Stiff Steering after Total Chaos UCA + LCA Install

Looking for some help/advice.

About 6 weeks ago I installed new front suspension on my truck: King 2.5 Extended travel coilovers, @TOTAL CHAOS Upper Control Arms, Stock Length Expedition Series Lower Control Arms plus Gusseted Spindles. Truck had 3k miles when everything was installed.

After my alignment, the steering felt stiff to turn away from center. Essentially you have to manually bring the wheel back after turning - it won't center itself.

I realize that the uniballs in the UCAs and LCAs will take time to break in, but its been ~1700 miles since everything was installed and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

my front end is fully reinforced with all similar stuff. my steering is as you describe, but it does self-center when moving, but not at all like stock. and I'm on 265/70-17 E range. i really like it like this myself. your alignment is fine. what tires and pressures do you run?

 

It’s the UCAs. I had a similar experience. It takes time but you can speed up the break in by turning the wheel lock to lock whenever you can- I used to do it at red lights. Just so you know it is bad for your tires to turn the wheels repeatedly while not moving, but up to you.

 

Running 285/75-16 E K02s at 34 psi.

 

I ran Total Chaos UCAs on my last truck and they were nothing like this.

The Uniballs in the LCAs were crazy stiff when I installed them, very hard to move by hand.

The UCA Uniballs felt like new ones but still moveable by hand with moderate force.

 

Then it’s the lowers.

 

6 weeks and 1700 miles of driving should have broken them in though right?

Just want to make sure I’m not missing something here.

 

Throw some triflow on them.

Just keep hitting the trails too

 

I just installed new uppers and lowers. Replaced my icon uppers and stock lowers. Mines insanely stiff, just like you describe. Won’t return to zero either and is definitely two hands to turn level stiff.

 

@Bertw192 any stiffness issues on yours

 

Mine were notably stiff for the first 100 miles or so. The steering wouldn't return to zero without a slight amount of force. But it has since loosened up and it's back to normal. I've also kept the uniball well lubricanted.

 

thanks! I’ll see how she breaks in

 

Also a dumb question. But hear me out, so I did both upper and lower Tc and I used to have Icon delta joints UCA’s. My truck is now about 1/2” to 1” lower in the front. I promise I am not crazy haha. Could this just be the uniballs being so stiff right now?

 

10/10 you are crazy and probably take terrible measurements . Can changing your control arms change your ride height? Sure. Could a uniball cause you to lose ride height because it's stiff? Unlikely, the uniball would have to be under such tremendous tension that it took more force that the weight of the vehicle it supports to move it. If a uniball was that stiff it wouldn't move at all. Personally I would double check the install and make sure all the pieces are where they belong. if something was assembled incorrectly you may have all they symptoms you have posted about.

 

I am actually planning for this winter to do a service on my TC setup and I already have the original and brand new uni ball bearings ready and when I received them I was wondering if it is correct that I can't move them at all by hand. So I hope that it gets better after a break in period.
Now the question is if it is actually good to lubricate them because of the PTFE liner. I know some oils can be harmful to certain plastics.

 

I guess I worded it bad. I am just thinking the new upper and lowers just have a slight difference in geometry than my old. No big deal just noticed a small difference.

 

Update on my truck - I now have over 10k miles since the original install of my @TOTAL CHAOS UCA and LCAs.

Steering is still stiff away/to center but somewhat normal after that.

I may try replacing the 4 uniballs and see if that helps at all.

Lubing them regularly has made no difference for me.

 

I've always heard to use Tri-Flow, which is formulated with PTFE

 

Been running their +2 Race kit for 7 years now rebuilt 5 times and steering is exactly like yours. Has been since day 1 of running the kit. I also tri flow 2 times a week and has made no difference except for quieting squeeks. I know this thread is old but i only now came across it