3rd gen LCAs on 2nd gen?

I've seen it posted that all of the suspension for 3rd gen is compatible with 2nd gen (in my case, 2008 TRD Sport) EXCEPT for the LCAs (lower control arms). Can somewhere direct me if this is actually the case? When I looked at some after-market LCAs, they say they fit Tacoma from 2005 - current (which seems to indicate compatibility for both 2nd and 3rd gen). Is there a moderately priced brand that someone can recommend? (Dealership is quoting $650/LCA).

I have at least one loose bushing in driver's side LCA, and am debating how much I might want to replace other nearby components. I am considering replacing some parts with (https://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/pts/d/kailua-kona-3rd-gen-tacoma-parts/7234410895.html) and wondering if I'll get much in terms of performance and/or durability. My truck is at 112,000 but seems like the front suspension took a pounding from previous owner (recently replaced brake pads, wheel hubs/bearings, now LCAs...)

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

The rearward bushing/bolt is a different diameter which is why they're not compatible. The rearward alignment tabs on the frame are different too which is why you can't just swap hardware and make it work.

 

Bolts of the stock LCA on the 3rd gen is a larger diameter (and bushing is bigger).

It would make sense with the right spacers a 2nd gen LCA would fit in the bigger opening of the 3rd gen rear mount, but the other way around does not work.

 

Would it make sense to upgrade/replace other components, or just stick to LCA for now?

 

For me and my situation (graphic details below, tl;dr my truck is old and tired and was gonna need the work soon anyway), I went ahead and bit the bullet. I have a driver side BJ that is toast, and after a LOT of hand-wringing and saving up, am about to replace UCA, LCA, all 4 struts, coils, sway bar drop links, and sway bar bushings all at once.

For reference, I have an 09 AC TRD OR with 210k miles on the factory suspension, except for some cheap quick-struts in the front from when the driver side front factory shock shit its brains out over a speedbump at 185k miles. I live in the salt belt and now Vermont, and I decided to go with a full rebuild now rather than wait around for parts to fail one by one and have the labor time add up as I try to do everything onesies and twosies.

I went with some very low mileage Gen 3 factory shocks and UCAs from a seller here on TW, and some used but recently rebuilt Dirt King LCAs. They are the older Uniball type and I will probably get pissed off at the Uniballs here in Vermont but I wanted to see and experience certain things for myself after reading about them for a long time. You could do what I was originally going to do and pick up factory LCAs for ~250 each shipped, or you could go with Beck Arnleys from Rock Auto which seem to be well regarded among non-Toyota LCAs and cost slightly less.

 

Forgive me if anyone answered this, but what about LCA skids? Could a skid from a 2nd gen LCA fit on a 3rd?

 

These are for the 3rd gens.

 

I bought brand new 2nd gen takeoff LCA and UCA's for ~$100 and swapped them out on my 2006 a couple of weekends ago. Easy peasy.

 

“I ain’t got time to bleed!”

 

2nd Gen rear bushing is the metric equivalent of 9/16” and 3rd Gen is 5/8”. The arms are identical in every way and the rear bushings can be swapped back and forth to go 2nd-3rd or 3rd-2nd

 

Replace your bushings with whitelines and ball joint with moog problem solver. You’re welcome!

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