Best Upper Control Arms: 95-04 Tacoma & 96-02 4Runner

The best upper control arms for the 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma and 1996-2002 4Runner are adjustable, forged-steel arms that correct the alignment angles a lift throws out and add back the caster the factory geometry loses. These first-generation Tacomas and third-generation 4Runners share the same torsion-bar independent front suspension (IFS) with stamped upper control arms and non-rebuildable ball joints. Crank the torsion bars or bolt on a lift and the front tires tip out (positive camber) while caster drops, which brings on darty steering, uneven tire wear, and reduced clearance for larger tires. At our Tampa, FL shop we have aligned dozens of lifted 1st-gen Tacomas and 3rd-gen 4Runners, and the fix almost always starts with the upper control arms. Below we break down the best UCAs and supporting front-suspension parts, with real part numbers, prices, and fitment.

Why 95-04 Tacoma & 96-02 4Runner Owners Upgrade the Front End

An upper control arm is the upper suspension link that locates the top of the front knuckle and, together with the ball joint, sets your camber and caster. On the 1995-2004 Tacoma and 1996-2002 4Runner, Toyota used a torsion-bar IFS: the ride height is set by torsion bars, not coil-overs, and the factory UCA rides on rubber bushings with a sealed, non-serviceable ball joint pressed into the arm.

That design is durable but limited. When you lift the truck — whether by cranking the torsion bars a couple of turns or installing a 2-3 inch lift — the suspension arms rotate upward and the alignment geometry changes. Caster can fall by roughly 1 to 2 degrees and camber goes positive, which is exactly what causes a lifted 1st-gen Tacoma to wander on the highway and chew the outer edges off a fresh set of tires. The stock arms simply do not have enough adjustment to dial those angles back to spec.

There is also a wear problem. By 2026 even the newest 4Runner in this group is more than 20 years old, and the factory rubber UCA bushings and ball joints are long past their prime. A sloppy front end, clunks over bumps, and an alignment that will not hold are classic symptoms. Upgrading the upper control arms — or at minimum refreshing the bushings and ball joints — restores steering precision and lets the truck hold an alignment again.

Worn factory rubber UCA bushings are the #1 cause of a loose 3rd-gen 4Runner front end.

Best Upper Control Arms & Front Suspension: Our Top Picks

We selected these parts because every one is a confirmed fit for the 1995-2004 Tacoma or 1996-2002 4Runner platform and each solves a specific front-end problem — from full alignment correction on a lifted truck to a budget bushing refresh on a daily driver.

SPC Performance — Top Pick

Adjustable Upper Control Arms (Pair), PN 35460

$750.29

Part Number	spc35460
Fitment	96-02 4Runner / 95-04 Tacoma
Warranty	SPC Limited Lifetime

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Best overall. Designed, forged, and assembled in Colorado, the SPC 35460 arms are the definitive alignment-correction upgrade for this platform. Forged steel replaces the stamped factory arm, free-pivoting xAxis sealed flex joints replace the tired rubber bushings, and a maintenance-free (yet rebuildable) ball joint delivers a full 80 degrees of articulation. They build in positive caster for lifted trucks, clear the spring bucket better than stock, and let an alignment tech independently dial camber and caster back to spec. If you have lifted your Tacoma or 4Runner and it wanders or eats tires, these fix it.

Whiteline — Best Budget

Front Control Arm Upper Bushing Kit

$51.85

Part Number	whlW53529
Fitment	96-02 4Runner
Warranty	Whiteline Limited

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Best budget fix. If your 3rd-gen 4Runner front end is loose but you are not lifting the truck, worn UCA bushings are usually the culprit. This Whiteline kit ($51.85) replaces the mushy factory rubber with firmer synthetic elastomer bushings that tighten up steering response and hold an alignment far better, for less than the cost of one alignment. It reuses your factory arms, so it is the lowest-cost way to sharpen a stock-height 96-02 4Runner.

