Uca and camber issues

[boozer]

[/IMG][/IMG]I been having problems with getting my tahoe aligned, I'm currently out of adjustment. I'm looking into which camber kit/part number to order. Also will flipping my uca effect the camber at all? My current set up is 2002 tahoe ls 4x4, 2500 keys with 2" belltech spindles and street performer shocks with z71 bumpstops. Sitting at 31.75 with 305/40/22

 

[Blazed]

I'm fairly positive flipping your UCA will do something horrible to your caster.

Autoanything.com would have the correct belltech camber kit for your truck.

For the NNBS the offer the offset bushing which help a lot and longer more adjustable cams for but to utilize that you have make the UCA adjustment slot bigger. I'd assume it's pretty similar for the NBS

 

[M Hankel]

I have heard of the NBS Silverado guys doing the UCA flip mod. I don't know a lot about it but I was assuming they were running a special or modified spindle. Aren't the holes for the ball joints tapered? I'm assuming you would need to re-drill the hole to a larger size with a tapered drill bit with a specific taper angle. Maybe they're switching to a larger ball joint during the conversion?

The easiest method to fix your problem would be the offset bushing kit from Belltech. I have a set of them at home but I don't have the part number with me. I was planning to pick up a spare set of UCA's and install them. Then I found out how cheap brand new ones were on eBay with brand new ball joints already installed,,, pretty crazy actually. I think Dorman makes them.

Are you planning to go lower with your ride?

Mike

 

[WHITEOUT]

Yes, Silverado guys have been doing it for awhile. But when they say flip, they don't mean installing bj from bottom. Actually flipping arm, usually switch sides, press bj out, and reinstall from top like stock.

But also seems to be for older style Belltech spindles, shouldn't need to be done anymore. But idk. I'll try n find some threads about it.

I run McGaughy spindles, so haven't dealt with this.

 

[boozer]

That would be good if you find more threads about it. I read some on the performance truck forum, all they say you need to do when you switch your ball joint it make sure you chafed the ball joint hole so the ball joint will sit flush and sway the right for the left so the brake line will still bolt up to the a arm.

---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------

I do not an to go any lower. I'm pretty happy with the way it sits now.

 

[Alex33]

Mike, I'm not around my truck much anymore but if you want, I'll snap a pic of mine next time so you can see my bj angles w/ the offset bushings installed. My truck currently has drop spindles and keys. It aligned in spec with the fender height at 30 1/4" and I drove it for about a year w/ no problems. I'm currently at 31.5" now and it still aligns well.

 

[M Hankel]

Yes, Silverado guys have been doing it for awhile. But when they say flip, they don't mean installing bj from bottom. Actually flipping arm, usually switch sides, press bj out, and reinstall from top like stock.

But also seems to be for older style Belltech spindles, shouldn't need to be done anymore. But idk. I'll try n find some threads about it.

I run McGaughy spindles, so haven't dealt with this.

See, I have read both ways now. I was checkimg out one of the "bagged nbs" threads just the other day and saw a pic of a stock upper arm flipped upside down with the ball joint mounted to the spindle crom underneath the upper spindle mounting location. Check out post number seven in this thread:

http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177264

I would assume these uppers are also flipped from one side to the other to maintain proper camber unless the ball joint location is perfectly centered front to back?

Mike

 

[MeanGreen03]

I flipped my uppers with no ill effects, just better upper ball joint angles. The arms are symmetrical so you don't need to swap sides.

 

[M Hankel]

I flipped my uppers with no ill effects, just better upper ball joint angles. The arms are symmetrical so you don't need to swap sides.

So did you put the ball joints in the spindle from the bottom side then?

Mike

 

[NORCAL SS]

sure it wont touch the axle shaft?

I ususally do camber bushings for past 13 plus years no issues with that.

 

[WHITEOUT]

Here is a thread from GMFS.COM
http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203463

I'm not saying do or don't, need or want, should or shouldn't, flip arms.
But think doing camber or caster kit, offset bushing first, before flipping arms if not necessary.

