UCA removal

Did a bit of a search and couldn't find. Is there a step by step for replacing the UCAs on my '09 Taco? TIA Cheers, Dave

 

Just did mine this weekend
Installed Icon UCA’s
Use jack to support lower control arm”keep little pressure “
Unscrew upper Ball joint nut, but don’t take off!
Loosen until you only have a few threads left
Hit UCA/ball joint hard with hammer may take a few Ugg’s duggs and hit harder
It will drop hence leaving the nut attached
Remove screws that hold speed sensor cable and move out of the way
For both sides, easiest thing is get “duck bill” vise grips you will need to bend the pinch welds out of the way, don’t be afraid to bend the steel! Then the bolt will come right out, the nut may need some juice depending on how crusty they are
I had a new frame 2
Years ago, so mine were hit that bad
With air tools, both sides took me 2:15

 

what whatstcp is a good one, I also like to follow the FSM while doing repairs to reference proper techniques, torque settings, etc. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/05-tacoma-factory-service-manual-pdf.270191/

 

Thanks guys, big help!

 

In addition to the one provided by @whatstcp there are multiple Tacoma UCA replacement videos on YouTube (including ones for 3rd Gens which are very similar if not the same). So watch a few of those to get familiar with what you're up against.

IMO the most ignorant part of this job is removing the long UCA bolts as you'll have to bend/mangle the sheet metal of the inner wheel/fender wells. Some people really struggle with this while others claim they don't. Conveniently enough, the FSM completely glosses over this fact and simply says to "remove the bolts" (these are installed at the factory before the body goes on). Some guys just simply cut the bolt out and install the new ones backwards, which I'll admit I wasn't overly fond of until recently I saw a photo of the new fancy TRD UCAs on the 2022 TRD Pros being installed like this from the factory. So...

 

You bend the firewall to pull the bolt out with lubricant and knock out the ball joint with an air hammer.

 

I just bought a set of new bolts for when i do mine $27 oem bolts. For me the extra $30 bucks to not struggle with the sheet metal is worth it. I also scored a new set off uca’s from a 2021 tacoma for $25 bucks. Just have to install them. Question for anyone who has done this . Will it tighten up the road wondering on the highway?

 

So you wouldn't have to bend sheet metal to get the new bolts in?

 

Yes you just install them the opposite way

 

It's been a few years since I've done this but it wasn't a big deal to bent the pinch weld. It's probably the same amount of time, if not less time, than it would take to cut the bolt.

 

I just did mine this weekend. I had a friend help. He suggested and I agree with him. Not necessarily a good idea to turn the bolts around. As he explained it for Gravity Sakes. If the nut were to fall off after you turn the bolts around the bolt can slide out of the UCA. If you leave it in the original position when reinstalling and the nut falls off this can't happen. Agreed its a long shot of this happening but it just made sense to me so that's how I did mine. Just my .02

 

If you read my earlier post above you'll see that Toyota has decided to try and defy gravity by installing the UCA bolts backwards on the new '22 TRD Pros. Competition is starting to get stiff in the light truck arena so perhaps it's part of their marketing campaign, "The all new 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, not even gravity can stop it!" or how about, "The all new 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, F = mg need not apply!"...ok I'll just go ahead and see myself to the door.