Top 5 Best Upper Control Arms for Your Toyota Tacoma
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Once you lift a Tacoma or start running bigger tires, the factory upper control arms quietly become the weak link. They were built for a stock ride height, so at a lift they run out of alignment adjustment, the ball joint sits at a sharp angle, and clearance for a larger coilover gets tight. For a truck you actually take off-road, that's worth fixing.
Upgrading your upper control arms restores the geometry your suspension needs to work properly at a new ride height. The right set gives you back correct caster for straight-line stability, adds clearance for more travel, and in most cases upgrades the pivot to something far stronger than the factory rubber and ball joint. It's one of the highest-value suspension upgrades you can make.
The trick is matching the arm to how you actually drive. Below are five proven options that cover different setups and budgets, all fitting the 2005-2023 Tacoma across the 2nd and 3rd gen trucks.
Dirt King Fabrication 4130 Upper Control Arms
Dirt King has one of the strongest reputations in the Tacoma control arm world, and their 4130 Upper Control Arms are a big reason why. Built from 4130 chromoly, they're designed to take a beating while keeping your alignment where it should be at a lift.
The pivot design is the standout. Dirt King uses a serviceable uniball setup that keeps articulation smooth and predictable, and because it's built to be rebuilt, you're not throwing the whole arm away when parts wear. For an owner who runs their truck hard and wants a set of arms that lasts, this is a strong place to start.
Total Chaos Urethane Bushing Pivot Uniball Upper Control Arm
Total Chaos has a long history in the long-travel and off-road fabrication world, and their Urethane Bushing Pivot Uniball UCA blends two approaches. It runs a uniball at the upper pivot for clean articulation, paired with urethane bushings at the frame side.
That combination is the appeal. You get the strength and movement of a uniball where it matters most, while the urethane bushings help keep some of the harshness and noise out of the equation. It's a good fit for someone who wants a serious arm but still spends real time on the road between trails.
Peak Suspension Tubular Upper Control Arms
The Peak Tubular Upper Control Arms are the value-minded pick in this group without stepping down on the fundamentals. The tubular design corrects your caster and adds the clearance a lifted Tacoma needs, which is exactly what most owners are after when they start looking at arms.
If you've fitted a modest lift and want to sort the geometry properly without spending big, these cover the essentials. They're an easy recommendation for a daily-driven truck that sees weekend trails rather than desert racing.
Dobinsons Tubular Steel UCA with Ball Joints
Dobinsons comes at this from the overland and touring side, and their Tubular Steel Series UCA reflects that. Rather than a uniball, this set uses a pressed ball joint, which is the quieter, lower-maintenance choice.
That makes it a natural match for a Tacoma that racks up highway and trail miles and gets used as a proper travel rig. You lose a little of the outright articulation feel of a uniball, but you gain a set-and-forget arm with no uniball noise to live with. For a lot of owners, that's the right trade.
ARB Upper Control Arm
ARB needs little introduction with off-road and overland builds, and the ARB Upper Control Arm is designed to complement a lifted setup, particularly if you're already running ARB or Old Man Emu suspension. It adds the caster and clearance a lift calls for while keeping street manners in mind.
If your build leans toward the ARB ecosystem, matching arms to the rest of the kit keeps everything working together as intended. It's a sensible, trusted option for a well-rounded overland Tacoma.
Picking the Right Upper Control Arms for Your Tacoma
There's no single best set here, and that's the point. The uniball options from Dirt King and Total Chaos suit trucks that get worked hard and whose owners don't mind a little maintenance, while the ball-joint arms from Dobinsons and ARB reward daily drivers and overlanders who want quiet, low-fuss miles. Peak sits in the middle as the value entry.
Whichever direction you lean, matching your arms to your ride height and how you actually use the truck is what matters. You can find all five on our Tacoma upper and lower control arms collection, and if you're not sure which suits your setup, the TacomaBeast team is happy to help you work it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to common questions.
Q: Do I need aftermarket upper control arms after a lift?
A: In most cases, yes. A lift changes your suspension geometry, and aftermarket upper control arms restore correct caster and alignment while adding clearance for larger coilovers and more travel.
Q: What's the difference between a uniball and a ball joint UCA?
A: A uniball allows more articulation and is stronger for hard off-road use, but can be noisier and needs occasional service. A ball joint is quieter and lower maintenance, which suits daily-driven and overland trucks.
Q: Do these upper control arms fit my Tacoma?
A: All five sets featured here fit the 2005-2023 Toyota Tacoma, covering both the 2nd gen (2005-2015) and 3rd gen (2016-2023) trucks.
Q: Can I install upper control arms myself?
A: Many owners install their own with basic tools, but the truck will need a fresh alignment afterward, so plan for a trip to an alignment shop once they're on.
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