Getting SPC's UCA setup aligned

[gimlithepirate]

I'm about to pull the trigger on SPC UCAs and a Dobinson's lift. When I do, I'm going to need to get an alignment after I install myself. What have people found to be the best option for getting the SPC UCAs aligned? I can try and find an off road oriented alignment shop, and make sure they know how to deal with SPC UCAs, or I can get a lifetime alignment from Firestone, do the SPC rough aligning myself, and then have them do the rest. Any opinions?

 

[L8Shift]

I had a off-road oriented shop do the alignment for my SPCs.

I have the Firestone lifetime alignment on other vehicles.

:cheers:

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

I'm about to pull the trigger on SPC UCAs and a Dobinson's lift. When I do, I'm going to need to get an alignment after I install myself. What have people found to be the best option for getting the SPC UCAs aligned? I can try and find an off road oriented alignment shop, and make sure they know how to deal with SPC UCAs, or I can get a lifetime alignment from Firestone, do the SPC rough aligning myself, and then have them do the rest. Any opinions?

Set LCA cams for max caster (front cams facing each other, rear cams turned all the way out) Set SPC balljoint at slot "D" with camber slider all the way out (what SPC recommends). Take to shop and let them fine tune ONLY THE CAMBER VIA THE SPC BALLJOINT, and the toe via the tie rods! Tell them LCA is off limits! If you do this, it will retain great road manners and pushes the tire forward in the wheel well to help clear the body mount etc. Just set my buddy like this recently and its perfect!

 

[gimlithepirate]

Interesting. Will have to see if I can find a shop that will work with me to that degree. That's exactly what I'm looking for. I need to clear the Body mount as much as possible.

 

[evan1242]

My Toyota dealer did mine
Front shocks and springs (toytec/blisten)
Rear shocks and springs
SPC uppers
Mount & balance wheels/tires
Full alignment
$750

Also Titanium is right. The tire needs to be pushed forward with the upper arm only. Mine was +3.0 on each side and is no where near the body mount with a 285/70/17 and 17x9 -12mm wheel. Only slight trimming in the front needed.
Drives wonderfully

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

My Toyota dealer did mine
Front shocks and springs (toytec/blisten)
Rear shocks and springs
SPC uppers
Mount & balance wheels/tires
Full alignment
$750

Also Titanium is right. The tire needs to be pushed forward with the upper arm only. Mine was +3.0 on each side and is no where near the body mount with a 285/70/17 and 17x9 -12mm wheel. Only slight trimming in the front needed.
Drives wonderfully

Slight misunderstanding, the way I described would be using the LCA to move the tire forward. The SPC UCA would be used to adjust for camber so that the LCA can be used for caster. If you try to max caster via the UCA it ends up pushing the wheel further back into the rear of the wheel well. Positive caster adjustments made at the LCA allow the wheel to go forward whereas positive caster adjustments made at the UCA cause the wheel to go back further into the rear of the wheel well. It’s interesting how that measurement is an inverse reaction depending on where the adjustments are made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2YhnldfI50&feature=youtu.be

This video shows what I’m talking about


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[duffdog]

Good luck with that.

I have never seen an SPC UCA that wasn't broken or bent after an off road trip. Several shops (and dealers) I know flat out won't install them at all - its either Factory, Total Chaos or get out of my shop.

There are hundreds of posts on dozens of sites with stories of people nearly dying after their SPC UCA failed. Which they always do.

But don't take my word for it... look it up yourself.

 

[evan1242]

Good luck with that.



I have never seen an SPC UCA that wasn't broken or bent after an off road trip. Several shops (and dealers) I know flat out won't install them at all - its either Factory, Total Chaos or get out of my shop.



There are hundreds of posts on dozens of sites with stories of people nearly dying after their SPC UCA failed. Which they always do.



But don't take my word for it... look it up yourself.

Well that’s terrifying...

