1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

LR UCA Bushing mod!

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by toku58, Jun 6, 2010.

  1. Jun 6, 2010 at 5:57 PM
    #1
    toku58

    toku58 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2008
    Member:
    #9882
    Messages:
    2,534
    Gender:
    Male
    On a Rock in the middle of the Pacific
    Vehicle:
    Mall Crawler!
    21' TRD OffRoad 2" 887 OME on Bilstein 5100's. 285/70R17 General Grabbers G3 17x8.5" Icon TRD wheels (Gun metal gray) 4.75" BS
    Well I had a problem with the first run of the LR UCA's, well actually 2 problems, that SPC took great care in resolving!

    But the issue I was not satisfied with is the rubber bushings. The first run had the wrong rubber durometer. They updated it and sent me replacement set. The defective set I figured I try and modify to my liking.

    This is what I have so far:

    This is what the bushings originally looked like:
    IMG_2008_bd537d6802e1883999276c1184a59ddc59b37b5e.jpg


    This is what I did. Removed the defective bushing, and bead blasted the entire UCA's:
    IMG_2011_3b812431ce14a3fde4e12a0e70bd20f69eef30e6.jpg


    Then I had to Fab up some DOM tubing and poly bushings:
    ((Note! No place makes a set that would fit off the shelf))
    IMG_2019_1dc7be700efa5af4e50b0b16cd7f25bd563fa81c.jpg

    IMG_2014_e8cb57c1f7068972c4ea5fb4ed28ba973de86f1e.jpg

    IMG_2015_bb6914308f27258a966b9dbfe82cd8440227453b.jpg

    Now I'm in the process of drilling and tapping them for some 90* zerk grease fittings:

    IMG_2013_1ff5aaea362a94660e8e7bb24e7dfcbbb7956dd9.jpg

    The thread size is 1/4 28:

    IMG_2021_1fe534f2d5421657779a2139faf4242c2a9dc747.jpg

    After I do that I'll paint them and put them together.
    I should have time today to paint them!
     
  2. Jun 6, 2010 at 6:01 PM
    #2
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2008
    Member:
    #4127
    Messages:
    19,166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Colin
    Charleston, SC
    Vehicle:
    '07 TRD Sport 4x4
    Build thread in sig...
    Awesome! can't wait to see the finished product. did you make the poly bushings as well, or are they store bought.
     
  3. Jun 6, 2010 at 6:02 PM
    #3
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

    Joined:
    May 8, 2008
    Member:
    #6497
    Messages:
    112,751,503
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    FlimFlubberJAM
    Tenoe, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2019 Rubicon 4 Door,
    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.
    Nice! You may want to cut small groves into the bushing were the sleve goes, so the grease will flow to the ends.
     
  4. Jun 6, 2010 at 6:03 PM
    #4
    DrRabbitFurHead

    DrRabbitFurHead Yeah, there's a TSB for that!

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    Member:
    #18625
    Messages:
    1,058
    Gender:
    Male
    Salem, VA
    Vehicle:
    X-treme Off Road Edition (4x4)
    Icon Extended Travel Coil Overs, Fox Rear Resi 8-Way Adjustable Shocks, Light Racing UCA's, OME Rear Leafs, M/T Classic Locks 17x9, Nitto T/G (285/70/R17), 5mm Billet Aluminum Spacers, Demello Sliders, All Pro Front Plate Bumper & IFS Skid Plate, PIAA 510's, Doug Thorley Long Tube Headers, O2 sims, Rear Timbren's & U-Bolt Flip Kit , 3* Rear Axel Shims, Extended Rear Brake Lines, 48" Hi-Lift with a ton of accessories, Wet Okoles, TRD bed mat, Borla Air Filter, Garmin Nuvi 765T, Viper 5901 remote start, 50% tint.
    Awesome. I'll send you mine and you can do them next. :D
     
  5. Jun 6, 2010 at 6:18 PM
    #5
    toku58

    toku58 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2008
    Member:
    #9882
    Messages:
    2,534
    Gender:
    Male
    On a Rock in the middle of the Pacific
    Vehicle:
    Mall Crawler!
    21' TRD OffRoad 2" 887 OME on Bilstein 5100's. 285/70R17 General Grabbers G3 17x8.5" Icon TRD wheels (Gun metal gray) 4.75" BS
    The poly bushings I got from "Energy Suspension" But the were oversized. I need to cut them down to fit.

    I was thinking about doing that, but I'm not sure if it's necessary? TC's don't have any groves. I still might do that. But I have extra sets of self lubricating bushings, I might try those for the next set I make.

