UCA Thread

[Roaminglost]

Figured I'd make a UCA thread cause I'm searching for some.

RAM 1500 2019-2021 UPPER CONTROL ARMS - DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 | TOTAL CHAOS FABRICATION

RAM 1500 2019-2021 UPPER CONTROL ARMS - DODGE RAM 1500 4X4

www.chaosfab.com

122251 Upper Control Arm (UCA) Kit DODGE / RAM 1500 TRUCK FRONT UPPER 06-21​

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Upper Control Arms | Tuff Country

Shop Upper Control Arms at Tuff Country.com. The #1 website for leveling kits, lift kits and more products.

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ICON 2019-Up Ram 1500, Tubular Upper Control Arm/Delta Joint Kit ICON 2019-Up Ram 1500, Tubular Upper Control Arm/Delta Joint Kit - Icon Vehicle Dynamics

ICON 2019-Up Ram 1500, Tubular Upper Control Arm/Delta Joint Kit ICON 2019-Up Ram 1500, Tubular Upper Control Arm/Delta Joint Kit - Icon Vehicle Dynamics

www.iconvehicledynamics.com

 

[RebelWraith]

I went with the BDS units with 3" Fox Racing DSC coilovers. They fit great even at full drop. Just remember to grease up the ball joints as they come empty.

The BDS warranty is what sold me.

 

[SoCalBogey]

I prefer the Icon arms due the the delta joint they use instead of the traditional uniball or high articulation ball joint. The delta joint has a higher range of travel and I forget the exact numbers, but it has considerably more “pull out” strength that a ball joint. Uni balls are great but a pain in the ***. You have to grease them regularly or they squeak and the total chaos uni ball arms I had in my 4runner only lasted around 50k miles... that was with ALOT of hard off-road driving but still something to consider.

 

[Jeansebplante]

Great info guys. Should be posted in the Suspension section!

Any thoughts on the Zone, RC or fabtech UCA?

 

[CRam92]

I went with BDS after having uniball UCAs on previous trucks. They were no doubt strong but always squeaked like crazy... little much for a daily driver. As for strength, I’ve known little to have issues with any uniball or bds. Here is a link that is very informative about UCAs and choosing them.

 

[Mother]

So, why are some manufacturer's showing specific part numbers for 2019+ and others are showing the same since 2009? Is the 5th gen arm geometry different from the 4th gen or not? Are some places just being lazy and putting that on there because it's close enough or "it fits?"

 

[Ram1500rsm]

They seem to be exactly the same thing. i think vendors are prob struggling with the year designation and ther confusion that may come from it say a 2019+ DS vs a 2019+ DT truck for instance Total Chaos list part 81500 as part# for 2019+. exactly same part# for 09-18 DS trucks. Icon is just saying 09 and UP, BDS UCA you're listing above is the same part# we have for the DS trucks.

Choosing UCA's comes down to what you're doing with your truck, how much maintenance are you willing to put up with, how much lift you have etc. Most have a built-in offset that will work in 2-3" lift applications. There are a few that are buil with the stock offset, why ? for those of you using 4-6" brackets lifts that need a factory UCA for proper geometry. An offset BJ in one those kits will look pretty much the same as if you installed that UCA with your factory height suspension. the BJ will have a severe angle inwards because of the built offset, at least if a 5100 type strut at 0" lift is used, moving the strut perches creates a lift in the same fashion as one that has stock height, then if you reached 2-3" lift that way you can use an offset UCA. Fabtech has stock lenght offset with a uniball, i believe Rolling big power as well. i keep a list of UCA's for the 4th gen trucks, i'm sure all of them will work in the DT trucks. We know TC, Icon and BDS use the same part#'s so no changes on what they're doing in their UCA's for the DT trucks.



Uniballs, VS traditional BJ's VS Delta Joints all comes down to preference, the video in post# 5 is an excelent source for more details and i'll refer to that video for explanations. I've used Uniballs before and you can't beat their performance with standard BJ's, i don't think you'll find a race application using that style of BJ's. Delta Joint is new, i think couple of years i'm giving them a try right now in my RAM and so far so good. I had Zones (rubber bushings and hd bj) before and without changing anything else i can tell the difference in riding, maybe because my coilovers are literally almost maxed out and perhaps the BJ in the Zone doesn't have the right angles at that height as the suspension cycles, i have no idea but the difference in the way the truck drives over rough stuff is now more noticable and i haven't changed anything else other than UCA's.

