainless braided lines I guess. I hope the driver side isn't as difficult.

[@jessieperez7819]

Where did you get the knuckle sleeve adapter for the upper control arm ball joint ??? Please send a link

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Give us a time stamp so we know what sleeve you're referring to.

[@jessieperez7819]

Minute 9:30

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@jessieperez7819 the steering knuckle adapter bushing comes with the C-clamp Kit. We also link the specialty 4wd cup adapters in the video description. - Sean

[@jdmDC2ftw]

Does anyone know the thread pitch of that 22mm balljoint nut at 14:28? I looked on the jba website and can't find the 22mm (only a 14mm is on the site).

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Have you tried giving JBA a call? This is their contact info: Texting: 215-660-3770 Phone Number: 215-660-3770 Toll Free Number: 855-533-7437

[@rileyalexander9715]

Do they help with fitting a slightly larger tire? (33x12.50r17)

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Your wheel offset will help the most to clear larger tires, but yes these are slightly narrower than the OEM stock upper arm.

[@rileyalexander9715]

@@TimmyTheToolman alright

[@Smobro12]

Are there aftermarket 2wd upper arms for 3rd Gen 4runners?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

2wd and 4wd upper control arms are the same

[@mariotabora845]

Can I use these uca in a rough country 6 inch lift?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

I suppose it would work, but maybe contact JBA and ask them.

[@worldbyjay]

Who makes the puller you used in this video?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Ball Joint Service Set amzn.to/2I1PlEm

[@44doink]

What have you done with timmy?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

I'm not involved in every video that we put on our channel. Just like I partner with other people to bring content to our channel, Sean does the same.

[@davidanderson1329]

Do you know of anyone having an issues with the teflon lock nut vs a castle nut. I'm wondering if that nut will loosen? What would be the advantages or disadvantages of this style vs the TC with the uniball?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

No, we haven't heard of anyone having issues with the locknuts loosening. I also haven't seen or heard of castle nuts coming off either. Every castle nut I've even taken off required quite a bit of force, meaning I've never seen an instance where the cotter pin saved the day. The castle nut with it's cotter pin is there for instances when people didn't torque the nut correctly and it came loose. Same goes for the nylon locknuts. If they are torqued to the proper spec, they aren't going to come loose. For the potential benefits of this style of joint over a uniball, open the video description by clicking on "Show More". After reading the information, you would think wow, uniball joints suck. They actually don't and are much more durable than JBA leads you to believe. I've been running Camburg UCAs with uniballs joints for around 30k miles and I've done lots of off-roading with them and haven't had issues. I actually don't even lubricate them as much as I should and they are still in perfect shape. The benefits list in the video description comes straight from JBA and of course they are going to make you think uniball style UCAs suck. We think the JBA UCAs are good, but at the same time, we also think there's nothing wrong with Uniball design UCAs like Total Chaos and Camburg make. Do your own research and make up your mind which way to go. The only disadvantage I could see with the JBA joint is it's relying on a boot to contain the grease. That boot will eventually wear out and crack or tear requiring you to replace it if you have the old style but currently they have switched manufactures for their boots and don’t have cracking issues anymore moving forward.

[@davidanderson1329]

@@TimmyTheToolman Thanks, I really enjoy your videos they are a great help. Keep it up.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@davidanderson1329 You're very welcome David. Great to hear you're finding our videos helpful and we do plan on making videos for a long time to come. If you're not subscribed, you should so you're notified every time we upload new content. Happy Wrenching!

[@lukeneave]

Do you need these for 40mm lift tho?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

for a 1.5" lift you could stick to the stock upper control arms and be fine. but, if you're looking for an upgrade to your stick arms these would be a good option to consider

[@xToymachine1031]

Would you recommend these for a 3 inch lift with 33s

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yes, 100%. That’s exactly what they are designed to work with. - Sean

[@xToymachine1031]

Right on ! Thanks for the quick response Sean 🙌🏽

[@user-lk1hy8rt2l]

You think these will fit a 98 2x4 4runner? Most people say yes but I'm still on the fence it will be lifted 1.5 inches. They say fits pre runner 6 lug and the 2x4 is basically the same thing as a 4x4 do I'm just like idk?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

I'm pretty sure it will. But, If you're unsure, call the company. They will give you a definitive answer.