    You know I might make a few extra bushings, if I have the time? But the hardest part about this whole thing was removing the old rubber bushing. Big PITA!!
    If I do make extra bushings I'll let you guys know, but you'll need to do the install yourself. (Unless you pay to fly me up there!:D)
     
  6. Jun 6, 2010 at 6:55 PM
    #6
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

    Joined:
    May 8, 2008
    Member:
    #6497
    Messages:
    112,751,503
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    FlimFlubberJAM
    Tenoe, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2019 Rubicon 4 Door,
    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.
    All the TC's I have installed had channels that allowed for the grease to flow to the ends of the bushings...
     
  7. Jun 6, 2010 at 7:26 PM
    #7
    toku58

    toku58 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2008
    Member:
    #9882
    Messages:
    2,534
    Gender:
    Male
    On a Rock in the middle of the Pacific
    Vehicle:
    Mall Crawler!
    21' TRD OffRoad 2" 887 OME on Bilstein 5100's. 285/70R17 General Grabbers G3 17x8.5" Icon TRD wheels (Gun metal gray) 4.75" BS
    Really? That must be something new? When I had mine the bushings weren't grooved. I need to machine it down a bit more, so I guess I'll groove it then.;)
     
  8. Jun 6, 2010 at 7:36 PM
    #8
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

    Joined:
    May 8, 2008
    Member:
    #6497
    Messages:
    112,751,503
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    FlimFlubberJAM
    Tenoe, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2019 Rubicon 4 Door,
    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.
    Just a thought....the people who have complained of them being noisey...I wondeer if their bushings were groved?? Anyway, Keep us all posted :)
     
  9. Jun 6, 2010 at 7:51 PM
    #9
    RelentlessFab

    RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2008
    Member:
    #4772
    Messages:
    15,719
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    07 AC 6mt>03 SR5 >08 Sport and 17 6MT TRD OR
    Relentless Armored! Too many others to list.
    So, what was the real problem with the LR UCA's that you're trying to fix? I've got them and just want to know if there's something I should look out for, or look into doing this mod on them....
     
  10. Jun 6, 2010 at 9:04 PM
    #10
    toku58

    toku58 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2008
    Member:
    #9882
    Messages:
    2,534
    Gender:
    Male
    On a Rock in the middle of the Pacific
    Vehicle:
    Mall Crawler!
    21' TRD OffRoad 2" 887 OME on Bilstein 5100's. 285/70R17 General Grabbers G3 17x8.5" Icon TRD wheels (Gun metal gray) 4.75" BS
    The first batch of LR UCA's had 2 problems. (I found them both) And notified the company.
    1- the Ball joint was defective and didn't have the full range of motion.
    2- the durometer of the rubber used in their bushing were wrong. The rubber was tearing/failing.

    SPC was very helpful with both issues. Customer service is awesome!
     
  11. Jun 6, 2010 at 9:17 PM
    #11
    HBMurphy

    HBMurphy Ban Pending

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2009
    Member:
    #18993
    Messages:
    6,542
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Paul
    So California Coast
    Vehicle:
    09 Off Road Delete Model
    None

    You always have some good stuff - keep it up!
     
  12. Jun 6, 2010 at 9:52 PM
    #12
    RelentlessFab

    RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2008
    Member:
    #4772
    Messages:
    15,719
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    07 AC 6mt>03 SR5 >08 Sport and 17 6MT TRD OR
    Relentless Armored! Too many others to list.
    Got ya, so how do I know if I have the originals rather than the improved ones? :cool:
     
  13. Jun 6, 2010 at 10:33 PM
    #13
    toku58

    toku58 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2008
    Member:
    #9882
    Messages:
    2,534
    Gender:
    Male
    On a Rock in the middle of the Pacific
    Vehicle:
    Mall Crawler!
    21' TRD OffRoad 2" 887 OME on Bilstein 5100's. 285/70R17 General Grabbers G3 17x8.5" Icon TRD wheels (Gun metal gray) 4.75" BS
    You need to look at the conical side of the bushings. If they are tearing from the inner tubing then its the old rubber compound. the new set I have on my truck is holding well. So far no issues with the new compound.
    They fixed the problem about 2 yrs ago, a few months after they introduced the UCA's.
    I had these sitting in my shop for well over a year. If you purchased your set recently they should be good!
     
