Best Upper Control Arms for 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma

Upper control arms are the single most important suspension upgrade for a lifted 2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma. The moment you install a leveling kit or lift on the 3rd-gen Tacoma, the front independent suspension loses caster, the factory ball joints top out early, and your tire clearance shrinks. Aftermarket upper control arms (UCAs) restore +2.5 to +3.5 degrees of caster, add up to -1.5 degrees of camber adjustment, and open room for larger tires — all while keeping the truck in factory alignment spec. This guide compares the five best upper control arms we stock for the 3rd-gen Tacoma, from a $641 bolt-on to a $1,430 billet setup, so you can match the right arm to your build.

Why Your 2016-2023 Tacoma Needs Upper Control Arms After a Lift

The 3rd-gen Toyota Tacoma uses a double-wishbone independent front suspension, and its geometry is tuned around the factory ride height. When you add a leveling kit or lift — even a modest 2 to 3 inches to clear 33-inch tires — you pull the front suspension into a range the factory upper control arm was never designed for. Two problems appear immediately: the truck loses caster, and the ball joint runs out of usable articulation.

Caster is the forward or rearward tilt of the steering axis, and it is what keeps a truck tracking straight above 45 mph and returns the steering wheel to center after a corner. A lifted Tacoma on stock arms typically drops well below the factory caster target, which shows up as a wandering, darty highway feel. Quality aftermarket UCAs build the correction into the arm itself — the SPC and Bilstein arms in this guide add roughly +2.5 to +3.5 degrees of caster, bringing a lifted truck back into a stable, alignable window without maxing out the factory cam bolts.

The second issue is clearance and travel. Aftermarket arms are shaped to clear larger coilovers and reservoir shocks, and they relocate the ball joint or uniball to a higher angle so the suspension can cycle through its full stroke without the joint binding or topping out. For tires larger than about 32.5 inches in diameter, the upper arm profile is also part of the equation — a tubular or high-clearance arm buys back room that a bent-steel factory arm simply does not have. In our Tampa, FL shop, UCAs are the first thing we recommend the moment a customer adds more than an inch of lift to a 3rd-gen Tacoma.

The 5 Best Upper Control Arms for the 3rd Gen Tacoma

Every arm below is in stock, fits the 2016-2023 Tacoma (most also cover the 2005-2015 2nd-gen), and is ranked by how well it fits a specific type of build. We carry all five at NLP Performance and install them regularly.

1. SPC Performance Adjustable Upper Control Arm (Pair) — Best Overall

The SPC Performance arms are our default recommendation for the 2016-2023 Tacoma because they solve the two big lift problems — caster and camber — while keeping the daily-driver ride quality Tacoma owners expect. Designed, engineered, and assembled in Colorado, they pair a forged-steel body with maintenance-free ball joints and free-pivoting xAxis sealed flex joints riding in bonded rubber sleeves. That combination lets you dial in alignment angles to correct a lift and center the tire in the wheel well for maximum clearance, without the noise and upkeep of an open uniball. For a truck that sees highway miles Monday through Friday and trails on the weekend, this is the sweet spot.

2. ICON Tubular Upper Control Arm Delta Joint Kit — Best for Off-Road

If your Tacoma sees serious trail or high-speed dirt, the ICON tubular arms are the pick. Their headline feature is the patent-pending Delta Joint: a heavy-duty, high-angle ball joint that combines the durability of a sealed ball joint with the articulation of a uniball. The Delta Joint uses a zinc-plated housing and a grease seal with a greasable zerk fitting, so it resists the water, mud, and grit that destroy an open uniball — while still cycling to the extreme angles a lifted, articulating suspension demands. At $849.95, the tubular version delivers most of the performance of ICON's flagship billet arm for well under the price.

3. ARB Old Man Emu Front Upper Control Arms (Pair) — Best for Overlanding

Old Man Emu is the go-to brand for overland and expedition Tacomas, and the ARB OME upper control arms are engineered to work as a system with OME coilovers and lift springs. They deliver the caster correction a mild-to-moderate lift needs while prioritizing long-haul comfort and durability over race-truck articulation — exactly what a loaded, touring Tacoma wants. At $641.87 (marked down from $679.95), they are the most affordable arm in this guide and a natural match if you are already building around ARB and OME components. Fitment spans 2005-2023, covering both 2nd- and 3rd-gen trucks.

