Wheel Spacers or new UCA?

[CoTacoTRD]

OK so I am now sitting on a 2.5" lift and some MT Baja MTZ's 285/75/R16. I put them on the stock rims which I like and don't really want to spend the extra money on new rims. Besides money for rims can go to other needed acessories instead. I spoke with my cousin whom I got the tires from (I trust him and he has alway taken care of me) and he told me the rubbing is minimual and would not affect anything mechanically. But I am up for second opinions. I have attached pics of my Taco and the UCA that shows the rubbing. It is minimual. So would any of you consider Wheel Spacers like these:
http://www.spidertrax.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1252/.f

or a new aftermarket UCA? I haven't researched this option yet but I have noticed that the aftermarket designs would allow for more tire space on the UCA unlike the OEM UCA that is one piece and flat.

All suggestions and opinions welcome. :dunno:

[thefatkid]

If you like you width now and have minimal rubbing on the pinchwelds i would get the UCA. Wheel spacer will change the travle arc of the tires and could cause rubbing on the body.

A benifit of most aftermarket UCAs is they add in caster to help align lifted trucks.

[TowerRigger]

wheels with more back spacing would probably be the ticket, but UCA is the way to go if you're planning on keeping your lifted IFS. I wish I had them.

[fjcruzer]

You and March2304 should chat, he has the same issue and has been going back and forth about UCA's or spacers. As I recall he was having trouble finding the right spacers for the 05+ Taco. I put TC UCA's on after my lift and have been much happier than with the OEM, but I'm only running 10.50's, so not UCA rub issues to compare.

[RedRunnertc]

If you like you width now and have minimal rubbing on the pinchwelds i would get the UCA. Wheel spacer will change the travle arc of the tires and could cause rubbing on the body.

x2

Much better to have minor rub on something really solid like the UCA or frame than the fenders which can rip off.

Of course, this is the reason I say people should stay tall/skinny on our trucks...

[Jacket]

You should see better performance with an aftermarket UCA both on-road and off-road. But there is no guarantee they will solve your rubbing issues, and in some cases it could be worse. Less backspacing (4-4.5") on your wheels is really the best way to avoid rubbing the UCA with the 285/75, but then you'll rub more fender plastic....

[TowerRigger]

You can always hack fenders and plastic. Or just live with the rub. My truck sounds like it's going to rip itself apart on the trail. It's also one of those sounds that annoys others but I've grown to sadistically love.

[CoTacoTRD]

Thanks for the help guys. Now I forgot to add one thing into the mix. My truck has less than 15k miles on it and do know if either the spacers or the UCA will effect the factory warrenty. I am inclinded for now to live with the rub as it isn't that bad and look into a UCA after the warrenty is up. But it sounds like the UCA is a very effective part to consider in the future.

[devinsixtyseven]

Get the UCA. You'll be ready for longer shocks when you have the money, you will have more clearance to the tire, the joint is stronger, and they are nearly an install & forget mod (almost). Just grease them once in a while and make sure the nut is tight on the control arm mount.

Spacers are not install & forget. Every horror story you'll hear about spacers involves not checking torque on the inner and outer lugs...it needs to be done frequently until the entire assembly is set, and it's a two person deal with jackstands unless you have line locks. Don't get them unless you absolutely need them, planned for it, willing to stay on them, etc...

[Jacket]

Thanks for the help guys. Now I forgot to add one thing into the mix. My truck has less than 15k miles on it and do know if either the spacers or the UCA will effect the factory warrenty. I am inclinded for now to live with the rub as it isn't that bad and look into a UCA after the warrenty is up. But it sounds like the UCA is a very effective part to consider in the future.

You can ask FJCruzer about warranty claims with modified suspensions :)

You've already got a suspension lift (not sure if its a spacer or new coils), so the UCA will only add to the modifications there. You would be no more worse off for a claim than you are now.

