Is My Alignment or New Parts Causing Heavy Steering?

Just installed:
- Freedom OffRoad UCA
- new balljoints and whiteline bushings in OEM LCA
- inner/outer tie rods
- new sway bar end links

Current Alignment specs (Left // Right)
Caster: 3.5 // 3.5
Camber: .1 // .1
Toe: 0 // 0

Currently running Toytec 3" lift (coils in front AAL in rear) with Bilstein 5100s

After digging through a lot of threads there doesn't seem to be any exact/particular alignment that is 100% agreed upon, but it seems like those with lift kits (and the capability when running aftermarket UCA) tend to want the caster above the recommended value, so I insisted doing the same when discussing the alignment with the shop I went to.

I've read everything from 4, to as high as possible, and am wondering if the heavy steering (a little more force required when turning than normal/before, and the wheel doesn't want to return after a turn when going back to a straight away as easy) is likely due to all these brand new parts or the caster being higher than recommended by factory.

I've also read too much caster and prematurely cause wear (which is why I didn't op for 4+).

Really just trying to determine if I should head back to the shop and eat another alignment cost and get it down to fall within factory spec (Caster 1.3-2.8), or give all the new parts some time to loosen up a little. The last thing I want is to wreck my steering equipment following all these parts I just bought =)

 

And everything was torqued down when the truck was sitting on its own weight, correct?

 

I assume so - The mechanic that did the alignment helped me press in my bushings/balljoints before I put everything back together and visited the shop he works at.. He was the one to remind me about doing so (though I'd planned to do that in the first place). I doubt he'd forget to do that since he was insistent about me doing it when I left his house with my LCAs..

 

I'm not sure what your caster setting was before, but higher caster numbers (3°+) will give the steering a different feel, alignment wise.

The wheel not wanting to return to center is something I experienced when I tightened the rack guide too tight on the steering rack, but that shouldn't have been adjusted given the work you had done

I'm guessing it's because your caster numbers are higher than they were before. Most aftermarket UCAs automatically give you more caster

 

New ball joints tend to be a little tight. They also have a direct impact to what you feel in the steering wheel. I’ve had the same experience with tight steering after installing new parts. Give it a month and it should ease up a bit.

 

Toe is too low, but nothing crazy. Should be 0.6 each at least, we usually bump higher for bigger tires.

But this is definitely a byproduct of high caster and new components. Nothing to worry about.