  14. Jun 6, 2010 at 10:36 PM
    #14
    RelentlessFab

    RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2008
    Member:
    #4772
    Messages:
    15,719
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    07 AC 6mt>03 SR5 >08 Sport and 17 6MT TRD OR
    Relentless Armored! Too many others to list.
    sounds good. I got them like a year ago so I should be fine, but I'll take a look anyway. I've been getting a clunking from my passenger front suspension that I havent been able to figure out, maybe i'll get lucky and this will be it.
     
  15. Jun 7, 2010 at 12:19 AM
    #15
    raycie

    raycie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2008
    Member:
    #5205
    Messages:
    3,419
    Gender:
    Male
    Oahu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2013 DCLB / 2016 4R Trail
    In need of $$$
    How are the LR UCAs? Thinking about getting a set soon so I can go up to 2.5" on my 5100's.. Nicer price than the TCs.
     
  16. Jun 7, 2010 at 12:27 AM
    #16
    toku58

    toku58 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2008
    Member:
    #9882
    Messages:
    2,534
    Gender:
    Male
    On a Rock in the middle of the Pacific
    Vehicle:
    Mall Crawler!
    21' TRD OffRoad 2" 887 OME on Bilstein 5100's. 285/70R17 General Grabbers G3 17x8.5" Icon TRD wheels (Gun metal gray) 4.75" BS
    The LR's are a good option! They have one thing you need to keep an eye on. The adjuster nut could move at some point of high stress.

    But to make it easy on yourself. When they set the alignment, have them set it all the way out. That way if it ever moves you can return it to it original position without an alignment!;)
     
  17. Jun 7, 2010 at 2:37 AM
    #17
    DrRabbitFurHead

    DrRabbitFurHead Yeah, there's a TSB for that!

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    Member:
    #18625
    Messages:
    1,058
    Gender:
    Male
    Salem, VA
    Vehicle:
    X-treme Off Road Edition (4x4)
    Icon Extended Travel Coil Overs, Fox Rear Resi 8-Way Adjustable Shocks, Light Racing UCA's, OME Rear Leafs, M/T Classic Locks 17x9, Nitto T/G (285/70/R17), 5mm Billet Aluminum Spacers, Demello Sliders, All Pro Front Plate Bumper & IFS Skid Plate, PIAA 510's, Doug Thorley Long Tube Headers, O2 sims, Rear Timbren's & U-Bolt Flip Kit , 3* Rear Axel Shims, Extended Rear Brake Lines, 48" Hi-Lift with a ton of accessories, Wet Okoles, TRD bed mat, Borla Air Filter, Garmin Nuvi 765T, Viper 5901 remote start, 50% tint.
    Nothing wrong with mine, I just like the idea of having them bead blasted and then re-powder coated another color. :D
     
  18. Jun 8, 2010 at 10:13 AM
    #18
    toku58

    toku58 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2008
    Member:
    #9882
    Messages:
    2,534
    Gender:
    Male
    On a Rock in the middle of the Pacific
    Vehicle:
    Mall Crawler!
    21' TRD OffRoad 2" 887 OME on Bilstein 5100's. 285/70R17 General Grabbers G3 17x8.5" Icon TRD wheels (Gun metal gray) 4.75" BS
    O.K. I'm a Dumbass! It occured to me last night, that these bushing won't work!:frusty:

    The part that I need to replace is the bushing tube! I need to cut off the existing tube and install a larger tube!:annoyed:

    Oh well? I wasted a few hours, now it's back to the drawing board!

    I might as well change the geometry of these to improve the design while I'm at it. I need to set up a jig for it. This should be a great R&D project.:D
     
  19. Jun 8, 2010 at 10:15 AM
    #19
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2008
    Member:
    #4127
    Messages:
    19,166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Colin
    Charleston, SC
    Vehicle:
    '07 TRD Sport 4x4
    Build thread in sig...
    aw man, i was excited that things seemed to be going so smoothly for ya......why exactly do you have to reblace the tube? i thought you were going to cut down the bushings to fit?
     
  20. Jun 8, 2010 at 10:19 AM
    #20
    toku58

    toku58 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2008
    Member:
    #9882
    Messages:
    2,534
    Gender:
    Male
    On a Rock in the middle of the Pacific
    Vehicle:
    Mall Crawler!
    21' TRD OffRoad 2" 887 OME on Bilstein 5100's. 285/70R17 General Grabbers G3 17x8.5" Icon TRD wheels (Gun metal gray) 4.75" BS
    It actually occured to me in my sleep that the LR rubber bushing stick further out than these bushing. So to make them fit on the truck I actually need a wider tube not a narrow bushing. So I modified the wrong part.

    Good thing I have extra parts laying around my shop!:p
     

Products Discussed in

To Top