Front UCA installation advice

[Solfive]

Many of you here were extremely helpful when I searched for advice swapping to Eibach coilovers and I’m hoping for the same with the UCA’s. You guys probably saved me causing damage and at least from taking unnecessary steps with the coilover installation, so what are the pitfalls of changing my own UCA’s? I’ve searched the forum and YT and haven’t found anything helpful so far so any guidance is much appreciated. I’m not opposed to taking it to a shop if necessary but I prefer to only do so if a project is out of my comfort zone.

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[PWillette]

Many of you here were extremely helpful when I searched for advice swapping to Eibach coilovers and I’m hoping for the same with the UCA’s. You guys probably saved me causing damage and at least from taking unnecessary steps with the coilover installation, so what are the pitfalls of changing my own UCA’s? I’ve searched the forum and YT and haven’t found anything helpful so far so any guidance is much appreciated. I’m not opposed to taking it to a shop if necessary but I prefer to only do so if a project is out of my comfort zone.

Installing new UCAs is pretty straight forward but a bit of PITA to access unless you remove the inner fender liners. Passenger side is easy...disconnect the ball joint from the knuckle, remove the nut from the UCA bolt and remove the bolt, she'll slide right out. Driver side is pretty much the same accept you will also need to disconnect the steering linkage rod at the universal joint as it is in the way of removing the UCA bolt. There is a locking bolt on the universal joint that needs to be removed so that the linkage can be separated. Before disconnecting the linkage from universal joint make sure the steering wheel is perfectly straight. Once the linkage is separated do not move the steering wheel or the front wheels. When reconnecting the linkage pay close attention that it is in the same location on the splines as when you started. The splines are very small and if they don't go back in the same position your steering wheel will end up off-center. ICON has a pretty good install video to follow.

 

[Solfive]

Thanks for the detailed response! That’s very helpful.

 

[SierraBronco]

If you’re going to get in there order some double shear UCA mounts and weld those suckers in while you have it apart.

Remember to leave the nut on a couple threads before hammering on the knuckle to release the stock UCA. Prevent it from possibly flying out too fast.

 

[Flying Skunks]

I used the Fabtech UCA when I installed the Eibach coilovers . Love them

 

[Solfive]

I used the Fabtech UCA when I installed the Eibach coilovers . Love them

Yeah I’m kicking myself for not doing it when I had it torn apart for the coilovers

 

[Solfive]

If you’re going to get in there order some double shear UCA mounts and weld those suckers in while you have it apart.

Remember to leave the nut on a couple threads before hammering on the knuckle to release the stock UCA. Prevent it from possibly flying out too fast.

Thanks, I’ll look into that!

 

[SierraBronco]

Thanks, I’ll look into that!

As Quinn from 74Weld said “it’s not a problem until it’s a problem, and then it’s REALLY a problem”

 

[Solfive]

As Quinn from 74Weld said “it’s not a problem until it’s a problem, and then it’s REALLY a problem”

lol yeah that’s good advice. I’d rather put in a little extra work now versus a lot of extra work down the line.

 

[telenerd]

Gonna get new UCAs and have my friend help me. Do you need to disconnect the brake line from the knuckle? Some install guides say to do it others not so much.

 

[Rspayde]

Gonna get new UCAs and have my friend help me. Do you need to disconnect the brake line from the knuckle? Some install guides say to do it others not so much.

I disconnected the mount on the knuckle just a single bolt and gives you plenty of flexibility. No need to fully disconnect the brake line.

I ran a strap across the hub assembly/rotor to keep everything in place as I worked.

 

[telenerd]

Forgot to ask if you guys ended up using blue loctite on the steering linkage bolt when installing it?

I found the accutune guide. That seems to be the most informative.

https://accutuneoffroad.com/wp-cont...-UCA-installation-guide-AOR-2000-0033_WEB.pdf

 

[PWillette]

Gonna get new UCAs and have my friend help me. Do you need to disconnect the brake line from the knuckle? Some install guides say to do it others not so much.

Not sure if you are familiar w/ the whole process? Brake lines can be left connected. Biggest thing to pay attention to is disconnecting the steering shaft on the driver side, the shaft needs to be disconnected at the universal joint in order to pull the UCA bolt. Make sure the steering wheel is straight and do not move it once disconnected. Make a mark or something to make sure it goes back together exactly as removed. The shaft splines are extremely small, one spline off and the steering wheel will not be straight.

Which UCA did you end up going with?

 

[telenerd]

Not sure if you are familiar w/ the whole process? Brake lines can be left connected. Biggest thing to pay attention to is disconnecting the steering shaft on the driver side, the shaft needs to be disconnected at the universal joint in order to pull the UCA bolt. Make sure the steering wheel is straight and do not move it once disconnected. Make a mark or something to make sure it goes back together exactly as removed. The shaft splines are extremely small, one spline off and the steering wheel will not be straight.

Which UCA did you end up going with?

Im getting the JBA offroad control arms. Lifetime warranty and ball joints and bushing dont require special press to replace and are cheap.

 

[Brian_B]

Forgot to ask if you guys ended up using blue loctite on the steering linkage bolt when installing it?

I kinda default to using blue loctite on almost every bolt.

Probably overkill, but I find that now I kinda just like the taste

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