Total Chaos Upper Control Arm Lubrication

Just wondering if anyone has performed this routine maintenance and did you just tighten the through bolt or use a torque wrench? The Total Chaos video just says tighten..but their downloadable instructions say tighten to manufacturers specs..im assuming the truck manufacturer and not Total Chaos..Thanks in Advance

 

Loosen the the threw bolt and pump grease into the Grease fittings. Then retighten it around 80-90 ft should be good. Then poke a small pin into the grease fitting center to release any extra pressure from the grease. The uniballs should only be cleaned not greased. I like to use citrus foam spray from Zeb or anything without a lot of residue. Just spray it on the top and bottom and leave it or u could wipe it depending on how bad they are. Sometimes it takes a few times if they are making noise

 

torque on level ground, a few good ugga dugga is fine for that bolt, it is a shear point and the torque doesn't provide much extra confidence in the bolt to perform it's job. I usually check the torque on those each time I rotate tires just to verify it's at least one ugga dugga.

 

How often does this need to be done? The instructions from TC were very non - commital ....

 

honestly, probably every 5-10k but that's even pretty conservative. The owners manual for a stock UCA has no mention of it, so I think a look every year or two is probably fine as long as the bolts are in the stock orientation.

 

I had the nut come loose twice. Doesn't seem to matter what torque value I use. Get some M14x1.5 nylon locknuts if you go off-road often. I use it here and on the lower shock bolt.

My old-style SPC UCAs have similar urethane bushings and no grease zerks. I haven't greased them since the original install more than 3 years ago. No noises yet.

 

your bolt is in backwards

 

Same way Toyota does it on prototypes:

 

yes but that's why it loosens, every time the suspension travels it gets a little wiggle. With the bolt facing upwards it creates enough surface tension to loosen the nut. Personally, I think one of mine is in "backwards" too which is why I always make it a point to check them.

 

Yep... bolt is backwards. It's my understanding that you want it the other way around if nut comes loose and falls off the bolt stays in place due to gravity. I've seen where some drill a hole in the bolt just past the nut and install a cotter pin. At least use some loctite and torque stripe it.

 

So far im gathering that some use a torque wrench and others just tighten it with a regular wrench?

 

I use a torque wrench with a 19mm 2" extension and change the torque value from 85 ft lbs to 75 ft lbs.

 

So you prefer 75 ft lbs over the recommended 85 ft lbs?

 

85 ft lbs. If you are worried about it coming loose then blue loctite and/or double nut and/or drill hole add cotter pin.

 

Anytime you add length to a torque wrench, you need adjust the torque.
I usually just turn the adapter 90 degrees. (If I can) This keep the length the same.
Because I don’t like math.

See here for more.
https://www.fordservicecontent.com/renderers/torquewrench/wrench_formula_en.asp?type=180degcrow

Even better example
https://www.terex.com/docs/librariesprovider7/tech-tips/techtip_53.pdf?sfvrsn=1371ae74_10

FWIW, I don’t have those brand control arms.
But I would put the bolt in the correct direction.

 

Not a lot of room to get a wrench in there. I find the nut most accessible with the extension straight out... which changes the overall length of the wrench by 2". The longer length creates more torque (think breaker bar.) If you didn't recalibrate the torque you'd be over the 85 ft lbs.

 

I don't think it's something you can rely on either way. My lower shock bolt loosened twice, and that's a horizontal bolt going through a heim joint on a double-shear interface. For rotating joints, either check them often or run a locknut.

 

That and marking them with a paint pen, white out or even permanent marker goes a long way. Can visually inspect from time to time and know they haven't come loose.

 

Bright orange works for me...

 

depends on conditions if your having Squeaky noises then prolly need greasing if not then you can leave it