[@user-lk1hy8rt2l]

@@TimmyTheToolman I've had a talk with them and they say they don't know anyone who has. Looks like I might have to be the first. Maybe I'll just go with the total chaos those for sure fit and I can grease the uniball every month if I have to lol. Mid travel daily probs smh

[@TimmyTheToolman]

They will def fit. they are meant for a lifted truck. 1.5” is fine. 2wheel drive vs 4wheel drive shouldn’t matter as the spindle mounting is the same. You just don’t have cv axles up front. These are wayyyy more affordable than total chaos and better IMO. Hope that helps. - Sean

[@Bru946]

Whats the spring rate on those coils up front?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

600lb spring but we need to upgrade to 650, maybe even 700 after the bumper and winch were added - Sean

[@wesleyhannam1027]

Can you adjust caster on these similar to SPC UCA’s?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

No, these are fixed. SPC’s are as good as garbage. The ball joint wears out crazy fast and needs to be replaced often and frequently. Lots of play in that joint has been reported in less than 10k miles. Pretty disappointing to say the least. - Sean

[@wesleyhannam1027]

@@TimmyTheToolman thanks 🙇🏽‍♂️

[@demochannel4727]

What size is the UCA bolt? Is it a 5/8”?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Haven’t measured it but this is the part number 90105-14105

[@dariolozano9654]

If anyone has these and is getting the allignment done here are the specs you want: Camber: -0.1 Caster: +3.5 Toe: each 0.09 degrees total toe: .18

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for sharing.

[@user-pm5bp2oc8i]

Is - inboard on the camber? Tim you out board earlier to help clear the coils, 0 is stock for camber toe is also 0 and caster 3.9 pos ,putting these on shortly also doing the lower control arms, solo lowers just arrived today .. and new cam kit KPoffroad.solo told to do the uppers first I don't want to have to align it twice, pressed for time will I be able to drive it if I not able to do the lowers what you think Tim. You guys are great thanks for what you do have a great day.

[@2000se]

One thing I'm not liking about this is there is no cotter pin on the nut holding the ball joint in. I know it is a nylon nut but still, the cotter pin really provides a level of confidence knowing the nut just can't back off. Especially since the bolt is facing down now. 🥶

[@TimmyTheToolman]

I hear what you’re saying, but plenty of people run these arms without issue. In theory, you drill a hole through the thread ball joint stud and slap a castle nut on there, but we have been running them for quite some time without the nut backing off at all. We like to use thread checker, and that paint mark hasn’t even budged. A good reason to get them to the torque spec. Anyways, thanks for your comment and we will report back if anything becomes an issue with the design feature that you’re mentioning. - Sean

[@2000se]

Awesome response! Thank you.@@TimmyTheToolman

[@israelrodriguez6986]

Btw, has anyone been running these for at least over a year. Would like to know how they are holding up ( in normal street driving ) conditions. Thanks!

[@niconinefoe]

Hey Israel, my pops has been running these on his 2nd gen Tacoma for about 3 years now and they are still running strong. I’m considering them for my 3rd gen. 👍🏽

[@brendenponder8728]

Will they work for 2wd?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yes

[@marisoltorres6516]

Were can I buy the grease gun for the upper control arms? Jeffy lube doesn't have the right grease gun fitting for my upper arms I need to have them grease

[@TimmyTheToolman]

That's a standard grease zerk fitting. Any grease gun should fit. Some just fit a bit tight and it's a struggle to pull the grease fun free of the zerk fitting.

[@marisoltorres6516]

@@TimmyTheToolman okay thank you.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@marisoltorres6516 No problem. Any auto parts store will sell grease guns.

[@timothyandrewnielsen]

Hey where are you guys located?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

San Jose, CA

[@marcoaurelioamaralfernande8942]

i haver Toyota sw4 2002 ,How much its kit ?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

jbaoffroad.com

[@rafaelchuqui6553]

Hi, good video guy's. Question? I got a Toyota 4runner 1999 and I will like to lift my car like 3 to 4 inches, so I need the upper control arm to do that right? And the shock? Or what else I needed. Thanks guy's.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You technically don’t need to replace your upper control arms but for the reasons we mentioned in this video, you should get aftermarket uppers to clear your coil spring to prevent rubbing, and to give your setup more caster. Most aftermarket UCA’s have a uniball setup which is a lot of maintenance vs. an OEM style ball joint that is protected by a boot and grease. As far as shocks go, it depends on what type of wheeling you intend to do. A bilstein setup os affordable

[@TheMeatncheese12]

what kind of lift does he have? does he also have a body lift?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

It’s a TOYTEC Boss lift with bilstein 5100’s. He did add a 1” body lift so we could add an eimkeith bumper, but a body lift is not required to run this same setup.

[@TheMeatncheese12]

@@TimmyTheToolman what size wheel and tire setup? Are they 35s?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@TheMeatncheese12 yes 35’s on 17x8.5” method wheels on 315/70/17 Cooper STT Pros

[@ing.marvinrubenvargasgonza3964]

Will those arms fit on a 99 tacoma prerunner? is not a 4x4

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yes, they will.

