TOTAL CHAOS - Stock Length Lower Control Arm (LCA) - Should I upgrade?

@TOTAL CHAOS I'm having a tight steering, not always returning to center "thing" right now. Just installed new UCAs (actually MCM Fab ones, to be honest) and they are uniball design. I noticed it right away when I drove the truck after installing. Thought maybe an alignment would help - though the stiff steering and not returning to center right away still persists. Now I know you have no reason to respond to my post since I'm not running your product and I have been utilizing your info and videos for making sense of my uniballs and how to care for them, etc. So thank you for putting this stuff out there!

If I may ask, how do my numbers look?

 

@TOTAL CHAOS

Hey did you guys ever figure out if wheels with less backspace than stock with work without wheel spacers for your dual shock race series LCAs?

 

A buddy and I are both running SCS Ray10's with 3.5 backspacing -38 offset and it works. I have some slight running on my bypasses which we are figuring out but aside from that it clears the rest. Talking with TC we think we can move it in some more as its only rubs on load and not on a basic turn test.

 

You boys running 35s with that setup?

 

I am running 315/70/17 so pretty much. My other buddy @the glen is running 295/70/17

 

Nice. Would you say its worth getting dual shocks and dealing with the spacer issues, even if I'll be waiting a few years to get them on?
I'm just trying to decide if I would just get the single shock race series now and just go long travel dual shocks way down the road, or get some dual shock stock length now in anticipation on adding secondary shocks in a couple years when I have the coin for it

 

I got a good deal on the bypasses and hoops and like others said its a great setup and may be perfect for your needs. I may go LT at some point but so far I have not maxed out the current setup in actual use. If you plan to go LT then does not make sense. If you go LT nothing you currently have but maybe the shock hoops will be re used in the LT setup all parts and shocks are different. Most folks do not really put a full LT rear end on so its great. I have a 12" shock relocate and extended front with bypasses. I have the main shocks revalved to work with the bypasses and its a killer setup. Its not LT but it mashes hard.

Also noting that many folks running spacers without any issues. I had some on my truck prior to install for a bit. Just make sure you get good one BORA, Spidertrax but also know some folks with Amazon or Ebay sets with no issues. Just keep them torqued down. The other option which we did is get a higher offset/BS similar to the F5 and Ray10 3.5BS options.

 

Yea I was considering that, just wanted to make use of the Icon setup I have going now. I'll probably just stick with stock length. Just unsure if I want dual shocks or not.
Which LCAs are you running?

 

That's good to hear. I've always been sceptical of wheel spacers, guess I just assumed it decreased the integrity of everything down there but if you're saying no one is really having problems with them then I might just go for it. I do have a chance to get a killer deal on the some new stock length single shock race series LCAs so I may just jump on those

 

My buddy other buddy is running all icon but the TC lower since icon does not sell it. A couple vendors I can forward have some good prices on the dual.

 

We need a stock length for first gen for sure, no one even makes one for our first gen. I’ve been waiting for one for a long time. I’ve had my 98 come loose twice while on the trails, and I’ve had my 03dc come loose while driving 70 on freeway, almost flipped the truck.

 

How is everyone getting rid of the atrocious squeak. I grease at least once a week and it doesn’t go away. I don’t know if I can handle that squeak much longer. I used the dry line on the uniballs as well. Less than 5,000 miles on the set I have, expedition series.

 

I have had mine for a few years and squeak all the time.

I grease the bushings and use TriFlow on the uniballs

 

Yes they were greased prior to install. I wouldn’t care of it was a small squeak but it sounds like an old creepy pirate ship on a rocky ocean. There has to be a way to mitigate this. It must be user error on my behalf but greasing and spraying dry lube isn’t rocket science so I do not know how to solve this.

 

I wonder if the greasing procedure for the LCAs is the same as the UCAs? I would email TC just to double check that there isn't any special consideration

 

Yeah I’m going to call them tomorrow or later today. I called about a month or so ago and they told me to add more grease since they had about 500 miles on them since install. It helped a bit but came back with a vengeance. I bought another tube of grease on Amazon since I’ve been adding grease weekly now.

 

My was more at Jeff saying he doesn't sqeak which I find hard to believe but if true he is a lucky one or he is leaving out how often he greases his bushings.

My truck squeaks all the time. Normal driving isn't so bad. Speed bumps and driveways it squeaks all the time.
I may just need to grease it more often.

 

Mine squeaks like a mofo also. I just close the windows and turn up the radio. If anyone asks what the noise is I tell them "race truck sounds"

 

I have both TC upper and lower control arms with uniballs. I traced the squeaking to the uniballs in the UCA. A couple drops of Tri flow and everything is quiet again. Lasts about a couple weeks, then repeat. I found that the spray on lubricants don't last very long and not as effective. The Tri-flow drip bottle works like magic, as it provides a thicker layer of fluid with each drop.

 

i have a question. I have ALL PRO 6” inch lift and my front ball joint are going bad, can i just replace the lower arm controls with my 6” inch lift kit? My understanding i can, whats the benefit? They are just much stronger?
Thanks.