UCA question - thoughts and of course opinions welcome.

[trey99ek]

Great info. I just installed my OME lift and my camber and caster is way off. The camber is worse. The shop I went to suggested going to another shop who is highly reputable before buying anything. If I need to get a new set I'm going camburg or JBA.

 

[Powder_Hound]

Thanks for all the feedback, thoughts and opinions. I sold enough crap on Craigslist to order new UCA's. Going with Camburg BJ UCA's and going to order them from [MENTION=87036]YotaDan[/MENTION] at Wheelers Off-road as they have the best price. Need to pick the weekend to install and order will be placed!

Thanks T4R forum!

 

[Powder_Hound]

[MENTION=87036]YotaDan[/MENTION] from Wheelers Off-Road was awesome me to work with and Camburg UCA shipped quickly and install took a little under 3 Hours. I didn't get the full 2 Degrees I was hoping for, but the drive is fantastic so far. Heading out for a camping trip tomorrow so I'll share a final report later. Below is the final alignment #'s post Camburg BJ UCA install. Before install the caster was at .5 and this number came from a different alignment shop. Long story short, I'm super stoked and very happy with the upgrade!!! Firestone suggested driving for a while and doing the alignment again after things settled in a bit.

 

[codyHTX]

So the JBA and camburg arms are non adjustable right? Meaning the alignment cannot be changed on them, you just bolt them in and hope your alignment is within spec. Of all the enclosed ball joint style UCA's the spc with the upgraded greasable ball joints are the only arms that would allow for precise alignment tuning?

That is correct. The JBA have an additional 3 degrees of Castor built into them, and the Camburg have an additional 2 1/2. I like the concept of being able to adjust the UCA for helping with alignment, but there are many documented issues and failures with the SPC.

hey so just to clarify, because the way it reads I'm not sure SoSo gets it, but caster/camber are adjusted via the alignment bolts on the Lower Control Arm and Toe is adjusted via the tie-rods.
So while the JBA Upper Control Arm is not adjustable, like SPC/LR is, you can still tune your alignment just like with stock and pretty much every other aftermarket BJ/UB UCA.
The JBA's (like other aftermarket UCAs) have built additional caster into the design by moving the location of the spindle mount (i hope I'm using the right term there...) rearward.

edit: someone please correct me and bash me for being a dummy if any part of what i said ain't right!

 

[mpyle]

Honestly, adjusting the SPCs is not hard at all. You just look at the sheet and set the caster plate to where you want it. On our vehicles you're best off pulling the upper balljoint to the furthest out position for clearance.

Can you explain this for me? I have a brand new set of SPC LR UCAs ready to go on. I understand the caster setting part. Regarding the ball joint, are you saying I should just slide the plate out as far out as it will go (toward the tire) rather than center it?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Can you explain this for me? I have a brand new set of SPC LR UCAs ready to go on. I understand the caster setting part. Regarding the ball joint, are you saying I should just slide the plate out as far out as it will go (toward the tire) rather than center it?

Yes, that's the best way to do it because if you pull it in, then the UCA will be closer to the tire (one of the reasons you get new UCA when going wider/taller in tires).

 

[Billynath1988]

I went with the JBA UCA's and couldnt be happier. aligned right into spec and seem to be a very high quality product. I wasnt a big fan of the red so I painted right over them with Silver caliper paint.

Bolts in nice and easy.. the idea of easy change and greasable ball joint is a very nice feature. I would recommend it.

 

[jrm]

Can i just clarify..

Yes, that's the best way to do it because if you pull it in, then the UCA will be closer to the tire (one of the reasons you get new UCA when going wider/taller in tires).

That all the way out is the zero position referred to in the directions?

 

[Cory619]

Thank you all for this thread. I am leaning towards buying the Camburg Uni-Ball but then I saw the Rokman Pro Series UCAs.

https://wheelersoffroad.com/product...-229844/rokmen-pro-series-upper-control-arms/

Anyone here have these or know someone who does?

Thanks.

 

[NZDZRT]

JBA UCA's

I went with the JBA UCA's and couldnt be happier. aligned right into spec and seem to be a very high quality product. I wasnt a big fan of the red so I painted right over them with Silver caliper paint.

Bolts in nice and easy.. the idea of easy change and greasable ball joint is a very nice feature. I would recommend it.

Looks very nice! I am still happy with my JBA UCA's. :reddance:

NZDZRT

 

[Billynath1988]

few thousand miles and major temp changes, a few road trips and light offroading so far.. JBA's still looks and feel like the day I put them in.. no complaints. Looking forward to stretching them out in the spring on a offroad trip somewhere.

