3rd Gen Upper control arm problem

Need some advice. I"m trying to install JBA upper control arms and there is no way this washer is going in. I literally beat it with a dead blow to get it in this far. I contacted JBA and their response was that (Toyota UCA tubes vary in length), you have to grind a little off the end and the JBA UCA will fit fine. My truck and grinders are the best of friends at this point. but this doesn't sound right at all. Please advise. Thank you.

 

^Grind a little off the UCA tube, and/or use a large pry bar between the shock tower and UCA to open the UCA a little. Considering the butchery people do to extract the UCA bolt, this is nothing

Shield the brake line and wiring around the UCA tube from debris before you grind.

Put some grease on the washer facing the bushing so you don't tear the bushing.

 

I had the same problem with JBA on a T4R. I found the best way to install was to put the bolt in backwards (from the back to front). Feed the bolt into the UCA and washer and barely start it into the strut tower while the front UCA mount was swung outwards a bit. Then lube up the washer, strut tower and UCA and lodge the washer between the UCA bushing and tower. It will be a little crooked. Pry the UCA ball joint forward until it compresses the bushing just enough to slide together. Then you can manipulate the washer enough to line up the holes in the bushing and washer to feed the bolt all the way through.

 

Had the same issue when i put my JBA UCAs on. Used a 17inch pry bar, dead blow and a lot of sailor words. Took about 25-30min on the drivers side just to line up the washers, passenger was a lot easier due to the prior lessons learned on the drivers side. Takes some elbow grease.

 

my 1st gen jbas were made too wide on purpose and they came with shims to fill the gap. wonder why they didnt do this on 3rd gen arms

 

Mine went on without a hitch. You got the thin washer on the inside I am assuming?

 

I second this and I’m almost positive at one time there was a really good write up on here with pics of how it’s done. Had same issue with my 2017

 

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