Adjustable upper control arms

2

2runnersnyynyg

New member
So i replaced the suspension on my 99 runner. bilstiens on all 4 corners, lower ball joints, sway bar links and the rear springs to eliminate sag, new tie rod ends and put on the FJ 16 inch bead lock style wheels and duratrac GY to cap off a stock ride height and better look. car was quiet over bumps and alignment is "in spec" but i have POSITIVE CAMBER and my tires are starting to cup.
Has anyone else had this happen?
adjustable UCA's that can fix this ? recommendations?
Thank you in advance
 
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I can attest to SPC. After lifting about 3" inches they are a must to get your caster back in spec. Plus it just makes adjusting everything easier overall.
 
SPC's are good, but I don't think OP needs them. He's stock height, so no need for adjustable UCA's. Even with my lift I can get the alignment within factory specs, that's why I kept the factory arms.

Are you completely sure your alignment is within specs OP? If it is, SPC arms aren't going to do anything for you. Something might be bent, or maybe you've got some worn front suspension part.
 
Unner said:
SPC's are good, but I don't think OP needs them. He's stock height, so no need for adjustable UCA's. Even with my lift I can get the alignment within factory specs, that's why I kept the factory arms.

Are you completely sure your alignment is within specs OP? If it is, SPC arms aren't going to do anything for you. Something might be bent, or maybe you've got some worn front suspension part.
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I failed at reading comprehension and missed the stock height part.

Yeah OP, there's something else going on there. Adjustable UCAs are going to mask whatever your actual issue is.
 
2runnersnyynyg said:
car was quiet over bumps and alignment is "in spec"but i have POSITIVE CAMBER and my tires are starting to cup.
Has anyone else had this happen?
adjustable UCA's that can fix this ? recommendations?
Thank you in advance
Click to expand...

If you have positive camber outside of the specified range for 3rd gens your alignment probably isn’t in spec. The alignment printout will tell you the range you should be in.

The adjustability of the SPC uca are great for camber and caster adjustments. Also allows the ability to make more room between your tires/firewall & tires/uca.
 
fourfive said:
If you have positive camber outside of the specified range for 3rd gens your alignment probably isn’t in spec. The alignment printout will tell you the range you should be in.

The adjustability of the SPC uca are great for camber and caster adjustments. Also allows the ability to make more room between your tires/firewall & tires/uca.
Click to expand...

So the alignment is adjusted within factory alignment spec but when standing in front of the car there is noticeable positive camber, i feel like the wheels arent making great contact with the ground in turns as is it is just riding on the edge where i get tire noise even while braking into a turn as if im riding the edge.

i may be losing my mind, but i dont think so. its beyond irritating after putting a bunch of work into it, i dont feel i had this camber before i put in the new bilstiens and links. has anyone else ever had this problem?
 
2runnersnyynyg said:
So the alignment is adjusted within factory alignment spec but when standing in front of the car there is noticeable positive camber, i feel like the wheels arent making great contact with the ground in turns as is it is just riding on the edge where i get tire noise even while braking into a turn as if im riding the edge.

i may be losing my mind, but i dont think so. its beyond irritating after putting a bunch of work into it, i dont feel i had this camber before i put in the new bilstiens and links. has anyone else ever had this problem?
Click to expand...

I think you need to find a new alignment shop before you start throwing more parts at it. If you've not lifted it at all, your caster and camber shouldn't have changed. Just toe from the new TREs.

Did the alignment shop fail to torque the cam adjusters? Can you get someone else to just check your alignment to make sure it's still in spec?
 
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Did it look like that the day you had the alignment done? I'm asking because when I put my SPC UCAs in (I know you don't have them, but bare with me on this) and had the alignment done it was dialed in great. 24 hrs later I had a slight pull to the passenger side. 48 hrs later it was undrivable.

I took it back and you could visually see my tires were toed outward. There was 3 of us looking over my whole front end and none could see where anything shifted. Everything torqued correctly. It was realigned and has been fine since.

I would take it back and have them put it back on the rack. If they fight you on it, they don't need your business. If you can visually see your tires aren't like they should, it's not aligned correctly.

Unless by chance could putting the LBJs on the wrong sides cause this? Now I'm just spitballing ideas out there. I personally have no idea.
 
psraff said:
Did it look like that the day you had the alignment done? I'm asking because when I put my SPC UCAs in (I know you don't have them, but bare with me on this) and had the alignment done it was dialed in great. 24 hrs later I had a slight pull to the passenger side. 48 hrs later it was undrivable.

I took it back and you could visually see my tires were toed outward. There was 3 of us looking over my whole front end and none could see where anything shifted. Everything torqued correctly. It was realigned and has been fine since.

I would take it back and have them put it back on the rack. If they fight you on it, they don't need your business. If you can visually see your tires aren't like they should, it's not aligned correctly.

Unless by chance could putting the LBJs on the wrong sides cause this? Now I'm just spitballing ideas out there. I personally have no idea.
Click to expand...

So, i happen to work at a dealer(different brand) and have had the alignment done by the shop installin the the suspension part(freinds mechanical) and note that the in addition the lower control arms were replaced as well. car tracks straight it just feels like im running on the edges. feels worse in turns as you can see its the last tread bar on the asphalt and it feels like the tire could fold under. im just hating that it feels like this in turns.
 
Take it back and have the alignment checked. Maybe they didn't put the sensors on the wheels correctly or something and it gave false readings. Then post the alignment sheet here for us to look at it if you still have problems.

What kind of replacement lower control arms did you use? Non OEM ones are known to cause problems because the bushings in them are garbage.
 
Scramble said:
This! :trophy:
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Could the pos. Camber be from bushings ? That seems to be somewhat odd that a lower arm would have that much impact on pos. Camber but I’m am at the point where I’ve spent lots recently to have this truck for years to come and I am really at wits end.
I am willing to get the spc uppers and even replace lowers to correct this. I really hate doing things twice but it seems to be the direction I’m going. FML
 
2runnersnyynyg said:
Could the pos. Camber be from bushings ? That seems to be somewhat odd that a lower arm would have that much impact on pos. Camber but I’m am at the point where I’ve spent lots recently to have this truck for years to come and I am really at wits end.
I am willing to get the spc uppers and even replace lowers to correct this. I really hate doing things twice but it seems to be the direction I’m going. FML
Click to expand...

Yea, aftermarket LCA's are terrible, mostly it's the bushings. There are plenty of threads on this. Poly bushings seem fine though. I hate doing things twice too, thats why I always read a bunch of threads on here before I do a repair or mod. 99% of the time going cheap with Moog or Dorman means you'll be re-doing it again with OEM.
 
2runnersnyynyg said:
Could the pos. Camber be from bushings ? That seems to be somewhat odd that a lower arm would have that much impact on pos. Camber but I’m am at the point where I’ve spent lots recently to have this truck for years to come and I am really at wits end.
I am willing to get the spc uppers and even replace lowers to correct this. I really hate doing things twice but it seems to be the direction I’m going. FML
Click to expand...

Lower arms have everything to do with camber on a stock configuration.
 
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