How the hell did I lose 2" of ride height?

[calimobber]

Yea the main thing that stood out to me was the uca bushing looks all jacked up. What is that spacer thing?

thats mine


<a href="https://ibb.co/1rTgBNJ"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/v3kFfWv/IMG-20190204-152321.jpg" alt="IMG-20190204-152321" border="0" /></a>

 

[calimobber]

Looking online I guess its just part of some Upper ball joints. mines stock so mine doesn't have that.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

It's an SPC UCA with the offset balljoint, seems to be set in the "D" position. Wouldn't have any bearing on ride height.

 

[MtnT4R]

It's an SPC UCA with the offset balljoint, seems to be set in the "D" position. Wouldn't have any bearing on ride height.

Sorry yeah I forgot to mention that I have SPC UCAs. The ball joint configuration is completely different, and that spacer thing is for caster(i think) adjustment.

I called Toytec today out of curiosity to ask about those standard weight OME springs. The tech told me that its not unheard of for those standard weight springs to settle quite a bit when adding a steel bumper. I would guess I only added 50-60lbs over stock weight, but apparently he said that might be enough, especially with 3 years of driving/wheeling.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

I think the UCAs were installed incorrectly. perhaps the RH UCA was installed on the LH side and the LH UCA was installed on the RH side?

 

[phattyduck]

I think the UCAs were installed incorrectly. perhaps the RH UCA was installed on the LH side and the LH UCA was installed on the RH side?

Might be, but that still wouldn't change the ride height, which is set by the spring/shock and the lower control arm...

-Charlie

 

[HiMiles]

One possibility: at some point in the past, someone torqued the LCA cam bolts with the arms at full droop. This added extra torsional preload to the LCA bushings, artificially raising the ride height. When the new alignment was performed, the LCA cam bolts were torqued at ride height, removing this extra preload and lowering the front.

Another possibility: the situation happened in reverse, where they were torqued at ride height before and were torqued in an odd (too high in the travel) position this time. This is pretty unlikely, as it would be very inconvenient to actually torque the bolts with the suspension compressed beyond ride height.

I think the UCAs were installed incorrectly. perhaps the RH UCA was installed on the LH side and the LH UCA was installed on the RH side?

Looking at the photo, they're installed on the correct sides.

 

[Yoter]

Where were the lower control arms purchased? They look new and it would be most logical that the issue is with the lower control arms.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

My theory is that there were either spacers taken out, or the spring perch was lowered. The shock/spring was too long to easily replace onto the new LCA so they adjusted to make it fit. That lowered everything.

Even if the bushing/Cam bolts were tightened before the vehicle was on the ground, it would have been at a droop which would have added to ride height. Doubtful that bound bushings would hold the weight of the vehicle for long, it would just ruin the bushings.

The only thing that looks off is the distance between the LCA and shock tower, the spring was lowered, shortened or changed in some manner.

 

[MtnT4R]

My theory is that there were either spacers taken out, or the spring perch was lowered. The shock/spring was too long to easily replace onto the new LCA so they adjusted to make it fit. That lowered everything.

Even if the bushing/Cam bolts were tightened before the vehicle was on the ground, it would have been at a droop which would have added to ride height. Doubtful that bound bushings would hold the weight of the vehicle for long, it would just ruin the bushings.

The only thing that looks off is the distance between the LCA and shock tower, the spring was lowered, shortened or changed in some manner.

These OME shocks are not adjustable. They give 2.5" lift, or 3" with spacer, which I do not have.

Where were the lower control arms purchased? They look new and it would be most logical that the issue is with the lower control arms.

All my mechanic said is they are OEM LCAs. I was thinking the same as you, but without the old ones to compare to I cant really tell if there is some difference in geometry.

 

[T4topher]

These OME shocks are not adjustable. They give 2.5" lift, or 3" with spacer, which I do not have.





All my mechanic said is they are OEM LCAs. I was thinking the same as you, but without the old ones to compare to I cant really tell if there is some difference in geometry.

To me the LCA’s look like OEM or equivalent, I don’t think he is lying but it’s possible.. Really odd problem man, I can definitely verify your UCA should be below the top of the shock tower at ride height though.. One thing that might be helpful is put your truck on a jack and let both front tires bottom out with droop. Then after that you can try putting the jack under the control arms to bottom out the up travel.. Might even be helpful to take the shock off and the tire and cycle the suspension on each side by hand/with a jack. That’s what I would try..

Edit: How does it handle/ride on the road?

 

[Yoter]

Maybe he can provide you with a receipt?

 

[catrains]

I recently tried to get an alignment at a buddies shop, but he called and said the LCA bolts were frozen and he needed to cut them off and replace the control arms..

that is why I spray a sh*t load of silicone spray on those rubber bushings and other rubber parts..