M Hankel- seems a bunch going from below in that thread. But also all bagged and laying out. So appears necessary to get that low.
IDK tho

 

[M Hankel]

Here is a thread from GMFS.COM
http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203463

I'm not saying do or don't, need or want, should or shouldn't, flip arms.
But think doing camber or caster kit, offset bushing first, before flipping arms if not necessary.

M Hankel- seems a bunch going from below in that thread. But also all bagged and laying out. So appears necessary to get that low.
IDK tho

I read that exact thread you linked last night also when I was researching the flip mod. Seems there is more than one way to skin a cat in this case and the term "flip" can mean more than one thing depending on who you're talking with. Just like when I was growing up the term "WIP" meant a "work in progress" like a lowered truck in primer or something, now it seems like it just means someone's ride in general..... Maybe I'm just old lol....

Yeah I think if you're intentions are to get super low, either with bags or adjustable coil overs etc..., then putting the ball joint in from the bottom makes more sense to reduce the ball joint angle. Otherwise I think the OP would be better off with the cammed/offset bushings.


Mike

 

[MeanGreen03]

So did you put the ball joints in the spindle from the bottom side then?

Mike

No, for the upper flip you press the upper ball joint in on the opposite side and flip the a-arm around and it still enters the spindle from the top. This does not help camber/caster in any way. All that it does is help ball joint angle therefore increase its life span.

The bagged guys also flip the bottom ball joint but don't flip the arm. You have to ream out the spindle so that the ball joint can go in from the bottom side. This helps tremedously, along with raising the upper control arms, with the camber curve.

---------- Post added at 07:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:29 PM ----------

Also for the OP. You can purchase the arms with the new offset bushings and MOOG ball joints already installed for pretty much the same price of new MOOG ball joints. I found this out when purchasing new upper ball joints. I already had too much positive camber so I couldn't have ran the new arms with offset bushings or I would have had even more positive camber.

 

[WHITEOUT]

Hey Trace (MeanGreen03) Can you post a pic of your front setup? And side shot? You have drop arms and spindles right? Just wanting to see what it looks like. I have been contemplating throwing on some DJM arms I've got laying around. But want to see what the front would look like with both drop comps installed. And how low it gets.

Thanks

 

[NORCAL SS]

the uppers dont lower it.

 

[WHITEOUT]

Ya I know. Asking to see his drop setup. Not upper arm setup. Pretty sure I read he has lower drop arms and drop spindles. That's what I want to see a pic of. I Just have never actually seen a pic of Tahoe dropped with arms and spindles, or setup that is. Seen supposed side shots, but never the actual suspension setup.

 

[MeanGreen03]

Hey Trace (MeanGreen03) Can you post a pic of your front setup? And side shot? You have drop arms and spindles right? Just wanting to see what it looks like. I have been contemplating throwing on some DJM arms I've got laying around. But want to see what the front would look like with both drop comps installed. And how low it gets.

Thanks

Sure thing, will do. I'm switching my rims so I'll have the wheel off anyway. I bent a rim but they are discontinued and I can't find a set with the backspacing I need so I'm going back to a stock setup. But forewarning my tahoe doesn't sit as low as others with the same components for some reason. I have yet to figure out why...

 

[MeanGreen03]

Here you go:

Mind you, I'm also body dropped. Like I said I have no clue as to why I don't sit much lower.

 

[NORCAL SS]

Only difference is spindle but you should sit a lot lower. How much are your key bolts turned in?

 

[MeanGreen03]

Only difference is spindle but you should sit a lot lower. How much are your key bolts turned in?

My drivers side is all of the way in and the passengers side is all of the way out. The passengers side is still a tad higher but I'm out of adjustment. I'm pretty much the same height all of the way around so I'm ok with it. It really wouldn't be too drivable if it were much lower with my 24's unless I got some smaller tires.