[@ing.marvinrubenvargasgonza3964]

@@TimmyTheToolman thanks!!

[@Northeast_Taco]

"They're red"🤣

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Your powers of observation are superb! And, we know you're not color blind too. Glad you liked that joke! Haha

[@_Panduh_]

Anyone have a link for some low priced UCA for a 3” lift?

[@_Panduh_]

Or should I go with these for the 600$ 😮‍💨

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You pay for what you get. These JBA are actually on the more affordable end of the quality aftermarket UCA’s on the market. - Sean

[@ronancarrillo2235]

Is this application for lifted 4runners, Tacoma? To get less positive camber?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

How about this. Read the following that I took straight from the JBA website: JBA Offroad manufacturers upper control arms (also known as UCAs or upper a-arms) for the Toyota 4Runner beginning with the 2003 model year. With the right modifications, Toyota 4Runner models are wonderfully capable off-road vehicles. All Toyota 4Runner models have independent front suspension and require the replacement of factory upper control arms when lifted. If factory UCAs are not replaced, your Toyota 4Runner alignment and clearances will be both incorrect and unsafe. When Toyota 4Runners are lifted, the caster is lost from the front-end alignment. The caster is critical for stability over 45 miles per hour and returns the steering wheel to center after going around a corner. Additionally, factory upper control arms often rub on the front springs at certain articulations. If factory a-arms are not replaced when lifting a Toyota 4Runner, expensive and dangerous damage is likely. JBA led the industry back in 2004 with the development of the first aftermarket upper control arms, which enabled vehicles with independent front suspension to be safely lifted. Today, JBA upper control arms are installed on thousands of vehicles, including lifted Toyota 4Runners, and driven all over the world. JBA UCAs work with Toyota 4Runner lift kits up to 4 inches above factory ride height. All JBA manufactured parts come with JBA 12-month 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with the purchase, you can return it to us for a refund of your purchased price within the first 12 months. We make arms for 5th Gen 4Runner, 4th Gen 4Runner, and 3rd Gen 4Runner

[@ronancarrillo2235]

@@TimmyTheToolman this is great news!! I've been struggling with exactly what is written. Anything above 50mph, and the runner is all over the road. Very dangerous. My camber is far more positive than what is considered normal range. I've been trying for the last couple of years to figure out why I have this problem. I did not lift it. I am also learning as I go. This is a huge help and a much cheaper alternative than another brand that was suggested. Thank you! P.s. I came across this while looking for a video on replacing the Thermostat.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@ronancarrillo2235 Hey Ronan, your camber issue could be due to the fact one or more of your cam adjusters are rusted inside the bushing sleeve. Because of that, an adjustment can't happen because the cam won't turn like it should. An alignment tech should be able to dial in your alignment. This video shows the issue I'm talking about and how to cut them out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHfddnuvnM6tpas

[@ronancarrillo2235]

@@TimmyTheToolman I've taken it to get aligned 3 separate times by 2 different shops. Not once did either shop mention that. So I'm still on this mission to solve the problem.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@ronancarrillo2235 They didn't mention it, because maybe they don't know the issue. Take it back and mention this possibility. The cam will still turn a little bit, but what it enabling the cam to move is the bushing twisting. Ask the tech to attempt a large movement of the cam. If it can only move a small amount, the cam is frozen inside the bushing sleeve.

[@andrewbeneteau3407]

Rubber boots started to dry rot after a few weeks on my jbas

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Well that's not good. Did you contact JBA and ask them about this issue?

[@TimmyTheToolman]

As of July 15, their boot manufacturer has finally fulfilled their order to fulfill any warranty replacements. There is no deadline on warranty replacements so just reach out to them for customer service.

[@andrewbeneteau3407]

Thanks

[@Kaasal503]

I would like to install this 4th gen but I don’t have any mechanical experience

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You don't need experience. You just have to have a willingness to learn and a willingness to invest in some tools.

[@Kaasal503]

@@TimmyTheToolman thanks for the advice I wish you be closer to where I live would it be better

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@Kaasal503 Try to join a local 4wd club. There's 4th Gen Facebook Pages and have members all over. You could join one or more of them and then make a post looking for others in your area that turn wrenches on them and basically start your own local group of friends that can help each other out. I've met many people through my channel that I turn wrenches with and now consider my friends. Put yourself out there and you'll be surprised how many people would be willing to lend you a hand. The Toyota Community is filled with cool people.

[@Kaasal503]

@@TimmyTheToolman I got the JBA ucas looking forward to get the install keep you posted also I’m thinking about upgrade to 3” lift

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@Kaasal503 Alright, let us know how the install goes.