Carl's UCAs fitment question

[pfran42]

I finally got around to installing my Carl's UCAs from Just Differentials and I ran into a possible snag. I followed the directions and greased the sleeves and bushings but when it came time to slide them in their mounting brackets, they won't clear by about half the width of one red bushing lip.

I have not used any force yet and I wanted to check in to see if anyone else who has installed these could give me any advice. It may be as simple as wedging a large screwdriver in there for leverage but I just want to make sure I am not missing anything. Just seems odd seeing how easily the OEM UCA came out.

Do I rig up something to spread the UCA or do I put the UCAs in a vice and try to compress them some more, or.....?

Thanks!

 

[SHAGGY101]

Haha, I ran into this same problem on mine! I though I was special. After about an hour of trying to spread them apart and studying the stock ones I ended up sanding down the bushing material with an air sainder until I could wedge it in there. In hindsight, I wish I had used the lathe, quicker, cleaner, and more consistent.

I didnt get any instructions with mine. This was about 15K miles ago. And I have not wiggle issues. I did notice that the bushings seemed to "stick" a little bit to to the metal mounts (you could feel it under small movements while accel and braking). This all went away after breaking them in on a trip out to Moab

 

[Newps]

I would try a C-clamp and some grease first before I started hacking up my brand new bushings.

 

[Mxndrnks]

With the TC UCA's it is a pretty tight fit.... although not quite as much as you describe. In those instructions it said to use a mallet to "tap" them in.

 

[pfran42]

Fixed. I used this:

 

[matt 105]

Good idea. I used a 3lb nylon dead blow hammer to fit my TC arms.

 

[OregonLC]

Nice little addition Paul! What's the plan for shocks? You ought to call LT over at MetalTech and get some Radflo's strokin' under there! You'd have a sweet setup!

 

[pfran42]

Nice little addition Paul! What's the plan for shocks? You ought to call LT over at MetalTech and get some Radflo's strokin' under there! You'd have a sweet setup!

They are coming. Would be on now except that a Slee single swing-out got in the way. Like I have said before, my build has been out of order since day one.

- Sent from a very small supercomputer.

 

[natharmstrong88]

I had the same problem, And I didn't get any instructions, it's straight forward though. I just spread the mounts a little. Was probably a bit rough but I had limited tools. The mounts pulled back together upon doing the bolts up.

 

[jgray]

Those Irwin Quick Grips sure are handy! Great item to have in the tool arsenal!

 

[pfran42]

Yeah, I have used them a lot as they are a great problem solver tool!

As for the Carl's UCAs, gotta say that I love them! Good snug fit inside the brackets, no creaks or squeaks to speak of and an immediate discernable difference off the pavement! I am now up to 2 3/4 inches in front with about 2 1/8 inches of droop. Slee diff drop plus McMaster-Carr German made stainless smooth rolled band boot clamps all around and my axles are bone dry. Hope this is the final fix up front for a while!