JBA Front UCA 6.7 Installed

[thance]

I installed the the JBA Front Upper Control Arms this weekend. They are much more stout than stock!

Did not have any issues with the install, everything fit well, just leave yourself lots of time. I spent about 4 hours all together, with most of that time dedicated to monkeying the upper bolts back behind the springs. Found the best method was just to use a pair of channel locks to thread the bolts out of the bushings and mounts once the nut was off. Tedious, but it worked. It does mark up the bolts quite a bit, so hopefully that won't come back to bite me later on

On the install, I did save some hassle by installing one of the bolts backwards (from the outside in and backing it with some washers so it stayed away from the spring).

Overall, everything went very well, just leave plenty of time if you're not a professional mechanic.

Front is now nice and quiet, with the clunking, bucking and kicking caused by the extremely worn stock ball joints a thing of the past.

23012302

[thance]

Just had the alignment done by a really nice fellow that was talking with me the whole time. He owns his own shop and also has a 2013 Rubicon Unlimited.

Anyway, I didn't realize that only the Toe was adjustable on the XK and the Caster and Camber are fixed. Does this sound right to everyone?

[Matt]

No. The camber and caster are adjusted via the lower control arm mounts.

[thance]

Sounds like I need to take it back tomorrow. Is anything adjustable in the rear?

[Matt]

Nope, only the front axle. Do you have a printout of your alignment numbers? No need to take it back if they're good.

[thance]

Caster is out, Camber is in:







Initial
Min Spec
Max Spec
Final


Front
Caster
L
2.7
3.55
4.45
2.58




R
3.38
3.55
4.45
3.33



Camber
L
.05
-.70
.15
.04




R
.09
-.70
.15
-.06



Toe
L
.26
.00
.25
.12




R
-.24
.00
.25
.12



Talked to him this morning and he thought the front of the LCA was adjustable, but the rear was just a pivot, so Camber and Caster would be adjusted together...... sounded like he was worried fixing one would hurt the other.

[Matt]

Numbers dont look too bad so I wouldn't worry. The rear pivot slides to adjust caster and has a minor effect on camber. The front adjusts camber and has a minor effect on caster.

[thance]

Went back today for a second try .... I added a column for the new results:







Initial
Min Spec
Max Spec
Final 1st try
Final 2nd try


Front
Caster
L
2.7
3.55
4.45
2.58
3.00




R
3.38
3.55
4.45
3.33
3.13



Camber
L
.05
-.70
.15
.04
-.14




R
.09
-.70
.15
-.06
-.01



Toe
L
.26
.00
.25
.12
.11




R
-.24
.00
.25
.12
.12



Numbers are better, seemed there was only so much that could be done with the caster, without dragging the camber out.

[07JeepXK]

Umm is your alignment guy familiar with doing alignments on our XK? Doesn't seen it. You should be able to get that alignment dead on

[thance]

Well . .... . No........ this is his first one. He didn't even know the LCA was adjustable on the first attempt. Now he knows, but was moving everything together.

He has great equipment with a nice laser setup, Does mostly fleet vehicles - ambulances in particular with whatever else comes his way thrown in the mix.

He was doing it all by himself which probably didn't help, and I wasn't able to help as I was dressed for the office.