AT4 UCAs Trashed at 30k Miles - 2" RC Leveling Kit and 35" Toyo Tires

[RPaul]

4 hours ago, Gangly said:

The issue mentioned above deals with spacers on TB's and AT4's where the suspension is already lifted.  Most people who stick with 1" spacers are fine, but once you go above 1.5" and start getting in the 2" range, there are significantly more reported issues with ball joint failures.  Rikhek is dealing with a bushing failure, something seen not nearly as often and might be the first instance I have seen on the T1's

Got it.

 

I don’t doubt the UCA has more wear and tear with the level and the angle shifting, but if it was so catastrophic and guaranteed to cause failure I would assume the market after all these years would figure it out and people wouldn’t be buying the level kit spacer. 
 

Time will tell, I have one on a Denali and hope the UCA survive a bit, but if not, I’ll just have to change them, not a huge deal. 
 

Unsure if there are other impacts or damage that is possibly

 

 

[Jav_eee]

Got it.
 
I don’t doubt the UCA has more wear and tear with the level and the angle shifting, but if it was so catastrophic and guaranteed to cause failure I would assume the market after all these years would figure it out and people wouldn’t be buying the level kit spacer. 

They HAVE figured it out which is why the more expensive kits include new UCAs. The more reputable companies recommend against certain lift heights. But people are gonna people and if you sell it they will buy it.


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[diyer2]

These posts remind me of my drag racing days. 

Mods = dollars.

Want to play, you got to pay. 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Kickerz71]

Here’s my setup, installation scheduled for next Wednesday.
I went with the UCA from RL
I felt more comfortable with changing the control arm




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[rikhek]

I considered the Ready Lift setup but it wouldn't work for my desires.  It only allows a 33" tire which is same as OEM so it would serve ME no purpose as I wanted to run 35s.  I don't understand why someone would go thru the effort and expense to only be allowed to run stock sized tires.  I guess if you're happy with 33s and just want to level it's a good option.  Additionally, the Ready Lift control arms prevent running a wider tire compared to the OEM arms.  The Ready Lift ball joint housing extends out farther contacting the tire compared to the OEM arms.

[Dunn]

3 plus inches is too much.....standard and TB UCAs are same, GM takes the gamble that saves money on production vs repairs in service ....its a weak unit to begin with for truck that size and just cant stretch it that far past standard height...I have seen quite a few newer ones fail and myself in past have had them fail becasue i wanted the most for the least.....I wont do it again.....not to mention the other parts it trashed along with UCA....

 

weight and force of heavier wheels/ tires is a big deal on UCAs.....its not just the angle of ball joint that plays a role, there is quite a few reasons it makes sense .....2 in is the bubble and has been for quite awhile.....

 

 

[Enviroag02]

How do y’all feel about stock UCAs on a 6” lift which maintains factory geometry with lift knuckles?  Are upgraded UCAs mandatory or failure inevitable?

[AgDoctor]

How do y’all feel about stock UCAs on a 6” lift which maintains factory geometry with lift knuckles?  Are upgraded UCAs mandatory or failure inevitable?

Some systems that have a 6" lift are at or close to flat CV angle/suspension angle. Some others(BDS/Zone) are level at 4" and have elevated angle when set to 6". Saying all that you will be fine e with stock arms with either lift so lo g as you do t try to stack another level spacer in there.


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[Wormydog1724]

My father-in-law’s ‘19 AT4 UCA joint sheared two weeks ago. Around 35k miles with a 2” level bottom spacer. It let loose at 75mph and sent him into the ditch, nearly caused him to roll. 
 

When he told me it snapped I started asking questions: stock UCA’s, 33” Nitto tires, and he finally tells me 2” spacer installed by a local shop. He farms out of his AT4 so it’s seen some rough ass roads and off road use, hauling a big ass Polaris fourwheeler. I figured it was just him being rough on it, he’s been known to treat his vehicles like ******. But the 2” level and stock UCA was the real culprit. He didn’t like the factory rake so that’s the reason for the level initially. 
 