Edit : looks like hopefully that problem has been fixed

 

[Brutalguyracing]

I ran the specs for a few year
Never had one break
BUT
I DO THINK THEY ARE THE BIGGEST POS ON THE MARKET
between the bushings failing over and over and the ball joints too
I threw them away
Granted this was years ago
But they have redesigned the bushings a million times at customers expense
When they should have done their own testing

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[evan1242]

Slight misunderstanding, the way I described would be using the LCA to move the tire forward. The SPC UCA would be used to adjust for camber so that the LCA can be used for caster. If you try to max caster via the UCA it ends up pushing the wheel further back into the rear of the wheel well. Positive caster adjustments made at the LCA allow the wheel to go forward whereas positive caster adjustments made at the UCA cause the wheel to go back further into the rear of the wheel well. It’s interesting how that measurement is an inverse reaction depending on where the adjustments are made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2YhnldfI50&feature=youtu.be

This video shows what I’m talking about


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gotcha. That makes more sense. I hope these SPCs are good now. Mine were bought probably only about 4 months ago and from searching it looks like the versions a couple years old were the problem ones.

 

[montijo505]

Gotcha. That makes more sense. I hope these SPCs are good now. Mine were bought probably only about 4 months ago and from searching it looks like the versions a couple years old were the problem ones.

If it makes you feel better, I've had mine since about 2016 with no problems. I've wheeled them decently, no big rocks or anything as its my daily driver, and had zero issues. Only current problem with them is I need to replace the ball joints as they are torn on the driver side.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[fordhorse]

Firestone ugg

As an aside, Unless you have a connection at Firestone they have stated to me they'll no longer align modified vehicles, and have passively hasseled me every time I bring them one.
"The technician's job is to get it in the green while using oem parts" They state.
Won't even test drive the frikkin thing after its aligned to save me the headache of returning it after I test drive it.
Just food for thought.

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

All the people talking $hit about SPCs....what are yall smoking? These things are totally fine and thousands of people run them. I have had mine for over 20k now and havent had to service whatsoever, still quiet as a mouse and holding strong. I go offroad every other week and wheel it pretty hard. They will hold up to abuse.

 

[gimlithepirate]

All the people talking $hit about SPCs....what are yall smoking? These things are totally fine and thousands of people run them. I have had mine for over 20k now and havent had to service whatsoever, still quiet as a mouse and holding strong. I go offroad every other week and wheel it pretty hard. They will hold up to abuse.

SPC took some time to get their design dialed in. JBA had better arms initially, but with their big gussets they tend to have clearance issues. At this point, SPC *seems* to have resolved their major issues, as most of the posts talking trash about SPC are at least 2-3 years old.

Honestly, if someone made a good low profile fixed positive camber UCA for less than 500, I'd take it over the SPC, but in the budget realm SPC or JBA seems to be the best option.

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

SPC took some time to get their design dialed in. JBA had better arms initially, but with their big gussets they tend to have clearance issues. At this point, SPC *seems* to have resolved their major issues, as most of the posts talking trash about SPC are at least 2-3 years old.

Honestly, if someone made a good low profile fixed positive camber UCA for less than 500, I'd take it over the SPC, but in the budget realm SPC or JBA seems to be the best option.

I have yet to see people run JBAs without clearance issues being a possiblity. Not to mention, the non-adjustablility was a deal killer for me.

Yes SPC does have all issues resolved though. Its been years now since they've redesigned. Not sure why thats still a hesitation point for people. At least they changed their design, unlike JBA who continues to keep their design which causes wheel fitment issues. That just boggles my mind...Also SPCs can be had under $500. I got mine for $490 and some change.

 

[duffdog]

All the people talking $hit about SPCs....what are yall smoking? These things are totally fine and thousands of people run them. I have had mine for over 20k now and havent had to service whatsoever, still quiet as a mouse and holding strong. I go offroad every other week and wheel it pretty hard. They will hold up to abuse.

