UCA separated from truck

Ok, background on my truck first. 3" skyjacker lift AAL in the rear, swaybar removed, Built Right UCAs, Sport wheels, and 265/70/17 Kumho Mojave AT tires. Now onto my problem, today when I pulled into a parking space I bumped the curb and heard/felt a clunk in the front end. Got out check the truck, no damage or anything out of the ordinary. I get done eating lunch come back out and as I am backing out of the space I feel like something is rubbing so I get out to check on the tires and I find the passenger side tire is caved into the frame. I look closer and the rear of my UCA is slammed into the header. Looks like the bolt has been pulled out of the sleeve that holds the UCAs to the truck. Anyways after I have it towed to my house I look at it again and now the driver side tire is doing the same thing but not to the same degree as passenger side. I look at it and it has the exact same problem, looks like the bolt has been pulled through the sleeve. Now my question is what the hell is going on? Did the nuts just come off? Did the bolts snap under some type of pressure being applied when I bumped the curb? My truck is mainly used on road at highway speeds, I go out once a month and play in the mud, dirt and rocks(kinda, I am a prerunner). What did I miss? I've got photos of the UCAs through the wheel well on both sides.

 

That sucks. Did you torque them down or hand tighten?

 

I torqued them down. I can't remember what the specs were, I need to research and find them again.

 

holy shit thats crazy, lucky it happened in the parking lot. so did the bolt break, is it there or did it completely fall out? now ill probly check mine

 

If torqued to spec there's no way in hell that should happen without the bolt shearing.

 

Yeah very lucky, considering this morning I was doing 80 down the highway getting to work. I am not sure yet. I am getting a jack and tools to work on it tomorrow. The bolt is still in there, can't tell if it snapped off the nut or the nut came unscrewed.

 

wow lucky nothing happened.

 

Anyone know the torque for the bolts ? I'll be replacing my bushings soon and havent seen the torque spec anywhere yet. Other question- how do you fit a torque wrench in there ?

 

i belive its 85ft lbs

 

Use red locktite.

 

Wow, how can that happen without the bolt coming out or shearing?....was the rubbage on the UCA in that one pic before or after this happened?

 

You fit a torque wrench in there with a lil force and proper application of four letter words.

The rubbing came from when it buckled and the tire rubbed on it when I was turning.

I'm going by the stealership today to get replacement bolts and nuts. Hopefully that's all I need.

 

Bolts don't have legs. They can't walk. You stop it with your lies!


But seriously..that's probably what happened.

 

That is what I'm thinking. I went back and found my notes from when I installed the UCAs and the torque specs I had at the time were only 65lbs...I've heard from multiple people now it should be closer to 85lbs. So doesn't surprise me they "walked out"

 

Sucks man, hope theres no other damage as a result of this.

After you fix it, retorque after a few drives to make sure it doesn't happen again.

 

Absolutely, I will be spending all day tomorrow trying to get this stuff back together. I need a new floor jack cause my old one won't lift the truck with a 3" lift. Found that out this morning. Kinda funny when you fully flex your jack and your tires are still on the ground. I'll be checking every bolt I ever touched on the truck now.

 

Perhaps you torqued to 65 inch lb's?? Stranger things have happened...

 

4x4 block between the jack and the jacking point. Problem solved.