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King 2.5's, UCA options

corncob

By corncob
in 2014-2018 Silverado & Sierra Mods

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corncob Enthusiast

corncob

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I'm getting ready to take the plunge on a set of King 2.5 Coilovers to level my '17 (currently stock) and am hoping a few members that have these babies can shed light on a few things.

 

1) Are new UCAs definitely required when raising ~2"? I know these are recommended and I will likely do these later anyway when I go above 2", but if possible I would like to keep my stock UCAs so I don't have to sorry about whether the aftermarket UCAs will fit with my OEM wheels and having to get new wheels, too. So, is anyone running King 2.5's which stock UCAs? If so, which arms do you have? Mine are stamped steel.

 

2) What UCAs are you using/do you recommend w/ the Kings? I've read several reports of Cognitos rubbing (including spurshot with his Kings) and someone mentioned that Camburg UCAs don't work with the OEM wheels (although this might have been 18's and not 20's). Is anyone using aftermarket UCAs with stock 20's? If so, what brand?

 

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

 

And a crappy pic - because we all know pictures are more fun than blocks of text.XhkafkZ.jpg

 

 

Also, in case anyone is wondering why I'm considering dropping the cash on Kings instead of a leveling kit, I'll share my thoughts. Be warned, there are rambling thoughts ahead.

 

This will be my daily driver for a 50+ mile commute as well as a weekend adventure rig for hunting, fishing, camping, etc. It won't see anything extreme like desert running or rock crawling, but it will see it's fair share of rough dirt/gravel roads, forest service roads, and snow in New Mexico and Colorado. So I'm looking for something that will improve the performance for daily driving but also eat up the rough stuff without having to slow to a crawl. I had a leveling kit on my '09 and was never happy with it.

 

I started looking at Fox 2.0's and Bilstein 5100's. For the Fox 2.0's, I was turned off by the reports of large variations in expectations vs actual ride height based on differences in stock control arms, and the fact that Fox's response was to "crank them up/down". Which, in the 2.0's case requires access to a spring compressor or paying someone to do it. Combine that with the possibility of having to re-adjust the ride height when I get a shell/camper/cap/topper in the future started to eat away at the cost savings that the Fox 2.0's provide. For the Bilsteins, having to take the shock assembly out and have someone assemble them and then maybe having to do that again to adjust the height w/ topper also started to edge the cost northward. That's when I decided I would rather go with King/Fox/Icon 2.5's and at least know how much $$ I'm in for, rather than trying to go the cheap route and being pissed every time I have to spend more $$ to get the install right or make adjustments down the road. I'm sure there are other options, though, and I would be happy to hear any you suggest.

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Crafty34 Enthusiast

Crafty34

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I have the Kings and Cognitos on my 16 Z71. When I called Cognito they said that the stock wheels would not rub on the UCA. I was going to use my stock 18's but ended up buying 0 offset wheels and didn't have an issue. I don't think you need a new UCA with just the 2" level.

 

 

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corncob Enthusiast

corncob

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I have the Kings and Cognitos on my 16 Z71. When I called Cognito they said that the stock wheels would not rub on the UCA. I was going to use my stock 18's but ended up buying 0 offset wheels and didn't have an issue. I don't think you need a new UCA with just the 2" level.

Awesome, thanks. Have you noticed any issues with your Cognitos rubbing on the coil bucket or frame or whatever that's called, as shown in this thread, from over-travel? Spurshot mentioned in there that his Cognitos rub when installed with the Kings.

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/188300-psa-cognito-ucas-fox-20-coilovers-over-travel/page-3

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Madcow2020 Enthusiast

Madcow2020

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I ordered Dirt king UCA they came in quick. I'm still waiting on my Icons to be built and will let everyone now how those are. With 2 inches UCA are not a must. With that said if you are already in there doing the work and going to get an alignment might as well do it once. You could always run 1.5 spacers if the rims rub. Once mine are in I'll let you know about the UCA clearance with factory 20's. The data says it should be very close to clearing.

 

 

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Crafty34 Enthusiast

Crafty34

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Awesome, thanks. Have you noticed any issues with your Cognitos rubbing on the coil bucket or frame or whatever that's called, as shown in this thread, from over-travel? Spurshot mentioned in there that his Cognitos rub when installed with the Kings.

