Next Level Performance
June 29, 2026 • 9 min read
If you have lifted or leveled your truck, upper control arms for the Toyota Tacoma are not optional — they are the part that keeps the front end aligned, safe, and driving straight. The moment you add more than about 2 inches of front lift to a 2005–2023 Tacoma, the factory arms run out of caster, the ball joints bind at full droop, and the stock A-arm starts kissing the coil bucket. An adjustable upper control arm fixes all three. In our Tampa, FL shop we bolt these on almost every lifted Tacoma that rolls through the bay, and the SPC Performance 35470 is the set we reach for first.
Our Verdict
The SPC Performance 35470 adjustable upper control arms are the best all-around UCA for the 2005–2023 Toyota Tacoma.
With 0° to +4° of caster and ±2° of camber adjustment, a forged-steel body, a maintenance-free ball joint with 80° of articulation, and an SPC limited lifetime warranty, they recover the alignment you lose to a lift and restore factory ride quality. Pair them with an Eibach Pro-Truck lift kit and shocks for a complete front-end package.
Shop Our Top Pick →Why Your Lifted Tacoma Needs Upper Control Arms
An upper control arm is the upper A-arm that connects your Tacoma's frame to the top of the steering knuckle, locating the wheel and setting your caster and camber. The Tacoma uses an independent front suspension, so when you raise the front of the truck the geometry changes — and the factory arm cannot keep up. Here is exactly what goes wrong and what an aftermarket UCA corrects.
Lost caster makes the truck wander
Lifting the front of a Tacoma rotates the suspension and pulls caster out of the alignment. Caster is the angle that keeps the truck tracking straight above 45 mph and returns the steering wheel to center after a corner. Lose it and the truck feels darty and tiring on the highway. The SPC 35470 has +2° of caster built into the casting and a total adjustment range of 0° to +4°, so an alignment tech can dial the front end back into spec after a 2–3 inch lift.
Ball joint binding limits travel
At full droop, a stock upper ball joint runs out of operating angle and binds, which limits down-travel and stresses the joint. Quality aftermarket arms use a higher-misalignment joint — the SPC unit offers a full 80° of articulation, roughly a 25% larger cross-section than factory — so the suspension can cycle through its full range without topping out the joint. That means more usable travel on the trail and less wear on the street.
Spring and coilover clearance
Taller springs and larger-bodied aftermarket coilovers need room. The factory A-arm frequently contacts the coil bucket once you add a lift, while aftermarket arms are shaped with improved clearance around the spring bucket to fit a 2.5-inch or 60mm coilover without rubbing. If you are installing a full lift kit, replacing the UCAs at the same time is the difference between a clean install and a grinding noise on every dip.
SPC Performance 35470 forged adjustable UCA — the front-end fix for a lifted Tacoma.
Best Upper Control Arms for Toyota Tacoma: Our Top Pick
The SPC Performance 35470 is an adjustable upper control arm sold as a pair for all 2005–2023 Toyota Tacoma 6-lug trucks, 2WD and 4x4. It is the arm we recommend to the most Tacoma owners because it does the two things a UCA must do — recover alignment and restore ride quality — without the maintenance and noise that come with a pure uniball arm.
Key Specifications — SPC 35470
What sets the 35470 apart is the joint design. The frame side rides on SPC's xAxis sealed flex joint — a bonded-rubber sleeve that free-pivots without the squeak, grease, or trail noise of a metal uniball — while the knuckle side uses a maintenance-free ball joint. The result is an arm that corrects your alignment angles and keeps factory ride quality, making it ideal for a Tacoma that still has to do daily-driver and highway duty. The forged-steel construction handles the abuse of Florida back roads and overlanding alike.
What We Like
- + 0° to +4° caster recovers alignment after a 2–3 in. lift
- + Sealed xAxis flex joint and ball joint are maintenance-free
- + Forged steel with 80° articulation and lifetime warranty
Things to Consider
- – Requires a follow-up alignment after installation
- – Sealed joint is quieter but less rebuildable than a uniball
Ran out of caster adjustment with the OEM arms after my 3-inch lift. Bolted on the SPC 35470, got a proper alignment, and the truck tracks dead straight on the highway again. No squeaks, no rubbing on the coilovers.
— Marcus D. | Verified Buyer | ★★★★★
Best Lift & Leveling Kits to Pair With Your UCAs
Upper control arms correct geometry, but the lift kit sets the height. For Tacoma owners who want a clean, bolt-on stance with real spring rate — not a cheap spacer — we point them to the Eibach Pro-Truck system. The lift springs deliver roughly 1 to 2.5 inches of adjustable front lift and are engineered to work with Eibach's matching Pro-Truck Sport shocks. Eibach splits the kit by generation, so 2nd-gen (2005–2015) and 3rd-gen (2016–2023) trucks each get the correct spring.
Eibach Pro-Truck progressive lift springs — built to pair with matching Pro-Truck shocks.
Front Shocks That Match Your New Ride Height
Eibach designs the Pro-Truck lift springs to run with Pro-Truck Sport shocks, and you should not mix the springs with worn factory dampers. The Pro-Truck Sport front shock is a height-adjustable monotube with a 46mm nitro-carbide steel piston rod, giving 0 to 2.0 inches of front ride-height adjustment on the 3rd-gen truck (up to 2.5 inches on the 2005–2015 6-lug version). The monotube valving firms up body control without beating you up on washboard roads — a noticeable upgrade over the soft factory twin-tube.
