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Light Racing UCA's

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Talbotman, Nov 29, 2011.

  1. Nov 29, 2011 at 9:06 AM
    #1
    Talbotman

    Talbotman [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Looking into getting a set of aftermarket UCA's but not exactly sure what i should get. Saw the Light Racing pair on Wheelers and interested because of the adjustablility but unsure because of that fact, meaning allowing room for things to loosen and fall out of adjustment. Just looking for some insight thanks
     
  2. Nov 29, 2011 at 9:17 AM
    #2
    TacoMX

    TacoMX TW's Official anti body-lift pundit

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    I have heard nothing but praise out of the LR UCA's. If I were to get a set of UCA's it would be them because of the adjust-ability, and the booted ball joint. Its too dusty and muddy here in FL to deal with Uniball joints.
     
  3. Nov 29, 2011 at 10:52 AM
    #3
    brs127s

    brs127s Well-Known Member

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    I have the LR UCA's and are very happy with them. Like other's have said, they give you the means to make adjustments to bring your truck back into allignment specs after lifting and have a "sealed" ball joint.

    Besides, once they are torqued down, they won't budge. The big nut that hold the ball joint to the arm gets torqued to 120 ft/lb. If you do something that causes that to move after being torqued, you were doing something you probably shouldn't have been doing in the first place.
     
  4. Dec 3, 2011 at 6:27 AM
    #4
    brutalguyracing

    brutalguyracing BIG DADDY

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    F.U> GUYZ
    broken mods
    you will not have any problems with the adjustments on the arms coming loose..
    i have been running them for almost 2 years now and never had a problem with that....
    that beig said i have had problems with the ball joints and the bushings......
    the ball joints are nott 100% sealed.....proprer maint. on that will prevent it..."taking off boot cleaning out n re greasing" im in the nor east so it takes a toll out here.....
    and as for the bushings i had total failure as have some others....but let me tell you spc and fat bobs "where i got them from" have stood behind their product like no others......
    they have issued replacement ball joints and arms and mind you this is or was almost 2 years after purchase......
    overall i am very happy with them it has brought my truck back into spec...and solved any body mount chop needed as i adjusted them to prevent that..running 33's
    good luck
     
  5. Dec 3, 2011 at 10:07 AM
    #5
    Norton

    Norton Senior Member

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    I thought I read something about that design "flaw" being changed/fixed? Is this still a problem? :confused:
     
  6. Dec 3, 2011 at 10:08 AM
    #6
    brutalguyracing

    brutalguyracing BIG DADDY

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    F.U> GUYZ
    broken mods
    dont know but they gave me 8 washers to install on this batch.....so thats something
    but the bushing still look the same
     
  7. Dec 3, 2011 at 10:09 AM
    #7
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    Supposedly they are coming out with a poly bushing soon
     
  8. Dec 3, 2011 at 10:16 AM
    #8
    brutalguyracing

    brutalguyracing BIG DADDY

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    F.U> GUYZ
    broken mods
    that would be the way to go
     
  9. Dec 3, 2011 at 10:30 AM
    #9
    MTNative

    MTNative Well-Known Member

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    Did you all install them yourselves or have a shop put them on? I've got a set I want to put on but not sure if I need a press or not and if it is something I can do in the garage. Any insight here will help a bunch. Thanks
     
  10. Dec 3, 2011 at 10:39 AM
    #10
    brutalguyracing

    brutalguyracing BIG DADDY

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    F.U> GUYZ
    broken mods
    install everything myself
    it will take you about 2 hours. if u have not done this before
    a few wrenchs some grease a lump hammer and your ready to go

    1. jack truck remove wheels
    2. remove 10mm and 14mm bolts that retain brake / abs sensor wires
    3. loosen castle nut then hit with hammer to break free
    4. remove castle nut and use a bungie cord to support the lca n such
    5. remove long ucal bolt "bend some fender out of way"
    6. install loose then tighten when truck back on ground to 87 ft. lbs
    7. get alingment


    castle nut is 21mm
    and uca bolts 19mm
     
  11. Dec 3, 2011 at 10:39 AM
    #11
    ttran

    ttran Expert Mallcrawler

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    Installed my LR UCA's by myself in my garage, a press isn't needed. You'll need an alignment afterwards.
     
  12. Dec 3, 2011 at 10:53 AM
    #12
    tacoman15

    tacoman15 Boobies

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    how exactly are they adjustable? and what is they purpose of them being able to adjust? in what ways are they better than TC UCAs?
     
  13. Dec 3, 2011 at 11:02 AM
    #13
    MTNative

    MTNative Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the quick response. I'm heading out to the garage now. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
     
  14. Dec 3, 2011 at 12:00 PM
    #14
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    The ball joint is adjustable to dial in the amount of additional caster you want , the LR UCA's are adjustable from 0-4* of additional camber over stock .
     
  15. Dec 3, 2011 at 12:06 PM
    #15
    tacoman15

    tacoman15 Boobies

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    ok thanks. but how do you know what setting is ideal for your truck?
     
  16. Dec 3, 2011 at 12:08 PM
    #16
    JonnyBb

    JonnyBb I have to return some videotapes

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    Chris at SPC said some of the early bushing failures were due to the installer tightening the bolts when the suspension was unloaded (near full droop). They added the info below to their FAQ to try to fix this issue.

    Q. Since my Toyota is lifted, in what position should I tighten the long bushing bolt?

    A. The main idea is to put the control arm bushings in the center of their travel range, so the best thing to do is have the control arm in the center of its travel arc no matter if the vehicle is lifted or lowered. This will ensure the bushings flex the same amount in each direction. This is usually just about horizontal to the ground for most Toyotas. Tightening them at normal ride height is the next best scenario. As is the case with all suspension bushings, the bolts should NEVER be fully tightened while the vehicle suspension is hanging on a hoist.
     
  17. Dec 3, 2011 at 12:15 PM
    #17
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    At their neutral setting the LR UCA's add 2* of caster , this seems to be enough for 2-3" lifts to allow an optimum alignment . Higher lifts , or larger tires may require a manipulation of this caster setting to get the tires to clear etc
     
  18. Dec 3, 2011 at 12:22 PM
    #18
    tacoman15

    tacoman15 Boobies

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    oh ok so since i am running 285's on a 3 inch lift would i need a higher or lower caster setting?
     
  19. Dec 3, 2011 at 12:33 PM
    #19
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    If you are running stock UCA's , you will have your caster adjustment maxed out to get " in spec " , however you probably will not be able to get optimal caster without aftermarket UCA's
     
  20. Dec 3, 2011 at 12:38 PM
    #20
    JonnyBb

    JonnyBb I have to return some videotapes

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