Need help with UCA install [Archive]

SP Jon M3

09-05-2005, 02:22 PM

mojavehanna

09-05-2005, 04:02 PM

SP Jon M3

09-05-2005, 05:47 PM

Well I gave up and just put the truck back together. I'll call TC on Tuesday and asked them what's up? I just can't believe that Toyota wouldn't think of this when they designed the truck. I mean, ball joints and bushings go out. How TF are you supposed to change them without :saw: or :welder: the fender or the bolt? :confused: Well when/if I figure this out I'll let ya'll know how it works out.

boylem002

09-05-2005, 10:52 PM

I had to take a big screwdriver and slightly bend the edge of the fender upward to get the bolthead's flange to clear mine.

SP Jon M3

09-06-2005, 11:11 PM

I talked to TC. They said that there are basically two options.

1) Bed the fender slightly, replace the arm, and then bend the fender back (this is what they recommend)

2) Un-bolt the body from the frame and tweak the body until you can extract the bolt. :eek: Someone has done this, but they don't recommend it.

I'm actually thinking of drilling a hole in that part of the fender to allow easier extraction of the bolt in the future. You never know, I might need to service or replace the a-arms or return it back to stock.

BTW: I have the factory service man for the front suspension. It just says to remove the upper a-arm, remove the nut and bolt (pointing to the one I have mentioned). It says nothing about the body being in the way. :confused:

boylem002

09-06-2005, 11:46 PM

just bend it a little, it won't hurt anything at all. If you're real concerned about it, cut a small patch, pull the bolt, then install a small piano hinge there or something! hehe.

Seriously, though, it's not much of a clearance problem, I saw one worse than mine and it took just a little more bending than mine, easy to bend back, or not.

Wgasa84

09-07-2005, 12:26 AM

I decided to install my TC UCAs! I cant get the main pivot bolt out. WTF was toyota thinking??!!!! The main bolt which it about 14-16" long only comes out about 2" then hits the fender. It looks like you have to lift the body off of the chassis to remove the A-arms. I think I'm gonna go crazy.

Check it out!!!! (http://homepage.mac.com/jbryan/PhotoAlbum14.html)

So what is a guy supposed to do? If any of you have changed or just removed your a-arms on an '05 can you please help!!! I getten ready to :saw: the bolts off and buy new ones installing them in the reverse!

EDIT: I know I might get flammed for posting this here, but I got my truck apart right now and need help ASAP, so TIA for anyone who can help.

bend the fender a bit, you have to take the airbag sensor off the fender too. 1 under the battery, 1 under the air box. its really not that hard. i've done countless swaps on 04 and older trucks. the hardest thing is putting the uniball spacer (adapter) into the spindle. MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE SNAP RING BACK ON. Also these came from the racing industry the uniballs and arms are going to make noise!

are you putting these on a 05 or 95.5>04

Wgasa84

09-07-2005, 12:31 AM

Sorry I cant help you, on the older trucks thats literally a 5 min. job swapping out those two bolts.

Cutting the bolts is probably easier than removing the fender or whatever else it would take IF the bolts are available from Toyota. You had better check first before you cut them.
Lol cut the bolts? how is he going to get them back in. its the reverse of taking them out. the bolts are not cheap either.

boylem002

09-07-2005, 11:03 AM

cutting the bolts really isn't an option as I see it. Just as Wgasa posted, how the hell are you going to get the new ones in? Furthermore, once the bolt's cut, pushing it out will be a PITA with so little room.

SP Jon M3

09-07-2005, 11:57 AM

Lol cut the bolts? how is he going to get them back in. its the reverse of taking them out. the bolts are not cheap either.

cutting the bolts really isn't an option as I see it. Just as Wgasa posted, how the hell are you going to get the new ones in? Furthermore, once the bolt's cut, pushing it out will be a PITA with so little room.

Cutting the bolts is an option. They would slide right out the other way (towards the back of the truck) if I cut them off right at the bolt head. Right now they slide in going in towards the back of the truck (ie. Bolt head facing forward, nut facing rearward). If I cut the bolt then the new ones would slide right in if I were to slide them in towards the front of the truck (ie. bolt head facing rearward nut facing forward). There is plenty of room if I go that direction with them.

The problem is. That if the nut were to work loose, then the bolt could fall out as it would be facing at a downward angle. This would be a serious safety concern.

drabnor

09-07-2005, 12:08 PM

dont cut the bolts :rolleyes:

just bend the fender out of the way enough to get the bolt head by it.

you will have to remove the air bag sensors. the ac line and the airbox will be in the way on the pass side.

if you are worried about bending your precious sheetmetal a little tiny bit, you are really gonna be miffed when this happens :rolleyes:

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/6967/uniball40sn.jpg

SP Jon M3

09-07-2005, 12:38 PM

if you are worried about bending your precious sheetmetal a little tiny bit, you are really gonna be miffed when this happens :rolleyes:

You have a very good point. Ha ha.. I think I'll bend the sheet metal out of the way. :cool:

drabnor

09-07-2005, 12:40 PM

oh shit, i dint see that you have an 05

good luck with that, never done one of those

SP Jon M3

09-07-2005, 12:55 PM

oh shit, i dint see that you have an 05

Check out the pics of the bolt that I have posted at the top of the thread.

