JBA UPPER BOOT PROBLEM

Please let us know how they hold up. Still want to go JBA UCA in the near-ish future.

 

Oh I will. You’ll hear about it haha. Hopefully they last. I might return these and get the precision whatever ones from orielly because the boot on those has the wire on it. The moogs kinda just float there. I don’t like it.

 

so how come my upper control arms are stupid hard to move when not connected to the steering knuckle. Do I have it to tight or something? I torqued them to like 80 ft lbs or something like that.

 

where did you get those red washers?

 

85 ft lbs is stock spec I believe. Some aftermarket UCAs go as high as 100 ft lbs. And all suspension bolts should be torqued to spec at ride height with all the weight on the suspension.

 

well yeah I was barely able to move it. Is that normal?

 

Mine are the same way. I loosened them a bit to help with the boot change and then retightened them after. The washers were from a hardware store. Best quality of that size. Hose washer size. Snug fit over the ball stud.

 

what size?

 

I completely agree with torquing suspension at ride height, but I think it’s a moot point with poly bushings and more of an issue with rubber. JBA instructions for install say torque as you go, wheels off. I think because the poly won’t bind with proper torque, that’s why it’s not so imperative. But I fix hot tubs for a living, so I could be whistling Dixie out of my raisin.

 

Off hand I don’t know, which is embarrassing. Standard garden hose washer size is what I used. Two per side.

 

okay cool thanks. I’ll go to Home Depot tomorrow.

 

what grease do they recommend?

 

I asked them that same question when I first filed my warranty claim. Here’s their response:

PS. The grease we recommend is XHP222 SPECIAL , it`s different than standard XHP222, it has molybdenum disulfide added, which our bushings really like.

 

Normally I’d source exactly what the manufacturer recommends but I admit, I’m using Lucas Red N Tacky for the bushings and the ball joint. It’s what I use on the driveshaft zircs and they’re all still happy. (My U joints)

 

After viewing all these UCAs pictures, I realized I'm the only without snap rings on the steering knuckles and don't remember having to press anything into the steering knuckle either. Am I missing something or do I have a different type UCA?

 

looks like you have a different style. What year truck?

 

This is what I had to deal with. It was a pain in the ass.

 

2005

 

yup. Different style.

 

Ah man, just realized this is in the 1st gen forum. But same problem after all