FJ Cruiser Upper Control Arms: Benefits, Options, and Buying Guide

I will never forget crawling under a lifted FJ Cruiser to check alignment after a friend of mine complained about eating through tires every 15,000 miles. Caster was way out of spec, ball joints were at extreme angles, and the upper control arms (UCA) were maxed out. "But I only lifted it 3 inches," he said.

That is the classic FJ Cruiser upper control arm problem. Stock arms cannot maintain proper geometry beyond two inches of lift, even with a spacer lift. Aftermarket upper control arms are one of the most important upgrades, directly affecting how the vehicle handles, tire longevity, and suspension travel. When you search for solutions, understanding which option fits your truck or car makes selection easier.

What Are FJ Upper Control Arms and What Do They Do?

Role of Upper Control Arms in the FJ Cruiser Suspension

Upper control arms connect your FJ Cruiser's frame to the steering knuckle, forming the top half of the front suspension. They work with lower control arms to manage wheel movement while maintaining alignment angles. Stock Toyota FJ Cruiser upper control arms use stamped steel with rubber bushings and a ball joint.

These arms control suspension geometry. They determine how wheel angles change as the suspension moves. Good quality geometry means predictable handling and even tire wear. Bad geometry means a vehicle that wanders at highway speeds and premature tire wear.

Why Upper Control Arms Become an Issue After a Lift

Lifting your FJ Cruiser increases the distance between the frame and the wheels, pulling the suspension geometry out of its factory-spec. Because stock upper control arms (UCAs) are fixed in length and designed for stock height, they cannot adapt to these changes.

At a three-inch lift, the stock arms force the suspension into compromised angles. Caster typically goes negative, causing the vehicle to wander at highway speeds rather than tracking straight. Camber shifts positive, leaning the tires outward and causing rapid tread wear.

Mechanically, the factory ball joints are forced into extreme angles, leading to binding and premature failure. Since the FJ’s factory adjustment range, provided by the lower cam bolts, is too narrow to compensate for these drastic shifts, aftermarket UCAs are the only way to reset geometry, restore handling, and prevent "eating" through tires

Stock vs. Aftermarket FJ Cruiser Upper Control Arms

Limitations of Stock FJ Cruiser Upper Control Arms

Stock Toyota FJ Cruiser upper control arms use stamped steel with rubber bushings and ball joints. Adjustment range is extremely minimal, maybe half an inch through cam bolts that aren't even on the UCA, but found on the LCA. This works at stock height but can't correct geometry changes from a three-inch lift.

Ball joint angles become a safety concern. Lift significantly, and you force them to work at extreme angles where they wear rapidly and bind.

Advantages of Aftermarket Upper Control Arms

Aftermarket arms are typically one to two inches longer than stock, correcting geometry changes. Quality arms use chromoly tubing, DOM steel, or billet aluminum with reinforced construction. Joint quality separates good from great. Most use heavy-duty ball joints or uniball spherical bearings. These joints are rebuildable and replaceable. There are even proprietary joints and bearings that provide certain benefits. Many are sold as a pair with all necessary hardware.

Key Benefits of Upgrading FJ Cruiser Upper Control Arms

Proper alignment capability is the primary benefit. With aftermarket arms, you achieve factory-spec caster and camber angles even with significant lift, meaning stable highway driving and predictable handling.

Increased wheel travel matters for off-road capability. Aftermarket arms allow more suspension droop, letting your suspension articulate further over obstacles.

The most significant benefit is component longevity, not only for the UCA itself, but also for other parts like ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings.

Types of FJ Cruiser Upper Control Arms

Ball Joint Upper Control Arms

Ball joint arms use traditional ball-and-socket joints, similar to stock but with heavy-duty components. These are the most common aftermarket options. Advantages include familiar operation, as any shop can work with ball joints.

Quality aftermarket joints handle increased angles much better than stock and are usually greaseable. For two to four-inch lifts doing typical off-road use, ball joint arms are excellent and cost-effective.

Uniball Upper Control Arms

Uniball spherical bearing arms replace traditional ball joints with large bearings, allowing rotation in any direction, handling extreme angles that would destroy standard ball joints. The key advantage is articulation. Uniballs operate at extreme angles without binding and are fully rebuildable. Tradeoffs are maintenance and cost since uniballs require regular greasing every few thousand miles. They make sense for FJs with long-travel suspension or owners who push hard off-road.