SP Jon M3

09-09-2005, 11:19 PM

I just used the bending the fender back method.

Here are some pics

http://web.mac.com/jbryan/iWeb/My_2005_Tacoma/TC%20UCAs.html

boylem002

09-10-2005, 09:44 AM

I just used the bending the fender back method.

Here are some pics

http://homepage.mac.com/jbryan/PhotoAlbum15.html

Good job! From the looks of it, the TC arm has the same outer dimensions as the stocker?

Wgasa84

09-10-2005, 11:40 AM

I just used the bending the fender back method.

Here are some pics

http://homepage.mac.com/jbryan/PhotoAlbum15.html

So... do you get any added travel? Or is it just for the stronger ball joint/bling?

Personally if the Coilovers are not designed for more travel the issues with a UCA are far from worth replacing ball joints.

SP Jon M3

09-10-2005, 05:37 PM

Good job! From the looks of it, the TC arm has the same outer dimensions as the stocker?

Yes the dimensions are the same as stock, with the exeption of the location of the uni-ball. They've added more caster to offset the typical coilover lifts removing most/all of the caster.

So... do you get any added travel? Or is it just for the stronger ball joint/bling?

Personally if the Coilovers are not designed for more travel the issues with a UCA are far from worth replacing ball joints.

I did not take any measurement before or after, but I believe it did add some droop. When I removed the stock arm the suspension did drop down meaning that the stock arm was limiting the travel. The main reason I installed the arm was to fix the alignemnt issues I was having. They were not able to get any caster out of the stock arms with the 3" lift, the caster numbers were at litteraly 0 deg. The other reasons I bought it was for the added strenght and of coruse a little bling :D .

Super Doody

09-10-2005, 10:19 PM

Yes the dimensions are the same as stock, with the exeption of the location of the uni-ball. They've added more caster to offset the typical coilover lifts removing most/all of the caster.

I did not take any measurement before or after, but I believe it did add some droop. When I removed the stock arm the suspension did drop down meaning that the stock arm was limiting the travel. The main reason I installed the arm was to fix the alignemnt issues I was having. They were not able to get any caster out of the stock arms with the 3" lift, the caster numbers were at litteraly 0 deg. The other reasons I bought it was for the added strenght and of coruse a little bling :D .

What kind of ball joint press did you use?

SP Jon M3

09-10-2005, 10:27 PM

What kind of ball joint press did you use?

Thats the best part.. There's no need for a press :D . There is no slug to be pressed in, the uni-ball just bolts into the spindle on the '05s.

Super Doody

09-10-2005, 10:50 PM

lucky... My were PITA to take off with some funky auto zone BJ press.

ski05

03-21-2006, 01:06 PM

I decided to install my TC UCAs! I cant get the main pivot bolt out. WTF was toyota thinking??!!!! The main bolt which it about 14-16" long only comes out about 2" then hits the fender. It looks like you have to lift the body off of the chassis to remove the A-arms. I think I'm gonna go crazy.

Check it out!!!! Pics of the bolt... (http://web.mac.com/jbryan/iWeb/My_2005_Tacoma/TC%20UCAs.html)

So what is a guy supposed to do? If any of you have changed or just removed your a-arms on an '05 can you please help!!! I getten ready to :saw: the bolts off and buy new ones installing them in the reverse!

EDIT: I know I might get flammed for posting this here, but I got my truck apart right now and need help ASAP, so TIA for anyone who can help.
I see a lot of posts and have to do with added caster. Is this a must with a lift or better handle

scottB

03-21-2006, 01:26 PM

I see a lot of posts and have to do with added caster. Is this a must with a lift or better handle
Yes and no, well for a better answer there is this great website that has all the information you need to know. Here is the LINK (http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=157)

4x4Tacoma

03-21-2006, 05:48 PM

Im a little late but the bending of the fender well is the best way to get that bolt out. I found that out when i was installing the total chaos long travel kit at midnight. Took me a friend 12 hours non stop to put the entire kit on and yes the best part was not having to press in that uniball adapter like i had to on my older tacoma. The new kit for the 05-06 tacomas is great, my truck is the one on the total chaos site chaosfab.com the silver tacoma. I should have my glass on soon and get some more pics up on the site soon.

SP Jon M3

03-21-2006, 08:35 PM

I see a lot of posts and have to do with added caster. Is this a must with a lift or better handle

You should do a search, there is alot of great info here like the previous post said.

But here is one link that might answer this question for you (just found it with the search ;) )

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15380