Shock warehouse offers a variety of control arms for your lifted truck. These include Bilstein, Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Moog, Rancho, Old Man Emu and more.  Below you will find a guide to lifted trucks and if you need new control arms or can stick with your OEM factory control arms 

Whether you need new control arms when lifting your truck depends on the height of the lift, the type of lift, and your Make, Model, Year of Truck 

When You Probably Don’t Need New Control Arms 

0-2 Inch lifts , Ride Height Adjustable Shocks , Spacers, Blocks, Leveling Kits  (1-2 inches)  

If you’re doing a basic leveling kit or a small spacer lift, stock control arms usually handle it fine. These kits don’t drastically change suspension geometry, so the originals can keep things aligned. 

Maybe Get New Control Arms 

 2-4 inch lifts 

With a suspension lift in this range, the angle of the control arms steepens. Stock arms might still work, but you could run into: 

  • Poor alignment (camber/caster issues).
  • Strained bushings or ball joints wear out faster. 

Some kits include drop brackets to reposition stock arms, which can avoid the need for replacements. 

 

Definitely Get New Control Arms 

Big Lifts (4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Inch Lifts)  

No way can the stock control arms can work. The geometry changes too much, leading to: 

  • Binding or limited suspension of travel.
  • Bad driveline angles or wheel positioning. 

Most big lift kits either include longer aftermarket control arms or require them as an add-on. 

 

Control Arms for Lifts 

Longer Control Arm:  

  • Common for bigger lifts, these maintain proper angles and alignment. 

Adjustable Control Arm: 

  • Great if you want to fine-tune caster or pinion angles, especially for off-road setups. 

Drop Brackets: 

  •  An alternative to new arms, these lower the mounting points to mimic stock geometry. 

 

What Kind of Truck Suspension Do You Have? 

IFS (Independent Front Suspension) 

  • Trucks like a Toyota Tacoma or Ford F-150 often need new upper or lower control arms with bigger lifts to correct ball joint angles and prevent CV joint damage. 

Solid Front Axle 

  • Older trucks or heavy-duty models (e.g., Jeep Wrangler, Ram 2500) might just need adjusted arms or brackets, depending on the lift kit. 

Upgrade Your Control Arms Anyway 

Even if the lift doesn’t demand it, consider new control arms if: 

  • Your stock ones are old, rusted, or worn.
  • You’re upgrading to heavier tires or plan hardcore off-roading—stock arms might not handle the extra stress. 

If you have questions regarding control arms please call our team here at Shockwarehouse at 800-245-7469.

What truck do you have, and how high are you planning to lift it? That’ll narrow it down. Most lift kits specify if new control arms are required, so check your kit’s instructions too.