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JBA UCAs or Light Racing UCAs

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by 88nitro305, Sep 22, 2017.

  1. Sep 22, 2017 at 2:45 PM
    #41
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    Smart choice, one of the best things I did so far for my truck
     
  2. Sep 22, 2017 at 3:48 PM
    #42
    sandyTrd87

    sandyTrd87 Well-Known Member

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  3. Sep 24, 2017 at 7:01 AM
    #43
    badger

    badger Well-Known Member

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    Jayrolla mentioned this, but I will repeat. Too much caster in the UCA will make it very difficult to ever run tires over stock diameter. It appears (correct me if I am wrong) that the JBA arms have 5 degrees built in. That is way more than I would want! I have my SPCs set at +1, which gives me 3 degrees total with the lower adjustment and good tire clearance. I have tried caster settings from 1.5 to 4.5. At 2.0 the steering becomes a bit light for long road trips. At 3.0 it tracks nicely with minimal correction. Above 3.0, the stability doesn't improve, but things like bump steer begin to be felt. Bottom line, I wouldn't want to be forced into accepting too much caster.

    I do like the bushing set-up on the JBA much better. SPC has a long running problem with squeaking bushings, that they really have no interest in fixing. You can hold the parts in your hand and make them squeak! I'm talking unlivable squeaking! Poly does not like to run in contact with steel. With squeaking comes binding which slows suspension response. SPCs answer is to grease the hell out of them, but there is no way to retain the grease. The problem is between the bushing and the washers. As soon as the grease is gone, it will squeak. SPCs advise is to remove and grease the UCAs periodically and grease them. Not on my time, or dime!

    My solution is to run SPC, and I redesigned the bushings. They don't squeak, they move like butter, and they don't require removal and greasing. I offered to share my design changes with SPC, with no response. All it involves is machining the bushing to accept a 1/6" UHMW polyethylene shim between the urethane and the washer. I've been running this mod for going on two years with no perceptible wear, binding or noise.
     
  4. Sep 24, 2017 at 7:16 AM
    #44
    badger

    badger Well-Known Member

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    I actually couldn't find those specs anywhere. I did see references to people ending up with crazy high caster settings. Where is your info coming from? If that is correct, then they are made with 1 to 1.5 degrees built in, which would be perfect.
     
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  5. Sep 24, 2017 at 8:10 AM
    #45
    88nitro305

    88nitro305 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yea I have just shy of 3in life, running 5100’s with OME 885s with an AAL so that’s the reasoning for the new UCAs
     
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  6. Sep 24, 2017 at 1:05 PM
    #46
    badger

    badger Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for the correction!:) In that case my vote goes to JBA for the better bushings :thumbsup: JBA should put this info on their website, for those in the know. If it is there, I can't find it.
     
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  7. Sep 24, 2017 at 4:48 PM
    #47
    JayRolla

    JayRolla Well-Known Member

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    Generally all aftermarket ucas give an additional 2* caster. Spc can do -4* to +4* and is why I went with them. I like I can tune them to fit 35s and run 2* total caster.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2017
    Blackout14 likes this.
  8. Sep 24, 2017 at 5:25 PM
    #48
    nd4spdbh

    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

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    SPC arms do 0 to +4 * Their center "Zero" setting is actually +2 over stock arms, their full forward (-2) setting is where a stock arm would be as far as upper ball joint position.
     
  9. Sep 24, 2017 at 8:14 PM
    #49
    JayRolla

    JayRolla Well-Known Member

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    Your right. 0 to 4*. I had another brain fart.
     
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  10. Sep 25, 2017 at 6:07 AM
    #50
    badger

    badger Well-Known Member

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    Yea, the +2 / -2 was confusing as hell when I first set mine up. So 0 = +2, and -2 = 0, -1 = +1, ...perfect o_O
     
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  11. Sep 25, 2017 at 3:11 PM
    #51
    88nitro305

    88nitro305 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    They are here!!!!!! Love how fast they arrived and how informative and how the business was done on a personal level!! Can’t wait to install!37895C9F-3713-400B-9BA9-F4237DEE70F3.jpg
     
  12. Sep 25, 2017 at 3:27 PM
    #52
    Jlday70

    Jlday70 Member

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    I used JBA for the lift and ucas I put on my daughter's Jeep Liberty.

    Thier customer service is top notch and they will get my business in the near future when I redo my UCAs..
     
    88nitro305[OP] and Blackout14 like this.
  13. Sep 28, 2017 at 5:42 PM
    #53
    2015 TRD Sport

    2015 TRD Sport Well-Known Member

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    Don't want to hijack this thread, but does anyone know the part #'s for the OEM upper control arm bolts ? I was thinking about replacing my upper control arms and wanted to get the bolts in case I need to cut the old ones off.
     
  14. Sep 28, 2017 at 5:45 PM
    #54
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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  15. Sep 28, 2017 at 5:47 PM
    #55
    2015 TRD Sport

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  16. May 18, 2020 at 6:41 PM
    #56
    awpldlto

    awpldlto Member

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    i have some front end damage on my first gen that already allows my 33s to rub slightly with stock UCAs towards the cab side (rear) of the wheel well. does this mean i have no option but to choose the SPC? Or i guess i can have my frame pulled for a third time :confused:. I really like the JBAs but cant loose any more clearance. is this an issue others have found with the JBAs?
     
  17. May 20, 2020 at 8:16 PM
    #57
    JayRolla

    JayRolla Well-Known Member

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    In my experience fine tuning spcs would be your best bet. But again everyone's setup is different.
     

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