Best Ball Joint Adapter for UCA's

[MarkBlack]

I recently bought a deal from a forum member. And it included Upper Control arms, however the Ball joint Adapters werent any good. They were ordered from trail-gear.

I was wondering if anyones has a company they trust. The C clip cuttings werent deep enough causing it to fail. Im going to contact trail gear and see if it was a fluke, but i doubt it.

Was hoping someone has been in my situation before, and received quality parts.

Included pics to see what im talking about.

 

[binqker]

Holly sH#T. did the ball joint bulged out? What brand is that UCA?

 

[mesooohoppy]

wow, thats nuts. did it pop off the c clip or shear it? who makes these arms?

those look very similar to my total chaos arms, but the color looks lighter and the spacers look like they're machined a little differently. if trail gear cant help you, i suggest you ring up total chaos and see if their balljoint adapter can be used in place.

edit:
now that im looking at the pictures again, are you sure you tightened the nut all the way down and ensure everything was seated as it should be? if so, even if the adapters were loose and the c-clip groove wasnt machined deep enough, it should all stay together as it has no real way of shifting, no?

 

[MStudt]

Those are All-Pro adapters, and are some of the best. I've been running those same adapters with my All Pro UCA's for years with no issues. Are you certain that you seated the c-clip all the way in? All 3rd Gen adapters are going to be the same style due to the suspension design.

You'll be able to tell if the c-clips were properly installed installed, and failed vs not being installed properly. If the c-clip looks fine without any rounding or cupping it was not installed properly.

Mike

 

[MarkBlack]

Holly sH#T. did the ball joint bulged out? What brand is that UCA?

I thought they were All Pro, But after the install i bet its cheap china brand.

 

[MarkBlack]

Those are All-Pro adapters, and are some of the best. I've been running those same adapters with my All Pro UCA's for years with no issues. Are you certain that you seated the c-clip all the way in? All 3rd Gen adapters are going to be the same style due to the suspension design.

You'll be able to tell if the c-clips were properly installed installed, and failed vs not being installed properly. If the c-clip looks fine without any rounding or cupping it was not installed properly.

Mike

I paid a guy to help me with the install and he brought it up before we finished installing saying it might be an issue. It may have been installed incorrectly, he assured me it was done correctly. But the C clips look alright.

 

[mesooohoppy]

its very hard to F up c clip installation, even without a tool. it makes a positive snap once its in the raceway. im still having a hard time believing this just popped out of the spindle if everything was seated correctly.

if everything was seated correctly and tightened AND the tolerances were too loose, i would think it would cause some sort of rattling. have you mic'd the ID of the hole on the spindle and the OD of the adapter?

what is this 'issue' you speak of?

 

[MarkBlack]

its very hard to F up c clip installation, even without a tool. it makes a positive snap once its in the raceway. im still having a hard time believing this just popped out of the spindle if everything was seated correctly.

if everything was seated correctly and tightened AND the tolerances were too loose, i would think it would cause some sort of rattling. have you mic'd the ID of the hole on the spindle and the OD of the adapter?

what is this 'issue' you speak of?

He had the tools and it was seated correctly, at least I thought. We drove it around for 10 min, and i hit a large bump pretty fast and it just dropped down. I felt the wheel crank to one side and knew something was up. Took 3 hours to shave off the chrome on these china parts. Also the bolts were all jacked up. I think he wouldnt have spent the extra 3 hours if he f'd the clip up.
im not sure what "have you mic'd the ID of the hole on the spindle and the OD of the adapter?" means. Sorry lol

 

[MarkBlack]

wow, thats nuts. did it pop off the c clip or shear it? who makes these arms?

those look very similar to my total chaos arms, but the color looks lighter and the spacers look like they're machined a little differently. if trail gear cant help you, i suggest you ring up total chaos and see if their balljoint adapter can be used in place.

edit:
now that im looking at the pictures again, are you sure you tightened the nut all the way down and ensure everything was seated as it should be? if so, even if the adapters were loose and the c-clip groove wasnt machined deep enough, it should all stay together as it has no real way of shifting, no?

Heres a better shot

 

[MStudt]

I thought they were All Pro, But after the install i bet its cheap china brand.

100% sure those are NOT All Pro arms. All Pro arms are either black or gray, and don't have a metallic flake in them. Looks exactly like these from eBay.

Took 3 hours to shave off the chrome on these china parts. Also the bolts were all jacked up. I think he wouldnt have spent the extra 3 hours if he f'd the clip up.

