TOTAL CHAOS - UCA Maintenance (Lubricating Bushings & Uniballs) *VIDEO*

Sounds is back. Hoping you might have some further insight. I’m focused on the UCA wince the sound went away after adding some grease. But obviously could be something else. I posted this elsewhere but here is the summary write up so far


Mechanics advise needed

Clunk/pop from driver/front wheel area when turning right. Does not happen every time, usually at low/medium speeds (neighbor hood/on ramp).

Began during Labor Day trip where I did a fair amount of off-roading.

All boots appear intact, tie rods are tight, no play in wheels, retorqued most components.

Re-greased my Total Chaos UCA and the sound went away for 24 hours, but now it’s back.

I think the sound is coming from the wheel/suspension area but the steering rack is over there too so assuming that is a possibility as well.

Next steps, thoughts/ideas, anyone with similar problems?

3rd Gen (2018) Tacoma MT, Fox 2.5 Coilovers w/ 650 lb springs, Total Chaos UCA, Diff drop, 34” KO2’s on KMC wheels

 

can you send an email to info@chaosfab.com and we can try and get it worked out for you?

 

Email sent

 

@TOTAL CHAOS does the vehicle have to be raised? Or can I loosen the bolt and grease while it’s on the ground?

 

The vehicle doesn't need to be raised but it makes it way easier to do so.

 

@TOTAL CHAOS

I just installed a set of used TC UCA’s on my FJ. They didn’t come with the washers that you get new. (I bought a new set for my 4Runner last year and loved ‘em). Also wasn’t provided the washer and c-lock nuts with the used kit. I bought some washers from a local hardware store. The washers are 3/16” thick, but the inner diameter is too big. The inner washers float on the pivot bolt and are not keeping the urethane bushings where they are supposed to stay inside the UCA.

So I need these parts:

P/N 69620 Qty 8 WASHER - PLATED PIVOT END

P/N 12204 Qty 2 WASHER - 9/16” SAE

P/N 11202 Qty 2 NUT - 9/16” C-LOCK

Also do you sell the vinyl decals that are on the UCA’s? Some of the letters are buggered up. I’d like to represent properly with no blemishes lol.

 

Give our sales office a call and they can get that stuff out to you. 951-737-9682

 

Thank you. Just spoke with Rob and he’s got my parts on the way.

 

I have a noise coming from the UCAs while driving at low speeds and when turning. I can be parked, turn the wheels and I hear the noise and can feel a bit of a vibration on the steering wheel. The UCAs are new, just installed a month ago. I already greased the bushings and sprayed the dry lube on the uni-balls. Going to a local shop tomorrow for them to check out.

@TOTAL CHAOS any thoughts? Thank you.

 

What kind of noise is it making?

 

It's poping sound at low speeds, turning the steering wheel while parked, or turning at low speeds too. Got all bolts re-torqued by a local shop and added dry lube, but noise is still there.

 

could you take a video of it with your phone and send it to info@chaosfab.com with the same basic description of the problem? Pat will be able to help you out with that.

 

Not sure if this will help but I also had creaking and popping\thudding sounds with my truck (2007 DCLB on King coilovers with TC UCA's). The creaking for me was solved by greasing and torqueing which seems like you do already, my result durations were inconsistent though sometimes only good for 1week or 1month. The thudding\popping I heard was actually coming from my coilover, the lower bearing and misalignment spacers were bad, after changing them out the thudding\popping seemed to not occur anymore (note, so far only city miles none offroad yet).

My bad bearing and misalignments

 

My passenger side bushings have some play in them. This is the item I ordered originally,



Would these fit as replacements?

 

Yes those would be the replacement part. How long have you been running the UCAs?

 

I've had them on for about 2 years approximately 45k miles.

 

sent you a message in your inbox.

 

@TOTAL CHAOS
Just greased my uppers with Super Lube using the videos you posted. Still squeaking, no change at all. Bushings are not bulging at all. They started squeaking about a month or two ago...I have almost exactly 30k miles on them. Any ideas?! They've been 100% squeak free for the last 5yrs since I installed them!

 

Is the squeak for sure the bushings? There is no fool proof way to keep poly bushings from squeaking. They can be quite for a long time and then start making noise, they can squeak right out of the box, they can stop squeaking after being lubed and I've had people tell me it gets worse every time they lube it.
I would check to make sure its the bushing and possibly take them apart at some point and make sure they aren't worn out. I wouldn't think they would be worn out at 30k but stranger things have happened.

 

Today I was trying to bounce the front end to narrow it down but I couldn't do it myself (bouncing on the sliders and too far from the front). I think it may possibly be the sway bar bushings.....