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Two piece upper control arm

inh

Explorer Addict
Joined
June 30, 2005
Messages
1,287
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City, State
Springfield(ish), MO
Year, Model & Trim Level
'00 XLS
What does it adjust? Is it really needed? Thinking I'll replace my worn out one with a Napa Chassis Part single piece model.
 



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You can adjust caster with it.
 






You can adjust caster with it.

But only on the one wheel, yea? It never made much sense to me, though I'm sure it has a real and usefull purpose..
 






single piece control arm

I replaced mine with a single piece unit because it looked stronger and weighed considerably less. However, I also replaced my camber/caster adjusters with ones having a larger adjustment range: Replacing Camber/Caster Bolts
 






Replacing entire arm with 1 piece usually requires major alignment work, if bushings are in good shape I just replace the ball joint section.
 






But only on the one wheel, yea? It never made much sense to me, though I'm sure it has a real and usefull purpose..

Let me know after this if it still makes no sense! Each wheel has "caster", independently of the other. If the caster is not equal on both wheels, regardless of the actual caster angle, the vehicle will "pull" to one side.

The adjustable arm allows caster on that side to be "dialed-in" to match the value on the other side, making the truck run nice & straight.

The difference in caster numbers is called "caster split" in the lingo of front-end guys (I prefer the rear, myself ;) ). Caster is measured as an angle one side of which is a line through the upper & lower suspension pivots, and the other is a vertical line to the ground from the upper pivot. (2 lines which meet form an angle, the point of which in this case is at the upper ball joint).

Make more sense? If not, please ask! imp
 






Let me know after this if it still makes no sense! Each wheel has "caster", independently of the other. If the caster is not equal on both wheels, regardless of the actual caster angle, the vehicle will "pull" to one side.

if there is more caster on one side than the other it will pull,


The adjustable arm allows caster on that side to be "dialed-in" to match the value on the other side, making the truck run nice & straight

the caster is narrowed down to the passenger side being just slightly ahead of the drivers side to account for road crown, that way it doesn't pull or drift to that side,
 






Makes sense, thanks guys. I was just used to seeing adjustable caster on both wheels and never heard of a single wheel adjustment used to match the other wheel. Corkey, do you still have the two piece control arm with your coilovers? I'm pretty sure gman does and he said he had enough room...
 












I have the 2 piece arm , and lots of room for the coilover with it too , ,
 






2 pc allows for a better alignment and with the aid of the moog camber washers, it can be dialed in perfect by someone that actually knows WTF there doing... LOL!

There is room with a coil over but,....I have no lift brackets, PLUS, I have 12"x2.5" coils & 12" shocks (instead of 10"), at full droop, the UCA will barely touch the coils. The limit straps are set to stop that from happening.
 






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