No castle nut or cotter pin on UCA?

I’m looking at getting the Freedom Off-road UCA’s and noticed it comes with just a lock-nut and washer and this concerns me. I noticed most aftermarket UCA’s also do not utilize the cotter pin and castle nut. I would like your thoughts concerning this.

 

I've been rocking JBA UCA's for over 4 years. No castle nut or cotter pin on those either. Just tightened them to the torque spec and you're good to go. 100 ft lb IIRC. Never had any issue and they're still on.

 

Yeah I’m considering JBA. But I’m not a serious off-roader. And the JBA are quite expensive. I am mainly looking for something to take the stress off my upper ball joint due to my 3 inch lift.

 

I'd be looking to knock off an inch from that lift to take the stress off your CV axles

 

I have a differential drop

 

Depends on what you consider expensive. Mine will be up for sale in the next couple of weeks, only because my 35's rub on them now. I got some new ones, ha. PM me if interested.

 

The freedom off-road UCA’s are about $200 cheaper and they got great reviews and like I said I’m not a serious off-road. I just hit a few trails in the summer when we’re on vacation. also, I really would like one that has a castle nut and cotter pin. I’ve seen postings where this nut comes off in the devastation that results. I am sure these people were running aftermarket UCA’s.

 

No worries. I see they are running a Black Friday sale too. Those a way lower, ha. Their pics show castle nuts and regular ones. Worse case, you reuse the OEM nuts or get your own castle nuts and call it a day.

I take back my no issues statement too. I did have the nut come off from the long bolt that goes through the UCA arms. Luckily that happened right outside my house and I limped it back home. I replaced it with a nylock nut and problem was solved. No issue with the spindle nut though.

 

When you torqued that nut, did you lower the truck and let the weight settle the bolt? also, where are you seeing the option for Castle nut? Please send me the link.

 

I tried, ha. Hard to do when your tires are in the way. Plus its a ball joint, so it moves regardless.

And its not an option for a castle nut, Freedom just shows the arms with both options in their listing.

https://freedomoffroadusa.com/front-upper-control-arms-for-2-4-lift-fo-t701fu/

 

no I’m talking about the long boat that goes through the uca. the nut. You should’ve been able to access that even with a tire on.

 

Ahh, that one. No, that one I did not torque. I just tightened it down and tried to match the amount of exposed threads on both sides. When I swap them out for my new ones, I'm going to see what I can do though. At least those only need 85 ft lbs.

 

Well I would say that’s why your nut came off. But yes, I see what you’re talking about on freedom off-road website. It does look like it has a castle on it. The one on extreme train does not

 

Its possible, but the other side was fine. I think the design is flawed though. That bolt/nut angle downward. The OEM had no locking washer. At least not one that I saw. Enough vibrations and anything can come loose. Those should have been nylock from the factory IMO. Replaced both and didn't look back.

 

You can also cause the bushings to rip in the uca if it’s not torqued with the weight settled.

 

Update! My Freedom Off-road UCA’s came in today and they do have a castle nut and cotter pin! They were a bitch to install, but I got them in.

 

FYI, the ones that come from extreme terrain do not. They just have a locking bolt.

 

https://youtu.be/ScFzo378gDg?si=I5oyvx2AV0uLolf1