Eibach — Best 4Runner Lift

Pro-Truck Lift Kit (96-02 4Runner)

$233.75

Part Number	E30-82-006-05-20
Fitment	96-02 4Runner
Warranty	Eibach Million Mile

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Best lift for the 4Runner. Eibach Pro-Truck front springs raise the nose of a 96-02 4Runner roughly 2 inches for a level, aggressive stance and clearance for larger tires. They are engineered to work with Eibach Pro-Truck front shocks (required), and once the truck is lifted this is exactly the scenario where the SPC upper control arms above earn their keep by re-centering the tire and clawing back caster.

Eibach — Best Tacoma Lift

Pro-Truck Lift Kit (95-04 Tacoma, 6-Lug)

$721.65

Part Number	E80-82-006-01-22
Fitment	95-04 Tacoma (6-Lug)
Warranty	Eibach Million Mile

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Complete Tacoma lift. For the 1995-2004 Tacoma 6-lug trucks, this Eibach Pro-Truck kit ($721.65) is a matched spring-and-damping package that lifts and levels the front end while keeping ride quality civilized. Pair it with the SPC arms for a dialed, alignment-correct lifted Tacoma that still tracks straight on I-275.

KYB — Best Value Shock

Gas-A-Just Front Monotube Shock

$79.35

Part Number	kybKG9024
Fitment	Tacoma 2WD 98-04 / 4WD 95-04
Warranty	KYB Limited

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Best value damping. The KYB Gas-A-Just is a high-pressure monotube shock that resists fade and adds firmer, more confident control than a worn factory twin-tube. At $79.35 each it is the cheapest way to wake up the front end of a stock-height Tacoma and pairs naturally with fresh bushings or new control arms.

95-04 Tacoma & 96-02 4Runner Front Suspension Compared

Here is how the front-suspension upgrades stack up side by side. Rows are sorted from full alignment-correction arms down to bolt-on bushing and damping upgrades.

How to Choose the Right Front Suspension Setup

If you have lifted the truck

Any lift over about an inch changes your alignment geometry, so adjustable upper control arms should be first on your list. The SPC 35460 arms re-center the tire in the wheel well and build in positive caster so a lifted Tacoma or 4Runner tracks straight instead of wandering. This is the single highest-impact upgrade for a lifted 1st-gen Tacoma or 3rd-gen 4Runner.

If the front end is worn but stock height

Clunks, vague steering, and an alignment that will not hold usually trace back to 20-plus-year-old rubber. Start with the Whiteline upper bushing kit ($51.85) or the Energy Suspension Hyper-Flex master set ($266.82) for a full-vehicle poly refresh, then add KYB Gas-A-Just shocks ($79.35 each) to restore damping. This route sharpens the truck for a fraction of the cost of new arms.

Do not forget the ball joints

The factory ball joint on these trucks is not serviceable — when it wears, you replace the whole arm. SPC solves that with rebuildable ball joints. Their 9.5-degree taper, OE-length rebuild kit (PN 97004, $42.15) lets you refresh or even re-stud the joint for a ride-height-altered truck, so a set of SPC arms can outlast several sets of factory arms.

SPC ball joints are rebuildable (PN 97004, $42.15) — the factory unit is throwaway.

Installation & Alignment: What to Expect

Upper control arms on the 95-04 Tacoma and 96-02 4Runner are a bolt-in job for a competent DIYer with hand tools and a spring compressor is not required, since the torsion bar carries the load rather than a coil-over. Plan on 2 to 3 hours per side the first time. The critical step comes after: any time you touch the control arms, torsion bars, or ride height, the truck must be professionally aligned. Set caster as high and even as the SPC arms allow (this is what kills the wander), then bring camber back to near zero and set toe last.

One tip from our Tampa install bay: refresh the tie-rod ends and, on the 4Runner, the rack-and-pinion bushings at the same time. A truck this age often has several worn front-end parts at once, and a fresh alignment will not hold on tired steering components.

The Energy Suspension Hyper-Flex master set ($266.82) refreshes every bushing on an 01-04 Tacoma at once.

Prefer a lower, street-oriented stance instead of a lift? Belltech lowering coil springs for the 96-02 6-cylinder Tacoma ($272.00) are a popular choice for the coil-sprung 2WD trucks — just note they lower rather than lift, and still benefit from a proper alignment afterward.

For the street crowd: Belltech lowering coil springs ($272.00) for coil-sprung 2WD 6-cyl Tacomas.