Issues with AC UCA bushings

[NMTerras]

Has anyone with the AC UCAs experienced any issues with play in the upper control arm? After installing my new steering system, I went to get an alignment and the guy showed me I had some pretty significant play in the UCA bushings, which are relatively new --> less than a year. Since the play is the same on both sides, I'm thinking it has to be the sleeve is too big for the cam bolts. I think my next move is to order new cam bolts from AC, hopefully they fit the bushings they sell. Before I order, though, I'd like to know if anyone else has had this problem?

 

[Silver dude]

I don't have AC UCA's but my SLR ones are way to big giving me the same issue. I've thought about perhaps sleeving the inside of the bushing with some sort of material. Mine is so loose it actually bangs while turning.

Best of luck,
Ben

 

[NMTerras]

Talked to AC, and here's what I learned, hopefully of benefit to others who get/install the UCAs/3" SL: The UCAs come with urethane bushings, red and black. The instructions don't say it, but the red are meant to go on the inside, the black on the outside. I found this out after I installed them the other way around (guessed wrong). soooooo...apparently they have slightly different thicknesses, so when installed backwards you don't get flush tightening of the internal sleeve to the flange of the UCA, and thus the play in my UCAs. Supposedly, and I will test this soon when I switch them, when you have it right, the play in the joint is extinguished by tightening of the cam bolts, pinning the sleeve to the sides of the UCA tubes accepting the bushings. To be continued...but the moral of the story so far --> red inside, black outside.

^^^ sideways picture of bushings installed backwards

 

[RacerXXL]

Yeah I was gonna say check to see if the bushings are in backwards.

 

[TKDx00]

I know this is no consolation for you but, they did included instructions with the set they sent me. And they did say "red" inside, "black" outside. I put everything together the day they came just incase I lost the instructions before I installed them.

 

[Sionnach]

Man now I'm going to have to double check my SLR ones before I install them.

 

[Silver dude]

Man now I'm going to have to double check my SLR ones before I install them.

SLR's use 4 of the same bushings per side so no issue messing the order up.

 

[NMTerras]

I know this is no consolation for you but, they did included instructions with the set they sent me. And they did say "red" inside, "black" outside. I put everything together the day they came just incase I lost the instructions before I installed them.

i got instructions too, they did not include identification of color orientation. this was discussed on another site thread. im sure it was brought to their attention and added

 

[idratherbe]

I don't remember them being in the instructions either but I remembered reading about it ahead of time...... I put them in right but can you spot what I didn't do right? I didn't figure it out till I was adjusting the tb's. Oops. Talk about a set back.

 

[ChiXterra]

I got 4 red bushings, and no black bushings with my AC kit...:zomg:

 

[TKDx00]

I put them in right but can you spot what I didn't do right? I didn't figure it out till I was adjusting the tb's. Oops. Talk about a set back.

Iight, I give up...what's wrong?

 

[Cyclemut]

The picture doesn't show it well, but I'm thinking sway bar looks a little wonky? And you're missing your knuckle.

 

[The Chech]

The heck is a Sway-Bar you dont need that

 

[idratherbe]

. I gave a hint when I said I didn't notice till I was adjusting the tb's...
... I had the UCA's reversed. I guess its hard to see but look at the bumpstops.

 

[NMTerras]

So its official - reversing the bushings on the ac UCAs leads to wheel slop. I uninstalled and reinstalled correctly, and my wheel play disappeared