JBA Offroad Upper Control Arms And Suspension MEGA Thread BS thread

3rd gen OR wheels
1.25 Spidertrax

 

So I just got my alignment today and it came out as well as I could expect. What do you guys think if these numbers: caster-4.1 L 4.6R camber and toe at 0 I know caster might be a little high but it drives unreal better than the stock uca’s did and I’m happy with it...I’m also only lifted 2.25” in the front, FYI.

 

Most say 3* caster Is good for our lifted trucks and other like 3+ caster. I say anything above 2.5* caster is probably fine as long as you don't rub.

 

I recommend to the alignment shops I send people to 3.5* +/- 0.5* caster, camber and toe to factory spec, torque alignment cam bolts to 130ft#'s

 

Hey guys...I'm in Virginia and we have yearly inspections...my passenger side failed because of too much play in the upper ball joints...I purchased and put the JBAs on in April...sure enough, I went out to check and there was play. I called Marlin, he told me to send pics..etc...so I did. Within the hour he said he would send a new set out with return tags...he wants to see what happened. Good customer service...I just hope the next ones last longer than these...

 

Was looking at my arms today and realized that I forgot a washer. And now my bushing is sliding out. I work the next 3 day and wont have time to fix it. I have a 2 hr commute each day. How worried should I be?

 

Worried enough that you may trash that bushing, or worse, trash the control arm. Why not take the 20min to fix it.

 

Wouldn't it require me to pull the whole control arm off? That would would take a lot longer than 20 minutes. I'm gonna try tapping it back in for the time being

 

You have to get the wheel off. You have four bolts n nuts that hold the ball joint on. Then the ABS line. Then the long control arm bolt. Slide the bolt out enough to get the washer in, then reassemble.

 

Thanks guys, thank fully my mom is letting me take her car to work so I dont have to drive it like that. Will get it fixed as soon as possible!

 

Mom FTW!!!

 

Honestly it's fine. There's little stress at that point anyway. I've seen people run 2 washers because they couldn't make all 4 fit. Stock UCAs didn't have any washers on the inside at all when I took them off.

 

I run 2 washers because that's what OEM was and Marlin didn't supply any with my UCAs. Was meaning to check it today and see if the bushings were backing out.

 

I'm running all 4 supplied washers, however it was a very tight fit with brand new bushings. After adding grease my UCAs squeaked like a door hinge for about a month. Now that the bushings are broken-in, all is well. TBH the main purpose of the washers is to prevent play between the mount and the UCA bushings (they also help seal in a little grease), otherwise the bushings take care of the rest.

 

Numbers

 

I'm still learning all of this. Be gentle.

Why the red? Also, all your other numbers are nearly identical. That's a good thing no?

Thanks.

 

Green means "in spec". But it's not always the case with aftermarket stuff.

@DrFunker I got to get mine redone. After the chop. Lol.

 

Thanks!

I was questioning the Red out of spec Camber mainly.

But also kinda questioning all the other numbers in the green so close to each other as it sorta contradicts other sheets I've seen where those numbers, while within spec limits, weren't so close.

The question I asked then was, shouldn't they be closer.

In the not to far away future I plan on doing a suspension upgrade and will need to get an alignment. I want to learn as much as possible beforehand so I can address any concerns immediately.

This forum is so great for this.

 

The red on the sheet means that that spec for that part of the alignment is out of OEM spec. Since I have JBA UCAs I am really not concerned much about the caster being in red with high numbers.
As for the other numbers, they do try to get them within OEM specs as close to centered as possible but there is wiggle room on each side, that is why not all are zeroed out. Won't wear the tire out at any extreme level or won't affect steering badly.

Caster is not a tire wear adjustment. It is more for steering. But it is connected to the camber.
It is very 3D and one thing affects the other quite easily.

This guy explains (he sometimes has a hard time getting it out), with visuals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9jgIvYc168

 

Thank you!