Hybrid / Performance Joint Designs

Some manufacturers offer hybrid designs between ball joints and uniballs. Camburg's Performance X Joint is a sealed bearing design requiring no regular greasing like uniballs, but handling more extreme angles than traditional ball joints.

ICON Vehicle Dynamics' Delta Joint is another example. These deliver uniball performance with ball joint convenience.

How to Choose the Right Upper Control Arms for Your FJ Cruiser

Based on Lift Height

For zero to two-inch lifts, stock arms can maintain acceptable alignment. For two to four-inch lifts, aftermarket arms are highly recommended. For four to six-inch lifts, uniball options start making sense. For six-inch lifts or long-travel setups, uniballs are almost mandatory.

Based on Driving Style

Daily drivers with occasional off-road use do well enough with ball joint arms. Aggressive weekend wheelers benefit from uniballs. Rock crawlers prioritize articulation, and uniballs make sense here even without extreme lifts. High-speed desert runners need strength, so good ol' ball joint or hybrid designs work well.

Based on Maintenance Preferences

Low-maintenance owners should lean toward ball joint arms, especially sealed designs. If you're comfortable with regular maintenance, take advantage of uniballs' benefits.

Popular Aftermarket FJ Cruiser Upper Control Arm Options

Dirt King

Dirt King offers high-performance ball joint upper control arms for 2007–2014 FJ Cruisers, specifically engineered to correct geometry on lifts up to 3 inches. Unlike budget options, these arms are constructed from USA-made 4130 chromoly tubing with reinforced MIG-welded gussets for maximum durability.

A standout feature is the combination of heavy-duty Moog ball joints and Probearing SilentSpin bushings. These bushings are maintenance-free, eliminating the common squeaking of performance suspension without requiring regular greasing. The design restores critical caster lost during lifting, ensuring stable highway handling and improved "droop" travel off-road.

The arms come pre-assembled with a durable black powder coat and zinc-plated hardware for superior corrosion resistance. It's priced to be a mid-ranger, but the premium materials and "set-it-and-forget-it" reliability make it an ideal mid-to-high-tier choice. They represent excellent value for owners who want race-grade strength without the high maintenance or complexity of a uniball system.

Shop Dirt King Ball Joint Upper Control Arms

Camburg

Camburg Engineering provides two elite options for the FJ Cruiser, leveraging decades of off-road racing experience to deliver massive improvements in articulation and wheel travel.

KINETIK Billet Uniball Arms

The KINETIK series represents the pinnacle of suspension tech, utilizing aerospace-grade billet aluminum rather than steel tubing. These arms feature a massive 1.25-inch uniball that can handle anything you bring it up to.

The uniball is fully rebuildable, making these arms a lifetime investment for dedicated rock crawlers or desert racers. They include greaseable polyurethane frame bushings and come in several anodized finishes (gray, red, blue, or gold). Priced at around $1,700, these are built for rigs where compromise isn't an option.

Shop Camburg KINETIK Billet Uniball Upper Control Arms

Performance X-Joint Arms

The Performance X-Joint version offers a clever hybrid approach for those who want high-end performance without a strict maintenance schedule. These use thick-walled, CNC-bent tubing paired with Camburg’s proprietary X-Joint technology.

The X-Joint is a sealed, high-misalignment ball joint that approaches uniball-level articulation while remaining maintenance-free. Like the KINETIK line, these arms utilize greaseable polyurethane frame pivot bushings and a rugged black powder coat. At roughly $1000 per pair, they offer a race-ready "middle ground" for serious enthusiasts.

Both Camburg designs focus on maximizing usable wheel travel and providing the extensive adjustment range needed to perfectly align a lifted vehicle. Whether you choose the indestructible billet uniball or the convenient X-Joint, you are installing race-proven hardware designed to survive the harshest environments on earth.

Shop Camburg Performance X-Joint Upper Control Arms

JBA

JBA upper control arms are very popular in the Toyota community because they provide solid geometry correction at reasonable price points. These arms use heavy-duty ball joints and robust tubular steel construction that has been proven reliable on thousands of builds over many years. JBA has been in the Toyota aftermarket game for decades, and its experience shows in the details.

