SPC UCAs Too Close to Tire?

Just installed a 3” lift and SPC UCAs on my 2020 last week. Still has the factory wheels and tires. Is it just me or is this UCA ball joint really close to the tire? Don’t think it’ll be a problem with this setup but will it be in the way when I upgrade to 33s or 35s? Surely others have run this combo. Not quite sure why it’s so close. Or is it?

 

That last picture looks really close. You could run Spidertrax spacers if keeping the stock wheels.

 

As is, with the smaller tires, there’s more clearance than it appears due to the ball joint being further in than the outer edge of the arm. But with larger tires, I’m afraid it’d rub. Need to know that ahead of time, before buying wheels/tires, since I do not want to run spacers and really don’t want any more poke than I currently have.

Is this a common problem? If not, what is different about my setup that’s causing it?

 

Precisely why I bought aftermarket rims with a +30 offset and a set of low profile fender flares. Worked out pretty well. Still need to get my aftermarket mudflaps mounted though. Good luck!

 

I’m starting to think the SPC UCAs were unnecessary after all.

 

Offset is really the only problem. Those 60mm offset on the stock wheels are no joke - it just pulls everything in.

Nothing wrong with running Spidertrax - just make sure you torque it down properly.

 

Yeah, that’s what I love about them. Not a fan of the poked out look.

Guess I never read in any of my research that SPC UCAs could interfere with the stock wheels. Figured they’d be an improvement in all regards.

 

Just buy and sell rims. Pretty sure Method has good sale prices right now if that helps.

 

Not really a fan of aftermaket wheels. Was planning on using BBS TRD Pro or steel spare wheels. May have to rethink the whole plan now. That said, I did keep the factory UCAs…

 

It would be an upgrade if you planned on running bigger tires with 3” lift. I knew I was going to get 37s, so UCA was going to help with alignment and clearance.

 

Trust me, +30 offset with a low profile flare looks great. Not poked out excessively and flares make the truck look "finished".

 

Yeah, I thought the added adjustability would come in handy. Imagine my surprise when the alignment shop left the ball joints right where I had them.

 

Greasable is a beautiful thing!

 

Congrats on the Dobinson's lift!

 

Unless if you told them and gave them the spec sheet, they wouldn’t know to adjust the ball joints to whichever option that would give you more caster or less caster.

I set mine up to setting A before bringing it into Firestone for my alignment.

 

Most def, 5-10 squeeze of moly into the ball joints every oil change does the trick.

 

The new ones aren’t even greasable.

They said they were familiar with them but I gave them the sheet anyway. Claimed the uppers didn’t need any adjusting to get things in spec, which I guess makes sense. I was just a bit miffed, thinking “What was the point then?”

 

They are greaseable. You're missing your zerk fittings.

 

You can get greasable joints for a decent price if you want. Nothing wrong with having a set of back ups on board. I had mine set up close prior to alignment and the shop made zero adjustments at the upper ball joints. Most of the adjustment was toe. Good luck with it all, I truly know how it feels to have a few mods transform into many. I still have a bunch unfinished and waiting for time and weather conditions.Very frustrating for sure!

 

His are greaseable. The zerk fittings are missing.

 

They do make a retrofit kit to return these to the old design, but I’m not interested in doing that. Supposedly these are maintenance-free. Will see. The ball joints are the least of my concerns at this point. lol

 

I think they have marketed them both ways at different times. I think the idea was "maintenance free" to be more competitive.

 

If you wanted everything in spec, then there wasn’t a need to adjust the ball joint from the OE position you had it in.

Goes back to your wheel/tire set up is when you’ll move the ball joint into the right position.

 

The Pro wheels should help your clearance issue compared to the Plat wheels, not positive on the offset numbers.

 

I just measured and the tire is 1 1/8” from the UCA at the closest point. So I think it’s fine for now but yeah, an increase in tire size by 1-3” would likely be a problem.

 

Same offset for all the factory wheels, minus the Rock Warriors and maybe the TSS ones.

 

Damn, sorry. I always thought the Pro wheels had more positive offset

 

What if I were to move the ball joint out as far as it will go in the slot? It’s currently in the middle. Would that help?

 

Follow the instructions. If you do that then you’re also either adding or subtracting caster and it’s going to result in a realignment - unless if you do it yourself.

 

I'm surprised that you haven't already. Mine are either there or really close to it and it has a great alignment overall. It does give me quite a bit of gap with a 285/75 18 and +30 rim. I could likely go with a stock rim but I like the "finished" look that the flares give. Plus it gives a little door/shopping cart protection, which is another reason I did it this way. As long as it can't rub, close is fine. The tire doesn't flex or bulge at the top and it can't really make contact unless something goes bad at the hub such as loose nuts or a bad bearing.