1st Gen. Lunch Table - General Discussion

I'll give you tree fiddy.

 

Ok, for you, sold. When you picking up?

 

Lol, I would like a set of those, but I gotta wear these Coopers down first.

 

C'mon man, just stretch those 16s to fit 17" wheels!

But seriously, sell them bastards off to pay for my shoes, then spend the extra $$ on new soles.

 

All I know is my 295/75r16s rubbed the back of the wheel wells when articulating off road, especially when articulating and turning before, when I was on the D setting. I've been running the F setting for a few years with no issues and rarely rub now. It's gotta be a hard stuff of the tires while turning to be a slight rub now.

 

That first fill up in the virus is so refreshing after being in the truck

 

I brought the truck in clocked at "D" (SPC logo parallel to tire, per SPC's reco) and I was at roughly mid-slot on the driver's side. Passenger side was slotted halfway between center and outside, like if the tire was "0" on the slot, and the coilover was 10, it was set around 7.5, while the driver side was more like a 5.

I just checked, I'm still clocked at "D", and it doesn't seem like I'm very far off from where I originally had things slotted up top. They told me they had the 'younger technician' on alignment that day, I'm thinking he didn't touch anything on the UCA at all, solely aligned using cams. It would also explain the lack of change in before/after. I think he was dialing in based on the machine more than anything.

I think I probably need to re-clock at "C" before going in, and try to re-slot the UCA near center on both, and request staying closer to 2.4-2.6 on the caster, and adjust down the camber a bit, sound about right?

 

Sounds like you had a similar experience as me. At least your caster wasn't at two different levels like mine. Crazy how hard it is to find a shop that can figure these SPC arms out. Or they just don't GAF.

 

Late night bee is the best bee

 

I bet you are correct. When I brought mine in for alignment, I made a copy of the SPC chart for the techs and they didn't even touch the UCA. Even after I explained to them that they were adjustable and I didn't know what I was doing when I installed them lol.

I rode with em the way I installed em which was basically just like yours, until I swapped my Toytecs for Kings

It's easier to clock em to center with a big level.

 

My guess is this, but full disclosure: I understand relatively little about alignments, having never used any of the machines they're using. I've only ever done "shadetree shop alignments" to get things good enough to drive w/o killing tires until I get professional alignment done. And based on 'before' numbers I've seen, I do it pretty gd well enough.

The upper pivot (i.e. UCA/UBJ for us) is typically static on most vehicles I've owned (at least), and when you go in, the technician is only expecting to work with two LCA cam/adjusters to move the wheel across X/Y/Z axis to dial things in.

SPC UCA adds two additional articulation points at the upper pivot (UBJ) to achieve those same goals: Slot milled into the arm allows flexibility for camber by sliding the joint in/out at the upper pivot point, and their clockable UBJ lets you crank the caster way the hell up and way the hell down. That's is awesome for offroad, but if you're a regular alignment dude who only ever works with the UBJ/UCA being a fixed pivot point, the basic alignment algebra you already know just became full-blown trigonometry because you can eek out caster and camber from up top or down below.

I'm going to take a wild stab here and say "something needs to be in a fixed position". Like, I'm guessing there's probably an ideal range someone familiar with these UCA would either use on (A) the cams or (B) the UCA. For me, I'm thinking if I can get the uppers to mid-slot, and clocked at "C", and with those set, let the tech know I want to caster be in the 2.4-2.6 range and camber closer to -0.2/-0.3, he can probably get me there using the lower cams.

 

This!

 

Nice. There are times it helps but usually it's the lowers on toyota/lexus vehicles that get the needed clearance.

Sounds like a plan.

Especially if the numbers they talked about were near what @empty_lord and I recommend. What you got clearly is not.

 

The way it was explained to me was you need to have them set the cams at their midpoint, then use the UCA to get close, then fine tune with the cams.

But my first experience was very similar to yours, they told me the cams were maxed out and it was 'as good as it's going to get" then I asked if they adjusted the arms and they told me no "because you installed them backwards". After driving back to the shop and showing them no I did not you can literally move them anywhere, they charged me an extra 1/2 hour because they couldn't be bothered to read the instructions I had them staple to the work order.

 

You're not the first person to tell me not to do what I did. But I didn't get this way by always listening to others. Lol
I'd still be rubbing if I hadn't done it my way. And that would make my offroading experiences much less enjoyable. I'd likely have to spend $1k on Solo UCAs to achieve the same affect. No point when I've already got the SPCs. At least until I buy 35's... Then the Solos will likely be purchased and a 1in body lift installed

 

I'm not saying, not to do what you did. I'm just saying the majority of the time it isn't necessary.

If it works, it works and screw the naysayers. With big tires and the many different setups (lift amount/height, arms, bumpers, amount of hammering and/or cuts), you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

Hey how do we feel about removing one of the tailgate cables and leaving it off to fit a deezee style tailgate assist? Is that gonna cause wonky tilted pressure over time and be a problem?

 

Depends on if anything of weight will be set on the tailgate.

If never then it doesn't matter. If yes, then it can tweak the tail gate.

 

I wouldnt wanna stand on the tailgate with a single cable. Good way to make the TG hard to open.

but theres a torsion spring some folks use.

 

Mmmm. I found this one on scamazon.

Laicarvor Tailgate Assist for Toyota Tundra XK50 2nd 2007-2021 No-Drill Lift Supports Gas Dampers Springs Full Kit 2-Year Warranty (Black, Basic Material-Steel)

https://www.amazon.com/Laicarvor-Tailgate-2007-2021-No-Drill-Material-Steel/dp/B09YNRP197?ie=UTF8&th=1

one of the reviews is from a 1st gen but he had to remove a cable. Tempting to try for $27…

 

Did you use a coupon or promo code? Think I'm going to order a set of regular duty ones. I already have air bags and rear sway bar waiting to be installed, and don't want the lift you need.

 

I tried to find a promo code, but came up short. After about 10 minutes of scouring the usual suspects for one, I decided "aww, hell ... $500 shipped for everything seems fair" and pulled the trigger.

FWIW, UPS ground was ~$137 shipped for me. Fedex Ground was ~$91. I hate FedEx, but I'm also a cheapskate on some things. Fingers crossed they arrive intact.

 

Looks like the Husky brand on Rock Auto is the same price shipped as these. Are these superior quality? If not, no rush to order

 

I also saw Dorman had the exact same part number in scAmazon's site not too long ago. I'm assuming ATS is making for multiple sources. They may be the same.

I only purchased through ATS b/c there a "known quantity", really. Others with my cab type have used the specific product, and now I know (in hindsight) could use another half-inch or so of rear lift, and Icon doesn't want me keeping my overload in to stay how high I am currently, and others have gotten as much lift as I have with Icon today and up to half an inch more ... I'm running with it. Worst case scenario, I'm getting a half-inch shim or spacer later to make up for things.

 

For some reason, this whole song is tickling my soul's badussy jusssst riiite.

https://youtu.be/x0oCLmfz3AU?si=_XyPA2pP8f8BZq5z




https://youtu.be/kDctC56xWFI?si=pjaSzCtLZCrzTema

 

How much lift did the ATS springs net?

 

Everyone around here in 1GT land (were you not one of them?) is claiming 1.5” - 2”. Mine won’t ship until next Tuesday afternoon. Should have them by next Friday I think.