Abuse is defined differently by different people. I don't want anything "totally fine" on my truck. Either its built so strong that I can ram a big rock and drive away or I don't want it.

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

Abuse is defined differently by different people. I don't want anything "totally fine" on my truck. Either its built so strong that I can ram a big rock and drive away or I don't want it.

Fair point. I'm obviously not using my truck like you, if you're ramming "big rocks".

I take mine through Uwharrie trails, on the beach of the OBX in NC and through various FSRs. I also daily drive mine. SPC has worked phenomenally in all above situations.

Have fun ramming rocks! I prefer a bit more finesse when I'm behind the wheel :thumb3:

 

[evan1242]

Fair point. I'm obviously not using my truck like you, if you're ramming "big rocks".



I take mine through Uwharrie trails, on the beach of the OBX in NC and through various FSRs. I also daily drive mine. SPC has worked phenomenally in all above situations.



Have fun ramming rocks! I prefer a bit more finesse when I'm behind the wheel :thumb3:

So far so good for me.
Mine look totally different than the ones in other threads that have failed a couple years ago.

 

[LOSTR4]

I bought Light Racing UCAs in 2013 and they had a multitude of issues regarding the bushings, welds breaking, squeaks, etc...LR was acquired by SPC soon after and had the unfortunate experience of having to "deal and correct" the heart-ache LR started...SPC has drastically redesigned the UCAs to not have the same results the LR UCAs had and have been very helpful to those who experienced these issues...they offered an update discount to those who had issues and who were willing to continue to use their products...

I am this weekend swapping out my original LR UCAs with their latest design as they gave me an immense discount for this update...instead of spending $650 for their setup, they let me update my old style to new for only $200. If that's poor customer service or product reliability then I'm not on Earth. Great consumer service has been what I've experienced and the new design that was finalized in 2016 is superior to the original UCAs they took ownership of when they acquired Light Racing...

No reason a to bash a company that is open and offering help to those who experienced issues...my issues are failed bushings and squeaks that sound like a mouse porn is taking place...they helped and I didn't whine...they have the most adjustabilit, fit budgets, and have done their due diligence in correcting the issues of past. Cheers to their UCAs and customer service and thank you Titanium for your suggested alignment specs to use...

 

[BackOff]

So far so good for me.
Mine look totally different than the ones in other threads that have failed a couple years ago.

Thats the newer design.

I bought Light Racing UCAs in 2013 and they had a multitude of issues regarding the bushings, welds breaking, squeaks, etc...LR was acquired by SPC soon after and had the unfortunate experience of having to "deal and correct" the heart-ache LR started...SPC has drastically redesigned the UCAs to not have the same results the LR UCAs had and have been very helpful to those who experienced these issues...they offered an update discount to those who had issues and who were willing to continue to use their products...

I am this weekend swapping out my original LR UCAs with their latest design as they gave me an immense discount for this update...instead of spending $650 for their setup, they let me update my old style to new for only $200. If that's poor customer service or product reliability then I'm not on Earth. Great consumer service has been what I've experienced and the new design that was finalized in 2016 is superior to the original UCAs they took ownership of when they acquired Light Racing...

No reason a to bash a company that is open and offering help to those who experienced issues...my issues are failed bushings and squeaks that sound like a mouse porn is taking place...they helped and I didn't whine...they have the most adjustabilit, fit budgets, and have done their due diligence in correcting the issues of past. Cheers to their UCAs and customer service and thank you Titanium for your suggested alignment specs to use...

I have liked mine since 2011, no squeaks on mine.
I would buy again expecially for $200... how did you do this? You just call them?
They didnt seem to want to help me out.
I was looking for just the arms without ball-joint and bushings, though...just had swaped the parts on mine.


And they did have another problem last year with a batch of bad bushing, would "Clunk".

Taco thread...
Front End Suspension Clunk After LR UCA's | Tacoma World