adjustable LCA or UCA
5th Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,179
From: College Station, TX
Be careful about assuming the arc on the relo brackets will keep it in alignment. Those have to welded on, so if you get an absolutely perfect weld, you still have to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. I wouldn't really be trusting that the brackets are aligned perfectly straight.
Thread Starter
1st Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 76
From: Oklahoma
If you get LCA relocation brackets, changing the angle of the LCA's will slightly alter the length they need to be to keep the same pinion angle. For instance, there different angles of the LCA's are better for different applications (think road course vs. drag trip) and if you want to kep everything aligned correctly the pinion angle must be altered very slightly. Honestly, unless you're the one doing the alignments, you won't gain anything from having the LCA's be adjustable. If you're like 99% of owners, you'll just have a shop do all of your alignments, so the ease of adjusting won't matter. If you can afford it, my favorite setup is Steeda's billet LCA's (non-adjustable, but the bushings are maintenance free) with the Steeda Competion UCA (adjustable). Those are higher end pieces, though and I don't plan on installing a UCA until after I'm already lowered, so I got adjustable LCA's to make sure I could adjust my pinion angle until then.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,635
From: state of confusion
Best I could find for numbers
The main section numbers 1 and 2 should read 5 and 6 (copy/paste copied the paragraph formatting but not the numbers themselves).
Norm
The main section numbers 1 and 2 should read 5 and 6 (copy/paste copied the paragraph formatting but not the numbers themselves).
Calculate the difference in the slope of the components to determine the U-joint operating angle.
- The U-joint operating angle is the angle formed by 2 yokes connected by a cross and bearing kit. Ideally, the operating angles on each connection of the driveshaft must:
- be equal or within 1 degree of each other.
- have a 3 degree maximum operating angle.
- have at least 1/2 of 1 degree continuous operating angle.
- If the angle is not within specifications, repair or adjust to obtain the correct angle. Inspect the engine mounts, transmission mounts, center support bearing mounting, rear suspension, rear axle, rear axle mounting or the frame for wear or damage.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,936
If you get LCA relocation brackets, changing the angle of the LCA's will slightly alter the length they need to be to keep the same pinion angle. For instance, there different angles of the LCA's are better for different applications (think road course vs. drag trip) and if you want to kep everything aligned correctly the pinion angle must be altered very slightly.
The Steeda's are my choie for LCA brackets *IF* you need them because they offer you more positions to set them. That said I certainly don't feel that every car needs them and in fact I rarely use them myself.
As for the original question: I'd do adjustable lowers for a number of reasons.
1. You can correct any axle mis-alignment issues you may have.
2. The preferred style of Adjustable LCA's I use eliminates binding from all poly bushings.
3. Pinion angle does not effectively change much when lowering, if it did and was a problem then everyone would have funny vibrations when they drop a car, but yet nobody does.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,692
From: Ontario, Canada
Best I could find for numbers
The main section numbers 1 and 2 should read 5 and 6 (copy/paste copied the paragraph formatting but not the numbers themselves).
Calculate the difference in the slope of the components to determine the U-joint operating angle.
The U-joint operating angle is the angle formed by 2 yokes connected by a cross and bearing kit. Ideally, the operating angles on each connection of the driveshaft must:
be equal or within 1 degree of each other.
have a 3 degree maximum operating angle.
have at least 1/2 of 1 degree continuous operating angle.
If the angle is not within specifications, repair or adjust to obtain the correct angle. Inspect the engine mounts, transmission mounts, center support bearing mounting, rear suspension, rear axle, rear axle mounting or the frame for wear or damage.
Norm
The main section numbers 1 and 2 should read 5 and 6 (copy/paste copied the paragraph formatting but not the numbers themselves).
Calculate the difference in the slope of the components to determine the U-joint operating angle.
The U-joint operating angle is the angle formed by 2 yokes connected by a cross and bearing kit. Ideally, the operating angles on each connection of the driveshaft must:
be equal or within 1 degree of each other.
have a 3 degree maximum operating angle.
have at least 1/2 of 1 degree continuous operating angle.
If the angle is not within specifications, repair or adjust to obtain the correct angle. Inspect the engine mounts, transmission mounts, center support bearing mounting, rear suspension, rear axle, rear axle mounting or the frame for wear or damage.
Norm
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
