Alignment w/6112's and stock UCA's/ Uniball vs Balljoints.

I just bought a set of Bilstein 6112 shocks and springs. However I don't have money for UCA's yet. Will the truck align properly on stock UCA's with the shocks at the #5 setting? Also what are the pros and cons of uniball UCA's vs regular ball joints? Thanks in advance.

 

I don't know. Spring rate you got ??
RESEARCH

Ask Smitty 99

 

Welcome

 

I have a super white taco also. Love it. Look around lots of good info on here. Good luck.

 

Believe the UCAs are necessary when you start going above 2.5" of lift on these

 

I'm on 3rd notch with stock UCA. I did the alignment at work including caster @2.3 degrees.
It's tough to get in spec at that 3rd setting, but anything higher, you should change the UCA to adjustable.

 

Best ball joint ? Or uca in your opinion.

 

Caster at 0 is most desirable correct?

 

Ask @GPsevinSixx he's smarter than me

 

I don't know much but I know I can learn a lot here.

Uca might be good too have proper alignment even at 1.5-2 in lift?

Love the Clint Eastwood Smitty.

 

Camber/toe zero and caster 2.5+

 

This.

Stock caster range is about 1.4-2.7 or so. With a lift you're definitely running 2.5+, realistically more like 3+.

Mine is at about 3.8 or so.

 

I'm not smarter. LOL.
You'll want some caster so it helps the steering wheel self center while traveling forward and reduces the sketchy squirrelly feeling of the vehicle.

0 degrees of caster would mean from vehicle side view, the upper and lower pivot points are completely 90 degrees and makes turning very easy and sketchy. Having the angular displacement or "rake" of the suspension spindle helps to stabilize the steering feel and improves handling at speed.

Think of a bicycle or motorcycle with the head tube at more of an angle when you ride it. Less angle makes it very scary to ride as it decreases stability at speed, and increasing makes things easier. Look at those cruiser bikes vs a street bike. You can't turn nearly as well going slow on a bike with extreme headtube rake or long forks.

Too wordy, hope I didn't confuse

 

I always thought of it like a shopping cart wheel.

 

So some amount of positive caster is good. Zero caster would be bad. Negative caster would be impossible and/ or really bad.

 

Yup, same idea and those are also casters.
But those trail behind the kingpin and makes racing the isles and corridors more fun and scary as you can do some crazy tight turning arcs with them! I have scars from doing that as a kid when my bro flipped the cart going too fast.

 

Ding.... ding.....yes...

 

So what are the pros and cons of uniball vs regular ball joints?

 

I used search......

Go down to post 20.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/uniball-vs-balljoint.367158/

 

Check out JBA UCAs for a cheaper alternative.