Something doesn't add up here.

You said you bought the adapters from Trail Gear, and they don't sell adapters (at least they never have in the past). Best I can tell you bought All Pro adapters, and that's an assumption since Trail Gear owns All Pro. If those are All Pro adapters they're made in the USA, and not China. So, where did you get the UCA's from sine they aren't All Pro? From what I can tell by looking at them, they're the UCA's from eBay based on the color, and since the powder coat goes all the way into the cups. If this is the case, the adapters that come with these are complete junk, and are not of good quality.

Mike

 

[MarkBlack]

100% sure those are NOT All Pro arms. All Pro arms are either black or gray, and don't have a metallic flake in them. Looks exactly like these from eBay.



Something doesn't add up here.

You said you bought the adapters from Trail Gear, and they don't sell adapters (at least they never have in the past). Best I can tell you bought All Pro adapters, and that's an assumption since Trail Gear owns All Pro. If those are All Pro adapters they're made in the USA, and not China. So, where did you get the UCA's from sine they aren't All Pro? From what I can tell by looking at them, they're the UCA's from eBay based on the color, and since the powder coat goes all the way into the cups. If this is the case, the adapters that come with these are complete junk, and are not of good quality.

Mike

I said I bought this whole set from a forum member. I thought it was All Pro. But it’s eBay, the part where the C clip failed is from trail gear. I have the receipts. I agree it’s trash, but the all pro set up failed me after 10 miles.

 

[MarkBlack]

So I’m looking for a different company. Not all pro; not trail gear.

 

[MStudt]

So I’m looking for a different company. Not all pro; not trail gear.

Try Icon or TC, but I'll still betting it failed due to the install. Just because you paid someone to install them doesn't mean they were installed correctly. Especially since the c-clip isn't cupped, and doesn't show any sign force being applied to it.

Can you verify if the adapter needed to be pressed in or not? Typically, these are a very snug fit, and need to be pressed in like an upper ball joint. If they fit in loosely, there's your problem. You had also mentioned "shaving" them, and if you shaved the adapter that might have been the issue.

Mike

 

[MarkBlack]

its very hard to F up c clip installation, even without a tool. it makes a positive snap once its in the raceway. im still having a hard time believing this just popped out of the spindle if everything was seated correctly.

if everything was seated correctly and tightened AND the tolerances were too loose, i would think it would cause some sort of rattling. have you mic'd the ID of the hole on the spindle and the OD of the adapter?

what is this 'issue' you speak of?

Heres the pics of the All Pro ball joint adapters. You can see how small the indentation is for the C clip. Please let me know if this looks normal.

 

[MarkBlack]

Try Icon or TC, but I'll still betting it failed due to the install. Just because you paid someone to install them doesn't mean they were installed correctly. Especially since the c-clip isn't cupped, and doesn't show any sign force being applied to it.

Can you verify if the adapter needed to be pressed in or not? Typically, these are a very snug fit, and need to be pressed in like an upper ball joint. If they fit in loosely, there's your problem. You had also mentioned "shaving" them, and if you shaved the adapter that might have been the issue.

Mike

Do these C clip indentations look deep enough? If so, there's no point in buying new ones. Ill have to get someone else to help me do it properly. Thank you!

 

[MStudt]

Do these C clip indentations look deep enough? If so, there's no point in buying new ones. Ill have to get someone else to help me do it properly. Thank you!

Those do not look deep enough to me. I'd contact Trail Gear, and your money back. Seems they cheaped out on parts when they bought All-Pro.

Mike

 

[UnderFire]

Highly recommend total chaos. All the parts I've had from them are super quality and I've ordered spare parts quickly and easily, just call em.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

 

[mesooohoppy]

no those c clip grooves are not deep enough.

Highly recommend total chaos. All the parts I've had from them are super quality and I've ordered spare parts quickly and easily, just call em.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

i have these UCAs on my rig and love them. hopefully your arms will fit the adapter.

 

[MarkBlack]

Those do not look deep enough to me. I'd contact Trail Gear, and your money back. Seems they cheaped out on parts when they bought All-Pro.

Mike

Ive contacted all pro and havent heard back. Ill reach out again. I knew it was too small but it was my first time messing with this so I wasnt sure

 

[MarkBlack]

no those c clip grooves are not deep enough.



i have these UCAs on my rig and love them. hopefully your arms will fit the adapter.

Thanks man i knew the grooves were too small!