4. Bilstein B8 Front Upper Control Arm Kit — Best Bolt-On OEM+

The Bilstein B8 arms are the choice for owners who want a proven, quiet, bolt-on upgrade without the maintenance of a uniball. Bilstein builds these from black powder-coated 4130 chromoly steel in a tubular design that clears larger springs and shocks, and they ride on greasable polyurethane bushings rather than a race joint — so they stay silent and low-NVH on the street. The tubular arms correct caster for better straight-line stability with a lift and improve the ball joint pivot angle to increase wheel travel while reducing stress on the joint. At $741.00 (down from $775.85), they are a smart middle-ground between the SPC and ICON arms for a street-biased build.

5. ICON Billet Upper Control Arm Delta Joint Kit — Best Premium Build

ICON's billet arms are the top of the food chain for a 3rd-gen Tacoma. They use the same sealed, greasable Delta Joint as the tubular kit, but the arm body is CNC-machined from billet aluminum for maximum strength, precision, and a show-quality finish. At $1,429.95 they are the most expensive arm here, and they make the most sense on a no-compromise build — a high-clearance long-travel or Baja-style Tacoma where the owner wants the strongest, best-looking arm available and plans to keep the truck for the long haul. For most street-and-trail trucks, the tubular ICON or the SPC arms deliver the important performance for hundreds less.

Upper Control Arm Comparison: 3rd Gen Tacoma

Here is how the five arms stack up on the specs that actually decide a Tacoma build — joint type, arm material, ideal use case, and price. Tap any product name or price to see full fitment and buy.

Delta Joint vs. Uniball vs. Ball Joint: Which Should You Run?

The joint at the knuckle end of the arm is what separates a street-friendly UCA from a hardcore off-road one. There are three common types on the 3rd-gen Tacoma, and each trades maintenance for performance differently.

Sealed Ball Joint (SPC, ARB OME)

A sealed, maintenance-free ball joint is the quietest, lowest-upkeep option. It keeps dirt and water out, transmits little noise or vibration into the cabin, and is ideal for daily-driven and touring trucks. The trade-off is a slightly lower maximum articulation angle than a uniball, which almost never matters below a 3-inch lift.

Uniball

A uniball (spherical bearing) is very strong and allows huge articulation with almost no bind, which is why it is popular on long-travel and race builds. The downside is that a traditional uniball is open to the elements — it wears faster, gets noisy, and transmits more NVH, so it needs more frequent inspection and replacement on a daily driver.

Delta Joint (ICON)

ICON's Delta Joint is the hybrid answer. It packages the durability and sealing of a ball joint with the high-angle articulation of a uniball, using a zinc-plated housing, a grease seal, and a greasable zerk fitting. In practice that means uniball-like travel with ball-joint longevity and low noise — the reason it is our recommended joint for a truck that has to do trail duty and highway commuting in the same week.

How to Choose the Right UCAs for Your Tacoma Build

Match the arm to the way you actually use the truck. For a daily-driven 2016-2023 Tacoma with a 1.5 to 3-inch leveling kit and 33-inch tires, the SPC Performance or Bilstein B8 arms are the right call — quiet, sealed, and no maintenance. For a trail rig with a mid-travel lift, larger reservoir shocks, and 33 to 35-inch tires, the ICON tubular Delta Joint arms give you the articulation and clearance without the upkeep of an open uniball. Overland and expedition builds running Old Man Emu coilovers should keep the system matched with the ARB OME arms. And if you are chasing a premium long-travel or Baja-style build, the ICON billet arms are the strongest, best-finished option on the list.

Two more considerations: first, budget for a professional alignment after installation — every one of these arms is designed to be alignable, but a lifted truck needs the caster and camber set on a rack to realize the benefit. Second, remember that upper control arms alone do not lift the truck; they are the correction that makes a lift live with your alignment, tire clearance, and ride quality. Pair them with a quality coilover or spacer lift for the complete package. Our team in Tampa, FL can help you spec a matched suspension package for your exact tire and travel goals.