The arms offer great adjustment range for two to four inch lifts and fit most model year FJ Cruisers without issues. Construction quality is good, not quite as overbuilt as premium options like Camburg, but more than adequate for most users.

This brand has earned trust in the off-road community through consistent quality and good customer support. For daily drivers with weekend off-road use, JBA arms hit a sweet spot of performance and value.

Freedom Off-Road

Freedom Off-Road focuses on budget-friendly options without sacrificing the essential quality you need for safe operation. Their upper control arms provide the geometry correction needed for lifted FJ Cruisers using proven designs and adequate materials. While not built to the same standards as premium brands, they work well for light to moderate use.

These arms are a good entry point for owners who need aftermarket arms but are watching their spending closely. Expect to pay $300-400 for the pair. They help you get finished with your build without breaking the bank, making them accessible for budget-conscious builders. The price makes these attractive for FJ owners who do mostly street driving with occasional light trails. Just understand these are value-oriented products—if you're planning serious off-road use, consider spending more on premium options.

Icon Vehicle Dynamics

Icon is renowned for engineering some of the most robust suspension components on the market, characterized by a focus on "overbuilt" construction and precision fitment. The billet versions are particularly notable for their on-vehicle caster and camber adjustment, allowing you to fine-tune alignment without removing the arm.

The centerpiece of Icon’s lineup is the patented Delta Joint. This component is a high-performance hybrid that bridges the gap between a traditional ball joint and a racing uniball. While standard uniballs are exposed to the elements and prone to noise and wear, the Delta Joint features a zinc-plated housing and a sealed, greaseable design that protects the internals from road salt, mud, and debris.

This architecture allows for the high-misalignment capability required for long-travel suspension while maintaining the quiet, long-lasting operation of a factory ball joint. Icon reinforces these arms with dual-stage bushings and a multi-stage powder coat finish. While they command a premium price, the Delta Joint's durability makes it a "buy once, cry once" upgrade for FJ owners who demand race-grade articulation without the constant maintenance of a traditional uniball.

Total Chaos Fabrication

Total Chaos is legendary for heavy-duty off-road suspension parts that can handle serious abuse. Their FJ Cruiser upper control arms use robust construction designed specifically for harsh off-road conditions. Available in both ball joint and uniball configurations, these arms are favorites for owners building highly capable off-road rigs.

Total Chaos arms typically use thick-wall DOM steel tubing with extensive gussets and reinforcement. The ball joint versions feature heavy-duty Moog joints, while the uniball versions use large spherical bearings in billet housings. Construction quality is exceptional; these are built like race components.

These are often the choice for builds where compromising on strength simply isn't an option. When you buy Total Chaos, you get components built for hard use that will handle whatever you throw at them. Many rock-crawling and desert racing FJ Cruisers run Total Chaos arms because they trust the brand for critical components.

Installation and Alignment Considerations

Installing upper control arms requires proper tools and mechanical knowledge. Support the vehicle safely, remove wheels, disconnect stock arms, and bolt in new designs using existing mounting points. Watch for brake line interference.

You should always get professional alignment when installing new major suspension components like UCAs. These components directly affect caster, camber, and toe. Send it to shops with lifted truck experience if you have access to them.

After installation, drive 50-100 miles and re-torque all bolts. Check ball joint arms every few months for play or torn boots.

Final Thoughts: Are FJ Cruiser Upper Control Arms Worth It?

If you have a lifted FJ Cruiser, aftermarket upper control arms are absolutely worth it, delivering measurable improvement in daily driving and off-road performance.

The cost seems high until you price out 35-inch tires you would burn through in 15,000 miles with bad alignment. Quality tires cost $1,500 or more, so proper upper control arms often pay for themselves in one tire cycle. For most FJ owners with two to four-inch lifts, quality ball joint arms hit the sweet spot. For aggressive rigs built for rock crawling or desert runs, uniball options are essential.

If you lifted your FJ and kept stock arms, you're leaving performance on the table. Whether you buy budget options or premium products, upgrading is one of the smartest suspension investments. Your FJ will thank you with better handling, longer-lasting components, and more confidence both on highway and off-road.

If you have questions about a build you have in mind or a budget you'd like to work with, feel free to contact us here at Truck Brigade.