Alignment, Caster, Clearance, and Driving Report with Light Racing UCAs

Here's my contribution to the thread. 3" lift with LR UCA's:

 

Got a good one today

 

Everything in green so looks good? Lol. Fox 2.5co 2.5in lift and hs aal 1.5 in the rear

 

Alignment from yesterday, running 5100/884's with Method NV's on 265/75/16 Duratracs. After settling still achieved ~2.5". The LR UCA's were an afterthought, couldn't get where I wanted to be with the stock UCA's. Very happy with outcome and ride.

 

My 3rd and final alignment dialing in the LR UCA's and 3' lift. First @ 2.4 caster and then 3.4. Now at 3 and it is the best by far. Think im done. Time to enjoy now !!

 

Sorry for all the newb questions but, when is it too much caster? It seems everyone is happy from 2.7-3 degrees of caster? I just got my spc lr arms installed(new greasable ones). And the place I got them aligned gave me 4+ degrees of caster. When I drop off it was fine (removed my front mud guards), but now its rubbing at certain left turns. Any suggestions? I'll post my numbers in a bit and yhr position of my ucas

 

Whats " r+ degrees of caster " ?

 

Sorry i m at the gym. 4+ degrees of caster.

 

i had mine previously set at 3.4 and it was a bit firm and stiff for me. Dropped to 3 and very nice now..

 

I've read through the thread a couple times. There's a ton of good info here, but there's so much it's a little confusing. I'm looking to get my caster in the 2.5-3.0 range and have the tires centered in the well with enough clearance behind the tire to keep a 33" out of the plastic as much as possible. From what I've read, I should start with the "D" position, have the alignment tech max out the caster at the LCA, and then use the ball joint to get the camber where I want it. Am I thinking right?

 

That's what I do and it's worked so far.

 

Thanks, Mike. I was going to summon you to this thread if I couldn't get a response.

 

I've been sub'd here for a bit

 

I did the same set up. Set on "D" and told the shop to get as close to 3 as possible. Drives good to me.

 

Still have plenty of room behind the tire?

 

I set my drivers side at D and the passenger side at C; drivers caster is at 3.8* and passenger is 4.4*. For those who don't know, i work at a stealership (non-toyota) and have access to an alignment rack, so i do my own alignments.

 

What's the advantage of having the caster set so high?

 

Yeah, I have not had an issue with it as of yet. It survived LBL without any damage or anything.

 

Atleast with my set up, the tires are nowhere near the cab mount and I feel it's a bit more stable. But, keep in mind, if you have too much, you run into rubbing forward of the tire, steering gets stiffer, and it may start to wander and lose stability. I always tell people to think of a shopping cart

 

Gotcha. I only ask because I have mine set with factory specs. Running st maxx 255's on stock rims. My tires are set farther towards the rear and my truck occasionally wanders all over hell. Haven't been able to figure out if it's the alignment or if it's because I removed the sway bar and I'm just not used to that yet.