The 2nd & 3rd Gen Tacoma’s upper control arm (UCA) bolt is rather comical in length. This bolt goes from one end of the UCA through the shock tower and out the other end. Since the shock itself takes the bulk of the truck’s load, this bolt (and the UCA) I rarely considered a weak point. That is, until one day in Death Valley, my friend called me and sent me a picture of a snapped one and damaged tower.
This is when I realized this is another weak point to worry about when running larger tires on a mid-sized truck. Let’s discuss how to fix this problem with the Dirt King Upper Arm Double Shear Kit.
This kit works with the 2005-2023 Tacoma.
Table Of Contents
Kit Overview
Dirt King has built an impressive reputation in the industry for producing high-quality products. This Upper Arm Double Shear Kit strengthens and reinforces the coil bucket to the frame and reduces stress/load on the upper arm bolts.
This is accomplished by using 3/16 inch weld-on brackets that connect from the frame, shock tower, and upper control arm bolt to completely tighten up the system. Having the bolt set up in a double shear manner dramatically increases strength.
This retains the OEM bolt and works best with aftermarket control arms. It is specifically formulated to work with Dirt King UCAs. While I am not running those, I have found that they will also work with other brands as well. Some may require minor modification.
Installation Overview
Tools Required
- Jack and jack stands
- Socket Set (including a torque wrench)
- Wrenches (17mm, 19mm, 21mm)
- Impact wrench (optional, but recommended)
- Ball joint separator (optional)
- Gloves & eye protection
- Penetrating oil
- Grinder & PPE
- A welder and proper equipment
Installation is rather involved, including welding, relocating items, and more. Mine was professionally done at Stellar Built, a trusted off-road shop in Sacramento, CA.
Here, the installation process appeared much easier, completed on a lift with full visibility, and with the various grinders needed to get into the tight spaces. On top of that, the professional welders on staff laid a way better bead than I ever could have with my Harbor Freight welder.
Before You Start
Use a jack or a lift to work on the truck.
- Secure it with jack stands under the frame.
- Remove the front wheels.
- Loosen the upper ball joint nut (using a 15mm or 17mm wrench), but do not fully remove it just yet.
- You may need to use a ball joint separator to free the ball joint from the control arm.
- Use a 19mm wrench/socket to remove the bolts holding the UCA to the truck’s frame (there are usually two bolts on the frame).
- Once the UCA bolts are off, remove the UCA.
- The job is easier without shocks as well.
Welding Prep Work
- Place the brackets on the truck. Install the upper control arms, slide the upper control arm bolt through, and snug it into place.
- Take note of how the bracket is aligned and placed. We want to mark down where the bracket is making contact.
- Remove the upper control arm bolt and arm. Then, prep the painted surfaces for welding using the grinder.
Welding
- Reinstall the shear kit brackets, upper control arms, and upper control arm bolt into place and tighten the hardware.
- Confirm that the bracket’s alignment is correct and flush. Place large, strong tacks on the bracket to hold it in place and ensure that no warping will occur.
- Remove the upper control arm bolt and the UCA. Reinstall the bolt through the bracket and tighten to help hold everything in place.
- Continue with finishing welding.
Painting
- Clean the area thoroughly after welding. Scuff the surface to prepare for paint.
- Using a high-quality frame or undercoating, paint the area thoroughly with multiple coats, following the manufacturer’s recommendations on the product.
Reassemble Suspension
- Now go back and torque all the bolts to their specified values. These can vary by manufacturer, but here are typical torque specs…
- UCA Frame Bolts: 85-95 ft-lbs.
- Ball Joint Nut: 50-70 ft-lbs. (consult your UCA manufacturer for exact numbers)
- Double-check all the hardware to ensure everything is properly torqued.
- If you removed any components like shocks or sway bar links for more clearance, reinstall them now.
Wheels & Alignment
- Put the wheels back on the truck and tighten the lug nuts by hand.
- Lower the truck off the jack stands and use a torque wrench to torque the lug nuts to factory specs (85 ft-lbs).
- After installing new UCAs, your vehicle will likely need a wheel alignment to ensure proper handling and tire wear.
Final Thoughts
I take my truck on one crazy adventure after another and rely on the equipment to keep me safe, comfortable, and moving. The upper control arm bolt wasn’t on my top list of things that needed to be reinforced, but learning from others’ mistakes, I quickly moved that up the list during my recent rebuild.
The Dirt King Upper Arm Double Shear Kit is relatively affordable (especially if you can weld it yourself) and effective. Its ultra-fast ship time allowed us to move quickly before taking the truck on its next adventure. The 3/16th steel is more than enough to complete this job and then some.
The kit was easy to install with little to no guidance needed. If you plan on doing the cam tabs, spindle gussets, and other reinforcements to your truck, I highly suggest adding this to the list.