Three weeks ago I installed Cognito UCA’s and Bilstein 5100’s on my ‘21 AT4 and he thought I was silly for doing that to a brand new month old truck. Now he’s asking where he can buy them. I suggested he throw the ****ing spacer away and do it right this time. Mine isn’t perfectly level, but honestly the slight rake isn’t noticeable like before and I’m not going kill myself. 
 

The companies selling these spacers without correct UCA’s are doing their customers a disservice and are likely putting people in danger. I get the people installing them should know better and a lot of customers don’t know or don’t care, but it’s really not worth potentially trashing a $60k truck and almost killing someone over it. 

[rikhek]

3 hours ago, Wormydog1724 said:

My father-in-law’s ‘19 AT4 UCA joint sheared two weeks ago. Around 35k miles with a 2” level bottom spacer. It let loose at 75mph and sent him into the ditch, nearly caused him to roll. 
 

When he told me it snapped I started asking questions: stock UCA’s, 33” Nitto tires, and he finally tells me 2” spacer installed by a local shop. He farms out of his AT4 so it’s seen some rough ass roads and off road use, hauling a big ass Polaris fourwheeler. I figured it was just him being rough on it, he’s been known to treat his vehicles like ******. But the 2” level and stock UCA was the real culprit. He didn’t like the factory rake so that’s the reason for the level initially. 
 

Three weeks ago I installed Cognito UCA’s and Bilstein 5100’s on my ‘21 AT4 and he thought I was silly for doing that to a brand new month old truck. Now he’s asking where he can buy them. I suggested he throw the ****ing spacer away and do it right this time. Mine isn’t perfectly level, but honestly the slight rake isn’t noticeable like before and I’m not going kill myself. 
 

The companies selling these spacers without correct UCA’s are doing their customers a disservice and are likely putting people in danger. I get the people installing them should know better and a lot of customers don’t know or don’t care, but it’s really not worth potentially trashing a $60k truck and almost killing someone over it. 

His major problem was installing an under the shock spacer.  ALL companies selling the 2" under shock spacer warn very clearly they are not to be used on the AT4 or TB.  This is why companies such as Rough Country sell a specific leveling kit to be used ONLY on the AT4 and TB.

[RPaul]

On 4/5/2021 at 1:48 PM, rikhek said:

His major problem was installing an under the shock spacer.  ALL companies selling the 2" under shock spacer warn very clearly they are not to be used on the AT4 or TB.  This is why companies such as Rough Country sell a specific leveling kit to be used ONLY on the AT4 and TB.

Curious why that may be?

 

 

[Dunn]

under spacers were rubbing the boots  causing CV issues and a problem in 4WD, .....either a top or bottom that puts the arm past its limit will have problems.....RC is no different... regardless of brand spacers rarely break if ever, its what it does to other componets if its past their limit, plain and simple....all the metal pucks are the same

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EZ Money]

On 3/30/2021 at 5:37 AM, RPaul said:

serious question, I had a level on previous truck for years with no UCA issues. 

 

How common are UCA issues with a spacer level? The posters above mention how common issues are but I dont really see it.

 

 

On the TB and AT4 they already have a 2" lift, effectively making the lift (with level) 3"-4".  At that you really do need a UCA replacement.  If you have a std. height Silverado, a 1"-2" level should be fine with the stock UCAs.

 

[WhiteLTZ01]

The other thing to consider is all the older trucks had the alignment cams on the UCAs so if you had an alignment done, the bushings were being relaxed. T1 trucks have the alignment cams on the LCA (which I much prefer). Maybe GM has an extremely soft bushing as well which tears easily. Lots of factors can go into a failure.

When my At4 shows up, UCAs are going on with whatever suspension I end up going with.

 

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[Nitrousbird]

Why does everyone assume you have to lift the front to level a truck?  You can also lower the rear...