Upper control arm advice (UCA)

[Stripes136]

I have the Eibach coilovers set to be delivered this weekend but trying to get some advice on upper control arms. Can someone explain to me what the difference between a product like this KSP would be over a $900 Icon set? I don’t do a lot of crazy offloading, but wanting to lift it 3 inches. Any advice would be appreciated

https://www.kspmotor.com/products/u...ejRapyWmTutGa6iZ6BGcdjBTVK049LFBoCmZcQAvD_BwE

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[BigMeatsBronco]

those don't have camber/caster adjusters so your stuck using the lower OEM ones, and they typically don't have enough adjustment to get all the way back to OEM geometry at 3" ride higher....

additionally the ICONS use a special sealed delta joint pro on the end that has the MOST articulation available from any ball joint.

That being said, I'm swapping to Braptor ICAs, because they are wider, longer and stronger...and WAY less $$$

 

[Stripes136]

those don't have camber/caster adjusters so your stuck using the lower OEM ones, and they typically don't have enough adjustment to get all the way back to OEM geometry at 3" ride higher....

additionally the ICONS use a special sealed delta joint pro on the end that has the MOST articulation available from any ball joint.

That being said, I'm swapping to Braptor ICAs, because they are wider, longer and stronger...and WAY less $$$

Thanks for the reply…didn’t realize the Braptor UCAs were different and would fit. Anyone have a link?

 

[F-Spot]

Thanks for the reply…didn’t realize the Braptor UCAs were different and would fit. Anyone have a link?

They will not fit your application, so don't bother considering the Braptor UCAs.

 

[5GENIDN]

Thanks for the reply…didn’t realize the Braptor UCAs were different and would fit. Anyone have a link?

Like F Spot said.... you need to understand that BMB just replaced his rear axle and it is wider to match the length of the raptor control arms he is installing. If you installed them (you would have to do upper and lower) your front end would be about 8 inches wider than the rear.

and there would be a lot more going on than just bolting them on.... New front outer axel shafts and all the brake lines and all the electronics would need to be lengthened; wheel speed sensors, abs, etc....

Answering the first question.... I went with the Icon tubular because Accutune (whom I think is one of the best in the business) felt that they had the best results in returning alignment to factory spec with those specific uppers..... Although I am not specifically going with factory spec., I am fairly close. My alignment guy (who is very good at oversized tire alignments) recommended a few tweaks that seem to be working out extremely well.

 

[87-Z28]

Although I am not specifically going with factory spec., I am fairly close. My alignment guy (who is very good at oversized tire alignments) recommended a few tweaks that seem to be working out extremely well.

Curious what tweaks you have made? Is this for pre or post portal install?

 

[5GENIDN]

Curious what tweaks you have made? Is this for pre or post portal install?

Post portal and he rolled forward on the caster ever so slightly, He also mentioned the camber but I do not recall which direction he was recommending at the time I agreed to the tweeks (prior to alignment). I will have to find the paperwork. He did say he could easily get it back to stock with the Icon uppers. This was with the portals AND King coil overs.

 

[87-Z28]

Post portal and he rolled forward on the caster ever so slightly

is there a reason for doing this with the portals? Or just years of alignment experience?

by the way the portals on your bronco are the business.

 

[5GENIDN]

is there a reason for doing this with the portals? Or just years of alignment experience?

by the way the portals on your bronco are the business.

He was totally unfamiliar with portals, It had to do with tire size and the suspension lift from the coil overs.

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

Thanks for the reply…didn’t realize the Braptor UCAs were different and would fit. Anyone have a link?

the Braptor uppers are exactly 2" wider per side....they are not quite a "bolt on mod" the mounting point is wider also...and there are numerous other changes required as well.

I ran fab tec steel Bronco UCAs for a month, the ones with uniballs...I returned them because they rubbed the tire even more than OEM, and the ride was harsh.

This is one area I don't advise skimping on, or trying some cheap off-brand stuff....the UCAs see tremendous forces during corners, and braking....with 40s, I can step on the brakes and blip the throttle and you can literally watch the OEM aluminum UCAs flex and twist under load...most of the movement is at the rubber/elastomer bushings. Quality parts here are important!!!

 

[5GENIDN]

the Braptor uppers are exactly 2" wider per side....they are not quite a "bolt on mod" the mounting point is wider also...and there are numerous other changes required as well.

I ran fab tec steel Bronco UCAs for a month, the ones with uniballs...I returned them because they rubbed the tire even more than OEM, and the ride was harsh.

This is one area I don't advise skimping on, or trying some cheap off-brand stuff....the UCAs see tremendous forces during corners, and braking....with 40s, I can step on the brakes and blip the throttle and you can literally watch the OEM aluminum UCAs flex and twist under load...most of the movement is at the rubber/elastomer bushings. Quality parts here are important!!!

Fasinating that they widened the mounting points on the Braptor... So the arms are only 2" longer.... Now that is very interesting. Are you going to have to change the Mounting points at all to get these to bolt up??? I AM SO IN TO FOLLOWING THIS. Man I am impressed with what you are doing!

Sorry when you say wide I am picturing left to right not front to rear... Maybe you are saying wide as in front to rear?

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

2' longer side to side and...the mounts are spread further apart as well...a proper fabricated "spacer" and double shear bolt supports need aadded....no biggie.

I'll post details in a week or so

 

[Shifts And Grins Fab]

I have the Eibach coilovers set to be delivered this weekend but trying to get some advice on upper control arms. Can someone explain to me what the difference between a product like this KSP would be over a $900 Icon set? I don’t do a lot of crazy offloading, but wanting to lift it 3 inches. Any advice would be appreciated

https://www.kspmotor.com/products/u...ejRapyWmTutGa6iZ6BGcdjBTVK049LFBoCmZcQAvD_BwE

Typically the billet arms are stronger than most of the fabricated arms. This isn't hard and fast rule but applies to most. The fabricated ones you listed have a factory style ball joint and will likely wear faster and won't provide as much articulation. Short of them possibly correcting some of the angles in the design, I don't see much of an advantage to that arm. We have been running our factory arms while we waited for ADS to release their billet arms. We will also make some higher quality fabricated arms as well.

The ADS arms do correct caster and camber in the design and have a standard uniball that is easily sourced for rebuilding when needed.

https://www.shiftsandgrinsfabricati...true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=8

 

[Pakman]

Typically the billet arms are stronger than most of the fabricated arms. This isn't hard and fast rule but applies to most. The fabricated ones you listed have a factory style ball joint and will likely wear faster and won't provide as much articulation. Short of them possibly correcting some of the angles in the design, I don't see much of an advantage to that arm. We have been running our factory arms while we waited for ADS to release their billet arms. We will also make some higher quality fabricated arms as well.

The ADS arms do correct caster and camber in the design and have a standard uniball that is easily sourced for rebuilding when needed.

https://www.shiftsandgrinsfabricati...true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=8

Hi would you recommend these ADS over the icon billet delta joint pro?

 

[Shifts And Grins Fab]

Hi would you recommend these ADS over the icon billet delta joint pro?

Yes. Based on what I've seen from Icon I’m not at all impressed. I am in other areas outside of Bronco and there has been a ton of issues with Icon. The materials and hardware used is hands down better with ADS.

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