Don't Forget the Supporting Cast: Links, Tie Rods & Bearings
A lift changes the angle of more than just the control arms. Two cheap parts — sway bar end links and tie rod ends — take on new angles and extra load once you raise the front, and they are the parts that rattle or wear out first if you ignore them. Both are inexpensive insurance on a Tacoma front-end build, and we install them alongside UCAs as a matter of routine.
Already running Fabtech upper control arms? The Fabtech Upper Control Arm Bearing Kit ($190.18, part FTS98015) rebuilds the uniball/bearing on a worn Fabtech UCA so you do not have to replace the whole arm — a smart maintenance buy for high-mileage off-road trucks.
Fabtech UCA bearing kit — rebuild a worn uniball instead of buying a new arm.
Toyota Tacoma Front Suspension Upgrades Compared
Here is how the core front-end upgrades for the 2005–2023 Toyota Tacoma stack up. The SPC upper control arm is the foundation; the rest of the table is the supporting package that turns a UCA install into a complete, properly aligned lift.
| Component | Type | Tacoma Fit | Standout Spec | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPC 35470 UCA (Pair)Top Pick | Adjustable UCA | 2005–2023 | 0° to +4° caster | $646.90 |
| Eibach Pro-Truck Lift Kit | Lift springs | 2016–2023 | Up to 2.5 in. front | $275.00 |
| Eibach Lift Kit (6-Lug) | Lift springs | 2005–2015 | Up to 2.5 in. front | $275.00 |
| Eibach Pro-Truck Sport Shock | Monotube shock | 2016–2023 | 46mm rod, 0–2.0 in. | $159.00 |
| Fabtech Sway Bar End Links | End link kit | 2005–2013 | Lift-corrected angle | $290.91 |
| Fabtech Tie Rod End | Tie rod end | 1995–2013 | HD forged | $50.07 |
How to Choose the Right UCA Setup for Your Tacoma
Match the parts to your build. A Tacoma with a mild 2-inch level can run aftermarket UCAs purely for alignment correction and better droop control, while anything in the 2.5–3 inch range really needs them to clear the coilover and recover caster. Confirm your generation first: the 2nd-gen Tacoma runs 2005–2015 and the 3rd-gen runs 2016–2023, and the Eibach springs and shocks are generation-specific even though the SPC 35470 arm spans both. Always book an alignment after any UCA or lift install — that is what dials the caster and camber back into the factory window.
Building a different Toyota? We cover the same upgrade path for sister platforms in our guides to the best upper control arms for the Toyota 4Runner & FJ Cruiser and the best upper control arms for the Toyota Tundra & Sequoia. You can also browse every arm we stock in the Control Arms collection or shop the full Suspension collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need upper control arms to lift my Toyota Tacoma?
You need aftermarket upper control arms once your Tacoma's front lift reaches about 2 inches or more. Below that, factory arms usually survive, but past 2 inches the stock UCA runs out of caster adjustment, the ball joint binds at full droop, and the arm can contact the coil bucket. An adjustable arm like the SPC 35470 restores alignment and clearance.
What years of Toyota Tacoma does the SPC 35470 UCA fit?
The SPC Performance 35470 upper control arms fit all 2005–2023 Toyota Tacoma 6-lug trucks, in both 2WD and 4x4 configurations. That covers the entire 2nd generation (2005–2015) and 3rd generation (2016–2023). They are sold as a pair.
How much caster correction do aftermarket Tacoma UCAs provide?
Adjustable Tacoma UCAs like the SPC 35470 deliver 0° to +4° of caster and ±2° of camber adjustment, with +2° of caster already built into the arm for lifted trucks. That range is enough to bring a 2 to 3-inch lifted Tacoma back into a proper highway-stable alignment.
How long does it take to install Tacoma upper control arms?
Plan on roughly one hour per side for an experienced installer, so about two hours total plus an alignment. The job is a straightforward bolt-on with hand tools, but the front coilover or strut must be unloaded to swap the arm, and you should always follow with a professional alignment.
Do I need new shocks and a lift kit with my UCAs?
Upper control arms correct geometry but do not raise the truck, so the lift comes from springs and shocks. If you are lifting, pair the UCAs with a matched kit like the Eibach Pro-Truck lift springs (up to 2.5 inches front) and Pro-Truck Sport monotube shocks. If you are only fixing alignment on an existing setup, UCAs alone can be enough.
Are ball-joint or uniball upper control arms better for a daily-driven Tacoma?
For a street-driven Tacoma, a sealed ball-joint arm is better. The SPC 35470 uses a maintenance-free ball joint and an xAxis sealed flex joint that pivots quietly without the grease intervals or trail noise of a metal uniball. A uniball offers more articulation for dedicated race trucks but transmits more noise and needs periodic service.
Will aftermarket UCAs improve my Tacoma's ride quality?
Yes — on a lifted truck. By restoring correct ball-joint and control-arm angles, a quality UCA eliminates bind, recovers suspension travel, and lets the front end cycle smoothly, which is why SPC markets the 35470 as restoring factory ride quality after a lift. On a stock-height truck the ride change is minimal; the benefit shows up once geometry has been altered.
Ready to Fix Your Tacoma's Front End?
Shop SPC adjustable upper control arms and the full Toyota Tacoma front-suspension lineup at NLP Performance.
Shop the CollectionFree shipping on select brands • Located in Tampa, FL
