JBA Offroad Upper Control Arms And Suspension MEGA Thread BS thread

Maybe I need to talk right to the tech, and be that PITA customer who stands there and watches. If you want a job done right...

 

I've had great luck going to mom and pop shops, so long as they have good reviews. In my experience they'll work with you pretty well to get the numbers you want.

 

Where I am going next.
Going to work on getting my caster #s where I want them.

 

You'll find the right place. And when you do, they will have a customer for life.

 

@DoorDing You're probably right, but I'm gonna go back there in the morning, and try again, if they wont then I'm gonna demand a refund. I'm way less than happy

 

Is there any documentation anywhere, like installation instructions, from JBA that lists the change in caster spec? Maybe I can take an instruction sheet with me and show it to these people.

 

Haha, don't I know it. I have light racing UCAs on my 3rd gen T4R. Same friggin song and dance. Except I installed them back home in AZ, and used a very competent shop that does some super great work. The trick is to get the adjustment where you want it and then take it in.

 

I'm actually back at the alignment shop right now, lets see how this goes, lol

 

That was quick. Did I black out? Is it morning?

 

That's me but it gets done correctly the first time. The last time I got my alignment I had to remind them to torque the bolts. I asked them how they expected the alignment to stay in specs when the bolts are loose.

 

Ok, your alignment cams are fine, and they all move, got that. How bout the cam tabs, are they bent outwards? Flattened? If so, they won't be able to get your alignment where it needs to be. If everything is in fact good, look at your rear cams, that is where caster is adjusted. Are they all the way pointing left and right? If they are, they are maxed out, if not, you have more adjustment. Now look at all your cams, are any of them pointing downwards? If they are, they are wrong. These alignment cams are supposed to be in the upper hemisphere or the alignment will not get in spec. Look at all these things. Most of all, have the tech get camber and toe in spec, and caster at 3* to 3.5* or as much as possible if they can't get that high.

 

Thanks for all of the on looking and support guys. I couldn't just leave it til tomorrow, and so I went back. I talked to the guys and the guy doing the alignment, all really nice guys, after I made a little bit of a scene, lol. They fixed it as I wanted, with one big hiccup... Apparently my truck has been wrecked and the passenger side frame is bent rearward about half an inch. This makes getting both sides to match up understandably difficult. Now I've got bigger problems...

 

How did that come to light?

 

We couldn't get the passenger side to match the driver, no matter what we did. So we got out a tape measure...

 

JBA's have been the shizz so far... About 100 miles and counting.

 

After 100K miles Feb 2018 (5100's, JBA UCA's, and stock LCA's)


100K miles later, the 5100's we holding up just fine, but adding an ARB bumper, the 5100's valving couldn't keep up with the weight and was getting annoying having so much travel and jitter in the front. I also noticed I had a floating caster. I could feel my truck lerching forward at every stop, and even though I cranked the LCA's bolts to 100 ft-lbs, it was still happening. Those stock LCA's were at 216K miles. The bushing are pretty blown at that point.

Install of ICON CDC's C/O's with 700 lbs spring and valved for an ARB bumper. MOOG LCA's with MOOG LCA Bolts Feb 2018


Took about 8 hrs Monday after work

Alignment BEFORE:


After the install, my steering wheel was turned a full 45 degrees to the right!

Alignment AFTER:


Took the tech about 2 hrs to dial it in, but he was a tacoma guy (drove a 1st gen) that was pretty tricked out so he took care of me. Steering wheel is perfectly straight too! Thank you Firestone and your lifetime alignment!

No more lerching at stops, no more bounce and jitter while driving. My alignment is near perfect. Super stable and very, very, happy with the ride quality. I have the CDC set at 4 since my rear Icon RR are the 2.0 series and do not have the option to even upgrade to CDC. Gotta save up for the Icon 2.5 RR w/ CDC now.

 

Looks good! Just keep an eye on those alignment bolts as I've read a few reports of them rounding out, rendering them useless.