Squeaky UCA's
- Thread starter deedst4r
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CrimsonCountry
New member
Hey Joe. Did you torque the main bolt under tension or while the truck was in the air? I believe it needs to be fully tightened with the tires touching the ground. This keeps the bushings from being overly tightened and also prevents premature wear. I'm just going off memory so somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
BTW, I'm painting the BAMF skids right now...:thumb:
NJshadow93
New member
How do you know they're squeaking? I have the LR UCAs and have not noticed anything of the sort.
gaterose
Senior Member
I believe we torqued em in the air, didn't know it mattered at the time... I did mine the same way though and I don't have a problem with it.
aha2988
New member
The LR's had a bad batch of ball joints go out with there older design. The symptoms of the bad ball joints are you'll see a gap between the ball joint grease boot and the top of the spindle the boot is supposed to seat on. This allows debris to get in the ball joint causing it to squeak. I had this happen and called there customer service they sent me two new ball joints and I returned there bad ones. They required a core charge to do the swap but returned the money after they received my old ones.
other optional issues, you may have installed the washers on the main long bolt backwards there should be a gap between the bushing and the washer (the washers should concave away from the bushings)
The old style LR UCA's required preloading the bushings before torquing, there newer designs alleviated this requirement. with out knowing what your LR UCA's look like in there current state I can't tell you what you have but if you post a pic I could tell you (or if gaterose helped install he should know which design it is)
other optional issues, you may have installed the washers on the main long bolt backwards there should be a gap between the bushing and the washer (the washers should concave away from the bushings)
The old style LR UCA's required preloading the bushings before torquing, there newer designs alleviated this requirement. with out knowing what your LR UCA's look like in there current state I can't tell you what you have but if you post a pic I could tell you (or if gaterose helped install he should know which design it is)
having fun
New member
The newer ones know have flat washers, not concaved. This is why now they tell you not to use the factory washers as there concave also.
aha2988
New member
you ought to call them up and have them send you a new set!
aha2988
New member
If you have the new design they don't require a preload before torquing. Can you determine if the squeak is coming from the upper ball joint or upper bushings or both? also is this just one side or is it coming from both?
Also what are the most recent previous elements or conditions your UCA's have seen, If you've been in mud and dirt perhaps try cleaning everything good and shooting some lubrication in various places perhaps?
I haven't heard of the new design producing squeaks..
gaterose
Senior Member
Yes, I should and plan to. Didn't know I could til I read your post though.
I'm not having any trouble out of mine though
gaterose
Senior Member
Now you have!
aha2988
New member
mine didn't begin to squeak until they saw mud with the gap there it aloud all the mud and water to contaminate the ball joint grease causing the squeak for my case. at least you know you have the option if yours cause an issue down the road.
