do i need UCAs w/ 2.5-3 in lift in front?

i do a lot of highway driving/commuting and i'm kinda anal about the alignment. i want all the castor i can get/need.. i like the steering wheel returning to center, good tracking on the highway, etc.. do i need ucas or will i be ok? right now i'm at about 1.5-2 inches w/ factory ucas and i want to go up to around 2.5-3 inches.. also i'm thinking about the ome dakar leafs but i've heard some people find that they don't ever soften up. also its at DCLB w/ a fiberglass (heavy) topper. i don't mind a responsive ride, i'm running the entry level icon coils w/ their 1.5 aal pack. any thoughts?

 

Yes you would benefit from uca's if you lift up the front to 2.5"+. Every truck is different and invariably someone here who drives a unicorn will tell you their caster is great with stock uca's. Mine is lifted 2-1/2"s up front and my caster maxed out at 2.25 on stock arms.

 

thanx for replying! you'd like to have over 3" of castor correct?

 

I'm at 2.5" with Bilstein 5100's, I'm going to need UCA's. Gives me an excuse to lift the front a tad bit higher along with the rear lol!

 

With that lift 3 degrees is a good start.

 

To do the lift right you'll want UCA's.

 

you think i'd need more? i'll be attempting my own alignment

 

I have the same suspension is yourself. I will buy UCAs eventually, just to have the option to adjust coilovers as i please. At the Icon default setting, i could only muster 1.9° caster. Either new UCAs or a new alignment tech are in my future.

 

are you happy with the steering wheel tracking on the highway or does it wander?

 

Ive been happy thus far. I havent been on any long trips yet.

 

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I’m kinda ignoring the person above you on my thread and had to find a place where said person can’t find it

 

More caster means more highway stability, it takes more input to adjust the lane position.

Also means less bump steer, and reduces rubbing against the cab mount.

 

Sorta forgot about this thread. I ended up getting the Icon ucas and the Dakars, everything worked out really good. Thanks to everyone who responded

 

I have Dakar medium duties on my DCSB that has a fiberglass camper. The leafs were pretty stiff until I took it off roading. I’m sure over time it would naturally soften out I think I just accelerated the process a little.