[march2304]

My vote is some slightly offset rims. My rims are 4.25 and i have the same size tires as you with a 3 inch lift. My tries rub only when i turn 3/4 or more but if i am at full turn they rub to the point of not wanting to turn. Not to mention when i air down for the trails they rub constantly. I think a combo of UCA's and offset rims will solve the problem. My immediate short term solution:i am putting my other tires on that are not as wide but just as tall. No rubbing.

[fjcruzer]

i am putting my other tires on that are not as wide but just as tall. No rubbing.

But not until after Friday :D

[CoTacoTRD]

Thanks. Matt I agree. My suspension claim are kind of out the window now with the lift. I will have to research the UCA. Right now the lift is only a 2.5" spacer but in the future I am planning on the entire strut. Thanks for the help everyone.

[dr350jja]

I think the issue you're having, is running the tires on the 'stock' wheels (I believe those wheels are only 7" wide). :2cents: I don't think there should be that much rubbing w/ the tire size you have.

On my '06 Tacoma, I'm running a 3" Revtek lift (more like 2 1/2") with 285/75R16 BFG AT on Eagle Alloys Series 1378 wheels. They are 8" wide and have a 4-5/8" backspacing. I had to trim the plastic front fender liners and cut back the plastic fender flares a little, on an angle. This seems to work well for me, and it does not rub on the UCA at all. :)

Cheers,
Jim

[Gerdo]

Looking at your pictures I see the rub marks on the UCA but I don't see any on the tires. Is the tire actualy rubbing or is just mud that was on the tires? I haven't looked at my UCAs but I would bet that I have marks from mud rubbing. If you want a little of room you could go with a 1/4" spacer that slips on then is held in place with the wheel/lug nuts. Performance wheel on South SanteFe carries the 1/4" and larger spacers.

[CoTacoTRD]

I think the issue you're having, is running the tires on the 'stock' wheels (I believe those wheels are only 7" wide). :2cents: I don't think there should be that much rubbing w/ the tire size you have.

On my '06 Tacoma, I'm running a 3" Revtek lift (more like 2 1/2") with 285/75R16 BFG AT on Eagle Alloys Series 1378 wheels. They are 8" wide and have a 4-5/8" backspacing. I had to trim the plastic front fender liners and cut back the plastic fender flares a little, on an angle. This seems to work well for me, and it does not rub on the UCA at all. :)


Actually I like the stock rims and would rather spend the rim money on another mod instead. Also the only plastic I have had to trim so far is the little black drop downs at the front of the fender. Other than that no plastic rubs. Now I haven't hit a hard trail yet either with the tires. They are only about a week old. From what I am hearding the UCA is a good mod all around and might be worth the money.

[CoTacoTRD]

Looking at your pictures I see the rub marks on the UCA but I don't see any on the tires. Is the tire actualy rubbing or is just mud that was on the tires? I haven't looked at my UCAs but I would bet that I have marks from mud rubbing. If you want a little of room you could go with a 1/4" spacer that slips on then is held in place with the wheel/lug nuts. Performance wheel on South SanteFe carries the 1/4" and larger spacers.

Honestly the only reason they are rubbing is because I went with a mudder instead of an AT. The mudders have a large side lug that when I turn into corners quickly the UCA moves up on the outside wheel as I turn and it slightly ever so slightly rubs. I talked to my cousin the tire man about those 1/4" spacers that Performance has and he told that since they are not fitted for my lug pattern but more general to fit other applications that the holes are too large for the lugnuts. They are impossible to center on the wheel and can become loose because they do not fit exactly. That is why he told me if I went with a wheel spacer they should be the bolt on type to make sure they stay on. But others on this thread have said that even then they are a maintance nightmare.

[DelveDS]

I have heard that the aftermarket UCA's are much more difficult to adjust for the alignment. I have the same rubbing, but it's a non-issue. If I were to get new UCA's I would go with Steve at Sonoran Steel (www.Sonoransteel.com). He can shave your UCA's back and re-weld them for $250. That way you can retain the stock alignment specs and be able to fit even a 12.5 in wide tire without changing the backspacing or wheel spacers. I have done business with him before and he's pretty helpful.