Help! Lower Control Arm Issues

I need some help. It has been a while since I was on TW and I hope this is the correct forum to be using for this (please let me know if it is not). So, this morning I started trying to install some Bilstein 6112 front coil overs and some Icon Tubular UCA, during this whole process I have been having trouble getting the Lower Control Arm to move very much, and now it seems to be completely locked up. If I put a jack under the LCA it just starts to lift the whole front corner of the truck. I have loosened the bolts and nuts that connect the LCA to the frame (the ones that effect the alignment cams). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here are some pics of what I have going on. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

Could it be that the coil adjustment is set to highest setting? At least, that’s what it looks like, plus new coils. Also, no UCA BJ boot?

 

Yes, it is at the highest setting. Yes also new coils, heavier ones because of the added weight in the front. I have no idea what a UCA BJ boot is, lol.

 

You are NOT the first to have the issue.

LCA connects first, then UCA and a big pry bar.
Pry the UCA down.

So, you need to undo the UCA.
Connect the LCA.
Then pry the UCA down.

Loosen the UCA bolts. That way you are not fighting the bushings.

BTW.....Don't tighten the UCA or LCA bolts until the weight of the truck is on them.
Other wise, you'll tear your bushings.

 

Sorry, I guess I am still not following. My primary problem is that the LCA will only move about 1/2" to 1", even with a jack under it starting to lift the whole corner of the truck into the air. As far as I can tell, the UCA is as low as it can go. Both the UCA and LCA are connected, but nothing is fully torqued down yet. The Spindle bolt from the UCA is not tightened down to the steering knuckle all the way either. Also the sway bar is not connected because it will not line up (this might be fixed if I jack up the other side to even out everything.

 

Did you try to loosen the cam bolts all the way?

 

Yes, they are as loose as I can make them.

 

It might be the shock. Did you add a heavier spring? Might need to loosen the shock nuts and attach the lower to the spindle first then insert shock. Should be enough room. I’ve done it before.

 

Does the lower arm move freely with the coilover unbolted?

 

No, LCA did not move freely, and I think this is the sorce of my problems

 

Well, maybe that is not totally correct. I loosened a bunch of stuff, and I got more movement in the LCA then I thought I was getting. Everything seems to be more or less in place except that the UCA spindle is not engaging the steering knuckle as much as I think it should (see pic) but maybe I just need to keep tightening that nut down. Also I cant reattach the sway bar bracket to the frame, but I think that is because I have only one side of the truck jacked up. I guess I am going to tighten everything back down (not torqued) put the wheel back on, then torque everything to spec (probably tomorrow). Thanks for listening to my problems everyone. I am willing to bet I will have other questions before this project is done.

 

This.
I had a similar issue with my Fox shocks not compressing hardly at all under the truck's weight... It was the preload (height) adjustment that they came with was set way too much for my setup. After I reduced the preload some, everything was fine.

If you lower your preload a few notches, will probably alleviate the issue (you don't want the suspension to be too high up anyway, otherwise you'll shorten the life of things like your CV joint boots and steering rack).

 

That might be what I end up doing. I thought I had this whole thing planned out, was trying to get 2" in the front and 1" - 1.25" in the rear from stock, so a nice level truck after taking into account all the extra weight I have added in the last couple years. I am a little leery in trying to change the clip settings (I ordered the coil overs pre assembled) because I don't really want to mess around with spring compressors. However, after I get everything all assembled and all the springs settle in I might talk myself into making further adjustments. I was able to get everything back together and the truck is sitting under its own weight and everything looks more or less normal. Going to torque everything down tomorrow and hopefully do the other side. Thanks again to everyone for helping me try and stumble through this process.

 

Holly preload Batman.

 

I may be reading this wrong, Did you remove the two bolts on the steering knuckle?Also, did you lose the UCA ball joint boot?

 

Delta joint doesn't have a boot

 

The ball joint boot. In your post, #11, that exposed portion of the BJ normally has a boot on an oem setup. Maybe this kit don't require one.

Also, the height setting on the coil to final lift ratio is not one to one. I don't remember the exact ratio for our Tacomas. For example, the notches on the shock to set the coil perch bracket are about 3/16th” each, but the final lift is about half an inch for each notch. I say this as an example because I don't recall the actual ratio. I’d say go down to the half setting, maybe lower to see how she sits.

 

New springs are always “springier” than what they settle too, and you are on the highest setting, so you are really fighting a lot of force. You may have to adjust the collar to a lower setting, drive around for a thousand miles and then adjust it up again

 

Well, everything is back together! Truck is driving around, engaging 4x4, etc. Getting an alignment tomorrow, then I can really take it out for a test drive. Right now the truck is sitting pretty level, which is how I wanted it. I am going to get some miles on it and let the springs settle, then decide if I want to make further adjustments. I am really trying to not have to use a spring compressor to adjust the collar, but we will see. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who offered advice on solving my problem. Looking back now, I don't think I ever really had a problem to begin with, it just seemed that those damn LCAs should have been able to go up further, but I'm new to suspension stuff so I think it was just a problem with how I was looking at it. Here are some pics.

Before


After

 

You got rid of that saggy rear. looks great!