I put some pictures here comparing the angles on both uca's.

icon uca

looking for some input anyone might have if they have installed the icon uca's on their truck?

5thgenrams.com

 

[SurfRebel20]

I went with the BDS units with 3" Fox Racing DSC coilovers. They fit great even at full drop. Just remember to grease up the ball joints as they come empty.

The BDS warranty is what sold me.

im looking into going with this setup as well. you're using the fox 2.5 2-3in adjustable coilovers right? did the 3 inch give you 2 inches of lift? also do you have any pictures

 

[RebelWraith]

im looking into going with this setup as well. you're using the fox 2.5 2-3in adjustable coilovers right? did the 3 inch give you 2 inches of lift? also do you have any pictures

Yes, the 2.5 DSC front coilovers set to 3" (they come at 2") with 2.5 DSC rear shocks and 1" daystar rear spacer. Definitely got 2" over the stock 1" Rebel lift.

 

[SurfRebel20]

Yes, the 2.5 DSC front coilovers set to 3" (they come at 2") with 2.5 DSC rear shocks and 1" daystar rear spacer. Definitely got 2" over the stock 1" Rebel lift.
View attachment 80280 View attachment 80281

truck looks awsome! definitely going this route. thanks for the info and pics.

 

[SurfRebel20]

Yes, the 2.5 DSC front coilovers set to 3" (they come at 2") with 2.5 DSC rear shocks and 1" daystar rear spacer. Definitely got 2" over the stock 1" Rebel lift.
View attachment 80280 View attachment 80281

for the rear shocks are the reservoirs on the bottom or up top?

 

[RebelWraith]

for the rear shocks are the reservoirs on the bottom or up top?

Bottom so you can still make adjustments.

 

[RN_727]

Hey there I know I'm late to this thread but did you get the kit with rear springs too or just the shocks and UCAs

 

[user805]

Has anyone used the Rough Country forged UCAs?

 

[jebcamaro]

Has anyone used the Rough Country forged UCAs?

I know this isn't the answer you are looking for, but I've purchased the RC UCA's. I just haven't installed them yet. I'm still waiting on some other things before I'm able to get them installed. Of course, I'm awaiting the time to do the install as well.

They are certainly of nice quality and quite light. The UCA doesn't receive anywhere near the amount of forces the lower one does. I think most are paying waaaay too much money for something that is highly overkill.

 

[FuriousFuria]

I know this isn't the answer you are looking for, but I've purchased the RC UCA's. I just haven't installed them yet. I'm still waiting on some other things before I'm able to get them installed. Of course, I'm awaiting the time to do the install as well.

They are certainly of nice quality and quite light. The UCA doesn't receive anywhere near the amount of forces the lower one does. I think most are paying waaaay too much money for something that is highly overkill.

Do you or anyone else who put on the RCA UCAs know how much grease I am supposed to pump into them? Not sure when I’m supposed to stop haha

 

[RebelWraith]

Do you or anyone else who put on the RCA UCAs know how much grease I am supposed to pump into them? Not sure when I’m supposed to stop haha

Keep pumping till you see grease start to come out of the boot cover. Stop there and clean up any excess.

 

[H2OMAN]

Do you or anyone else who put on the RCA UCAs know how much grease I am supposed to pump into them? Not sure when I’m supposed to stop haha

According to mine you're supposed to take the wheel off then loosen the nuts to the uca. Then grease it til you see it come out. Then clean it and put the wheel back on. Then tighten the nuts back up. This is to keep from blowing out the bushings. Others may and probably are different. You should check with your manufacturer.

 

[FuriousFuria]

Installed 2" RC Loaded Struts and UCAs. The Rebel is pretty level now!

 

[Psifer]

I had the ReadyLift level kit with UCAs on my Rebel. They worked great and suited my needs. I thought it looked great with the 35s I had on it.