Extended coilover with OEM UCA

[catman155]

What would happen with an extended coilover (Icon) and keeping the OEM UCA? Would there be excess wear and tear on components or would it just be a waste of the potential of the extended coilover? This is on my 2014 FJ Cruiser build in progress.

This is kind of my rookie way of learning this stuff.

Thanks,

S.

 

[toyotech]

You will need the aftermarket UCA to use the extended travel. The extended travel will cycle more than what a stock UCA can do.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WillBeck]

Two things will happen. The ball joints will bind, limiting your travel and defeating the purpose of extended coilovers. Also, at full droop, or higher lift heights, the UCA will contact the coil spring.

Neither of those are good for anything. If you go extended coilover, upgrade to a uniball UCA. Camburg, Total Chaos, Icon, Solo, etc.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Also besides letting the new coil overs do their thing aftermarket UCA usually have additional built-in castor, which you'll need to keep the alignment when you lift. Beyond about 2" the truck will drive a little erratically, tending to be a little over sensitive.

I'm running the Camburg ball-joint UCAs with my FOX 2.5 and so far I'm happy.

 

[WillBeck]

Also besides letting the new coil overs do their thing aftermarket UCA usually have additional built-in castor, which you'll need to keep the alignment when you lift. Beyond about 2" the truck will drive a little erratically, tending to be a little over sensitive.

I'm running the Camburg ball-joint UCAs with my FOX 2.5 and so far I'm happy.

This is a good point. Maybe even more important if you plan to get some extra speed with those extended coilovers...

 

[catman155]

WOW! I really appreciate the advice.

I've been a shade tree mechanic all my life but have never messed with suspension stuff. I have sitting on my garage floor a Icon tubular UCA waiting to be installed as soon as the Icon extended travel remote reservoir coilover with CDC arrives. I would have already installed all of this, but the original coilover arrived without the CDC adjust. So in the meantime I have been reading as many of these forums as I can on suspensions and started second guessing myself on the UCA. I'm really good on maintenance, but hearing about all of the squeaky UCA problems a lot of people seem to have along with a little less reliability, well a lot of second guessing on my part. I'm thinking to myself, maybe just stick with the OEM UCA. Now I'm seeing the error of that thinking.

I've already installed Icon 3 inch springs in the rear along with the 2.5 shocks with remote reservoir and CDC adjust. I carry a lot of weight 24/7 (Man-A-Fre tank, fridge, tools, zombie stuff, etc.) and have future plans on a RTT. Thus the beefy rear end. Of course right now the FJ sits like a AA Fuel Dragster. LOL!

Anyway I have to remind myself as to why I have the FJ in the first place. I'm retired and instead of buying a Winnebago and using it once and parking it in the driveway forever like so many people do, I got the FJ..........And I have been using it. FJ SUMMIT X! WOW!

S.

 

[catman155]

Funny car with Blower? :ylsmoke:

 

[WillBeck]

My uca's don't squeak. Keep them clean and keep them dry.

 

[(none)]

LOL. Love the trail wheels on teh FJ though.