JBA Offroad Upper Control Arms And Suspension MEGA Thread BS thread

Can you measure the difference between stock and these ball joints as far as angle deflection they are capable of?

 

Look nice. Are you the guinea pig for us?

 

Subbed for further updates. UCA's should be in my near future and these are definitely an option

 

I'd really like to see some more alignment specs at 2.5"-3" of lift.

 

Mine got installed a little over a week ago.

I painted the wheel speed sensor wire bracket and discovered that a dust cap for the factory brake bleeder screw works perfect for the zerk grease fitting.



Here is my alignment numbers.

 

Maybe it's the crew chief in me, but I think the bolts are about 2 threads too short.

 

Did they end up allowing for more droop (more ball joint flex?

 

Subd

 

I was curious as to how much caster these will give you. I couldn't find anything on their site so I gave them a call. I spoke with a man who introduced himself as the owner, Marlin Gehman. He said he didn't know exactly how many degrees of caster they would allow. He said their tacoma with a 3" lift was set at 1.9 caster with these arms. That seemed low to me, but I read earlier in this thread that member is at around 2.5 or something like that with these arms. The owner said that if I was not able to get my caster high enough to satisfy me, I could return them for a full refund. He emailed me some more info on the UCAs. He was a very nice guy to talk to. I'd suggest giving him a call if you have any questions. I'm going to do a little more research, but definatley keeping these in mind.

 

^ That's great to hear! Very pleased with people who stand behind the products they make. With my JBA UCA's, and Firestone alignment, my caster is set to 2.4. I have not measured my lift, but I think I am at least 2" or maybe 2.5". Anyways, I am very pleased with how the truck drives.

 

These look really interesting to me, going to be doing suspension with probably 2.5" lift this fall. Originally was thinking I'd stick with OEM UCAs as I was under 3" of lift but I've read more than one person still having squirrelly alignment with OEM in the 2" to 2.5" range.

One question just to make sure I understand. These UCAs basically change the range of caster available from the OEM LCA cams to be more appropriate for a lifted truck. So in the process of making the caster adjustment range more favorable for say a 2-4 inch lift they also make the caster adjustment range worse for a stock suspension height. Do I have that right?

And in comparison the LR UCA actually has an additional adjustment on the UCA to allow for the caster adjustment range of the LCA to be shifted appropriately for whatever lift the vehicle has (all the way from stock height to some significant amount of lift). Did I get that right too?

 

Not much room on either kind to gusset much that'd do anything.

 

The ball joint on the LRs have a way to be set initially to add or subtract caster (and camber) before even doing anything to the oem adjusters. I center the oem adjusters and then set the LR ball joint to add 1 degree of caster and center the nut in camber adjustment slot and then the alignment people can use the oem adjusters to fine tune the alignment. If they need big adjustment to get in the ballpark better so they don't have to max oem adjusters, just move the camber nut to get close then go back to oem to fine tune or micro adjust where those stay close to being centered. That way everything has adjustment in either direction to fine tune and no adjustment on truck or UCAs needs to be maxxed out. I don't see where these with the Moog ball joints would have as much camber/caster adjustment as the LRs do but they have the plus of having greasable balljoint and more readily available ball joints without having to go thru manufacturer to get. Pick your poison. Other than those differences, color & price, not seeing much difference between the 2.....................not bashing on either type either so everyone can spare me that crap.

 

I agree with providing an extra two threads on the bolts.

Also, would be ideal to get the torque on those bolts stamped somewhere on those UCAs for whenever we have to replace the ball joints.

I think another idea would be posting a video/picture gallery on how easy it is to swap out the ball joints would get you more customers.

 

Nice looking product. I'll definitely consider these when it comes time to invest in a set.

 

Since SPC control arms are known to fail at the bushing-tube weld point, and because both Camburg and Total Chaos upper control arms gusset that same weld for strength - I'd definitely suggest the feedback that for a strong, trouble free UCA design, those welds should be gussetted with an additional piece of steel for strength, even if that meant a slightly increased cost point.

Folks are going to buy these in order to wheel them.

 

do you know if these would work on a 3rd gen runner?

 

UCAs are on my to do list this summer or next spring. These just went to the top of my list. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. Tell your buddy good work!!

 

@Blackout14 Does he have these in stock, or is he making them per order? Might just pull the trigger for next week when I'm having the ECGS Bushing installed and alignmnet done.

OBA may just have to wait

 

Okay, now I know just enough to confuse myself....

@DoorDing According to your link, If I increase my caster at the UCA I will lose clearance at the rear of the wheel well. My truck drives fine, but I wanted more clearance at the rear of the well - I thought that was why I was going to do UCAs.

Today is pay day and I was going to order these, but now I don't know. The rear of the well is where I'm rubbing and I'll keep my stock UCAs if I'm going to lose the little clearance I have.

@Crom What's your experience with the clearance in your wheel well??