Caster Recommendations?

2” lift is close to the Mendoza line for possibly needing new UCAs. I would stil think that you could get close to the bottom of the spec. Say around 1.5 degrees while keeping the camber in spec. I have a similar lift and got new UCAs and could not get my caster under 4.2 degrees which made my steering wheel not return to center and very heavy. I ended up getting SPC UCAs
Are you planning on wheeling hard? Those tabs are only necessary if you’re wheeling.

 

were you doing the lift or a shop? Many shops have the oppose hard time setting the alignment since all measurements fight each other. I think the rule is set everything to zero and adjust from there. TC used to include some notes on it then stopped. I had to have certain techs adjust mine as the regular minions couldn't get it past 1.5 or 2. Other guy could go past 3 or 4.

 

Not sure how to multi quote.. the uca's have held me up. I want low maintenance, and quiet. I live where there is plenty of salt, so corrosion resistance is something I consider as well.

Tires aren't overly aggressive, 285/75 r16 ko2's. 2" leveling kit, 1.25" wheel spacers.

I'm not really planning on wheeling hard. Maybe 20-30 through a big mud puddle 3x a year, or a bit heavy over bumps at an offroad park on a green (or one step above) trail. Lca tabs were more of a "when In rome" kind of idea. Reinforce it now, before they flatten them selves in a couple years.

I didn't do the lift, no. Normally I'd do that kind of thing with my buddy at his shop, but our work schedules aren't lining up at our new jobs and I don't feel like spending my off day doing that kind of work in a gravel driveway in winter lol. I had a highly recommended off-road shop do the lift/alignment. I originally thought the alignment was going to be in house, but it turned out to be done at a local Goodyear chain which is where the "toe and go" issue came from. Everything else was great.

Just so I have everything on hand in a few weeks when I get a day off..

Buy a uca. Icon or jba maybe? Regular caster variant.

Buy new lca bolts in case mine are seized.

Buy new lca bushings, in case the bolts are seized, mine's a '17.

Lca Cam tab reinforcements to prevent them from getting flattened.

Missing anything?

 

If you want low maintenance get a set of SPCs. Gives you an adjustment and is not aggressive as the uniball and uses a balljoint.

 

I have the eibach spring on my pro suspension and went with the OME UCA but did look at SPC. I like the lower maintenance aspect of it and got the additional caster I needed.

 

The adjustment cams move both caster and camber at the same time. It’s probably not possible to set both caster and camber to zero. Those cams won’t allow it. Now if the UCAs are adjustable, that’s different.

 

Yah that would only be with aftermarket UCAs.

 

Alright, I might go ahead and order the spc's,

Thanks guys.

Really supremely pisses me off that they modified the specs to fake the caster numbers. The lca bolts possibly being seized is one thing, but not telling me there was an issue and faking the numbers is another..

I'll get everything fresh and new down there, then take it somewhere else for an actual alignment.

Anything I'm forgetting that I may need? Want to make sure I have everything to get it done in one go.

Bushings, lca bolts, Cam tab reinforcements?

 

you only need the SPCs. you will use your factory bolts and any other needed parts are with it. no need for cam tabs unless you are going to be wheeling hard. Any bushings should be included in your SPC kit that are needed.

 

i did a bunch of research for aligments after i lifted my taco. you want at least .1-.3 degrees of toe in, steering wheel will zero out very easy and will feel very accurate on high speeds. zero camber is okay, and caster -3 to -4, getting close to zero youll feel like you are driving forward over the front wheels, you want that negative so the shocks take in the impact better on bumps. with negative caster they are braced for bumps, if 0 caster they are just straight going up and down. of course its all preference and your use on the truck but these settings are great for daily driving especially highway. i got the SPCs which dailed it in.

 

Positive 3 to 4 degrees of caster, not negative

it’s impossible to get negative caster

 

yes thats right, my brain glitched

 

I run the SPC adjustables and set as follows with no issues. Clears body mount as well with 2.5"-3" lift, 285's when you sling the LCAs forward (but not too far ).
Camber: 0° (+0.2/-0.0)
Caster: 3.75° (±0.25)
Toe: 0° (+0.2/-0.0)

Cool build!

 

I appreciate all the help and insight folks.

I think my best course of action (read cheapest) is:

1. Verify my lca adjustment bolts aren't seized up.

2. Go back in there and tell them to cut the bullshit and give me an actual alignment instead of fudging numbers.

3. If my 2" lift prevents getting my caster in spec I can look into the spc's.

3 degrees sounds like what I'm after, 0.1 is bs.

 

SPC arms are ok but be aware the bushings fail prematurely, or at least they did on mine. Ditched em for a set that uses an OME rubber bushing.

 

I have 265/17 tires and just got my alignment done they put me at 4.3 Caster...i felt like it's too much. What is a con of having way too much caster?

 

Same here only had 15k and they gave out