Cooks 2000 4x4 build with some BS

Well some of you may know I recently installed my Total Choas UCAs after having them for months. I didn't fell comfortable with how my ball joints were looking and didn't want a catastrophic failure so I ordered new LBJs and decided to install my UCAs. I headed to @Mad T friends place to get it done. Thanks again for the help dudes

On to the pics, it's not a write-up per say but it's semi-close. Pretty much all the pics are Thomas' so thanks dude



Started disassembly pretty easy until you get to the actual ball joint then the "trouble" happens unless you've got the right tool.



After multiple attempts and using various tools we got it out.



This being the tool was clutch. It took out both ball joints, both tie rod nuts, and both LBJs



A little side by side comparison (Thomas' idea turned out kewl)


Got the slug in, just throwing it in the freezer over night helped a ton. With some smacks of a rubber mallet and using an actual ball joint press tool it went in with little effort.




Some random shots


Started the other side



And finished product!


I'm definitely going need an alignment


I think my old bushings on my UCAs were horrible because now going over speed bumps I don't hear a real loud smack. Only problem is my rear suspension still blows ha.


And a poser shot.

The install went so much more smooth than I anticipated, wish I had done this earlier but it is what it is. Any questions just ask!

 

Where did you get this particular tool? I've never seen one like that in all of my research in preparation for my UCAs?
Also, what press did you use to get that slug in after you froze it over night? Thanks.



This being the tool was clutch. It took out both ball joints, both tie rod nuts, and both LBJs

 

It came in a front end maintenance kit. You could get a kit like this

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QWBVEYC?psc=1

We used a ball joint press to get the slug in, you could probably just rent it from Autozone.

 

I'm pretty sure you can rent those tools free at your local AutoZone or O'Riley's.



Looks good Josh! Do your new UCA's squeak when going over stuff? I got mine full of grease but they still squeak a lot. It's not the uniball either because I used triflow on that...

 

I haven't heard anything yet, but I've only driven twice since I've installed them since I don't have an alignment.

I actually couldn't get the fucking zerk into the UCA so I'm going to attempt to get them in sometime.

I used a shit ton of grease when I first installed them so I hope it'll work out for the time being.

 

It's gone down for me a bit but it's still there. Usually just at the start of the drive then goes away. When are you getting an alignment? I need to go back and get some more caster to push the wheel forward a bit. It's rubbing to much. Driver is perfect passenger not so much.

Those zerks sucked to get in for me also. Had to use some vice grips to turn them as the wrench I was using kept slipping.

 

I had to re-tap the holes to get the zerks in.

Also, make sure you use the right grease with the poly bushings, and loosen the through bolt when adding grease.

 

At what point do the zerk fittings get threaded in, before or after the install?

 

I did mine before

 

I'm getting it on Friday I don't have any other open day till then. I'm going to have to work those zerks in someway and it's going to suck

That's what I'll be doing, gotta figure a way to do it with them on the truck now. But I wouldn't have been able to get the old UCAs back on.

That's what I read was to loosen the bolt so the grease could get everywhere evenly

 

I just got off the phone w/AP and they said there's come pre-stalled so I won't have to worry about it I guess.

 

Nice! So you decided to go with ap?

 

Built Right never did get back to me to confirm that they would take paypal so I jumped on the AP GB. The APs were around $50 less so it worked out anway.

 

Damn! I wish mine came installed. Or I wish I would've installed the zerk when I first got them. Trying to get them installed now will be a pain. Maybe during Christmas break I can take them off and install them then re-install the UCA. Not sure yet

 

Arms look great. Have you had an alignment yet? What made you decide to upgrade? Alignment issues? Need extra room for droop for some upcoming ext travel CO's?

The reason I ask is I was pleasantly surprised by how well my truck aligned with stock arms. It's much more stock arm friendly than my 2nd gen was.

 

Thanks! I've had them since before the summer, I got them in a GB. But yeah I knew I was going Kings at some point so I jumped in on the GB. I finally did it because I didn't like how my ball joints where looking and didn't want to waste cash on new joints.

No alignment yet, that's tomorrow. Yeah first gens are bad, just wish we could get better castor IIRC on stock. I'll post the results tomorrow if not Sunday. (Going camping this weekend since it's nice )

 

My alignment was all sorts of fucked after last weekends' maintenance. I think the toe was at -26ish (or whatever figure indicates negative toe) on the left, similar on the right.

Had to drive 20 miles or so to the alignment shop at a casual 40mph. The coopers were howlin like a mofo.

 

Mines not too bad but still bad ha. I can hear mine howl, I've had no time this week except Friday so that's when I scheduled the appointment. We want as much castor as possible right?