 

[alia176]

few thousand miles and major temp changes, a few road trips and light offroading so far.. JBA's still looks and feel like the day I put them in.. no complaints. Looking forward to stretching them out in the spring on a offroad trip somewhere.

Can you tell me the amount of lift up front and what is the caster angle you got after the install? Assuming you got an alignment printout after the alignment.

 

[BagiMT]

Can you tell me the amount of lift up front and what is the caster angle you got after the install? Assuming you got an alignment printout after the alignment.

3" lift, caster between 3.7 and 4 after alignment with the JBAs. Very happy with them so far. Don't have the printout with me right now.

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[alia176]

3" lift, caster between 3.7 and 4 after alignment with the JBAs. Very happy with them so far. Don't have the printout with me right now.

Sent from my Fire Phone using Tapatalk

Wow, those are GREAT numbers, thank you for that. Maybe I'll save up for the JBAs even though my 2" lift really isn't that bad.

You may or may not know the answer to this question but here goes. Do the cheap Ebay UCAs that are going for less than $100/pair correct for caster? Or are they simply a replacement for the OEM UCAs in kind with no correction?

I ask this question because my UCA bushings are 320xxx miles old and I'm trying to decide if I simply want to replace the UCA in kind with a cheap Ebay unit in order to get new bushings and a new BJ all in one fell swoop for not much money. I can feel knocking from the UCA when going over bumps now that I'm on 6112s with brand new Moog LCA bushings and a new Moog lower BJ.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Cory619]

I just placed an order for the Rokmans. Plan on installing them myself.

Any advice? Looks straight forward. But there is always that one little thing.

2004 4runner V8 2WD 5100s .85 OME 885 285/75/17 Think I'm at a 3" lift.

Also plan on getting the alignment numbers to see where I am and then off course after to see the difference.

Happy New Year everyone! Be safe.

 

[Powder_Hound]

I just placed an order for the Rokmans. Plan on installing them myself.

Any advice? Looks straight forward. But there is always that one little thing.

2004 4runner V8 2WD 5100s .85 OME 885 285/75/17 Think I'm at a 3" lift.

Also plan on getting the alignment numbers to see where I am and then off course after to see the difference.

Happy New Year everyone! Be safe.

It's pretty straight forward. A 2nd set of hands will make pulling/pushing the bolt out a little easier. However, not a huge issue if flying solo.

 

[Powder_Hound]

[MENTION=87036]YotaDan[/MENTION] from Wheelers Off-Road was awesome me to work with and Camburg UCA shipped quickly and install took a little under 3 Hours. I didn't get the full 2 Degrees I was hoping for, but the drive is fantastic so far. Heading out for a camping trip tomorrow so I'll share a final report later. Below is the final alignment #'s post Camburg BJ UCA install. Before install the caster was at .5 and this number came from a different alignment shop. Long story short, I'm super stoked and very happy with the upgrade!!! Firestone suggested driving for a while and doing the alignment again after things settled in a bit.

Update: 100% Satisfied with my Camburg BJ UCA's. I'm still loving the ride and with nearly 2 degrees of caster and camber and toe in the green she drives much better than the 0 degrees I had with stock UCA's. I have had no issues thus far with my Camburg BJ UCA'S. I've been driving with just under 2 degrees of caster for about 10 years so I can't offer any feedback compared to a T4R with 3-4.5 degrees of caster. I'll update again when I increase tire size to 275's or 285's in another 10,000-15,000 miles.

I think the SPC (sounds like all,issues are resolved) are still a great choice if you want adjustment in UCA's.

I think JBA's are a great BJ choice if you want more Castor (I let an unpleasant interaction with owner jade my judgement on these) than the Camburg.

I think UB UCA's are a great choice if you want more articulation and a more durable UCA (with a little TLC from time to time). I would have probably gone Total Chaos if I went that route.

I'm glad this thread is helping other members get information about UCA's for their T4R's!

 

[alia176]

Sorry, whats UB?

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[unevolved]

Sorry, whats UB?

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Uniball, otherwhise known as a spherical bearing.

 

[alia176]

Uniball, otherwhise known as a spherical bearing.

Ahh, gotcha. Apparently, I don't know all the lingo yet :biggrin1:

In you research, did you happen to find out if the cheaper Ebay UCAs (around $100/pair) are simply replacement in kind w/o any type of caster corrections?