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/188300-psa-cognito-ucas-fox-20-coilovers-over-travel/page-3

I haven't noticed any issues at all, but I don't do any crazy off roading. I probably haven't come close to over travel. I thought that the contact issue was from people using the Fox 2.0 with the Cognitos. The only thing Cognito told me was to make sure the ball joint was mounted to the bottom of the control arm.

 

 

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A.J. Curtis Enthusiast

A.J. Curtis

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I haven't noticed any issues at all, but I don't do any crazy off roading. I probably haven't come close to over travel. I thought that the contact issue was from people using the Fox 2.0 with the Cognitos. The only thing Cognito told me was to make sure the ball joint was mounted to the bottom of the control arm.

 

 

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The Congnitos also rubbed with King 2.5 coilovers. http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/188300-psa-cognito-ucas-fox-20-coilovers-over-travel/?p=1822190

 

Cognito has since changed their instructions and added this to them.

" The service perch that is welded to the front upper control arm pocket must be cut out to allow room for the Cognito upper control arm and the extra down travel it is capable of. Use a cutting wheel or reciprocating saw to cut the bracket off where it is welded to the frame pocket. Use eye protection!! "

 

Cognito says to do this if you use any make/model aftermarket Coilover even @ any height setting from 0" up.

 

:thumbs:

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Sierra706 Senior Enthusiast

Sierra706

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The Congnitos also rubbed with King 2.5 coilovers. http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/188300-psa-cognito-ucas-fox-20-coilovers-over-travel/?p=1822190

 

Cognito has since changed their instructions and added this to them.

" The service perch that is welded to the front upper control arm pocket must be cut out to allow room for the Cognito upper control arm and the extra down travel it is capable of. Use a cutting wheel or reciprocating saw to cut the bracket off where it is welded to the frame pocket. Use eye protection!! "

 

Cognito says to do this if you use any make/model aftermarket Coilover even @ any height setting from 0" up.

 

:thumbs:

That covers downtravel.. the damage that was shown by the other member was because of too much uptravel.

 

 

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I haven't noticed any issues at all, but I don't do any crazy off roading. I probably haven't come close to over travel. I thought that the contact issue was from people using the Fox 2.0 with the Cognitos. The only thing Cognito told me was to make sure the ball joint was mounted to the bottom of the control arm.

 

 

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The instructions I just received said top...

 

 

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Crafty34 Enthusiast

Crafty34

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That covers downtravel.. the damage that was shown by the other member was because of too much uptravel.

 

 

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The instructions I just received said top...

 

 

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Mine did too, but after I called them they sent me this. Updated 11/16.395836fad5c2666a61be05bff1b8824c.jpg

 

 

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corncob Enthusiast

corncob

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I ordered Dirt king UCA they came in quick. I'm still waiting on my Icons to be built and will let everyone now how those are. With 2 inches UCA are not a must. With that said if you are already in there doing the work and going to get an alignment might as well do it once. You could always run 1.5 spacers if the rims rub. Once mine are in I'll let you know about the UCA clearance with factory 20's. The data says it should be very close to clearing.

 

Thanks MC. I've considered the Dirt Kings, too, so I'm curious to hear how they work with factory 20's. Are you waiting to put them on until your Icons are in?

 

 

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corncob Enthusiast

corncob

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Mine did too, but after I called them they sent me this. Updated 11/16.395836fad5c2666a61be05bff1b8824c.jpg

 

 

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It seems like mounting the ball joint to the bottom of the control arm would only put the control arm a tiny bit higher. It shouldn't make that much of a difference in height, but it sure wouldn't help limit uptravel, at least if I'm thinking about it right.

 

 

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Crafty34 Enthusiast

Crafty34

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It seems like mounting the ball joint to the bottom of the control arm would only put the control arm a tiny bit higher. It shouldn't make that much of a difference in height, but it sure wouldn't help limit uptravel, at least if I'm thinking about it right.

 

 

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I might have been given bad info. The pic I posted is for a 2500. The instructions on Cognitos website say to install from the top on a 1500. Might have to call them and find out.

 

 

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Madcow2020 Enthusiast

Madcow2020

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Thanks MC. I've considered the Dirt Kings, too, so I'm curious to hear how they work with factory 20's. Are you waiting to put them on until your Icons are in?

 

 

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Yes I plan to wait until my Icons show up. I'll write a review as soon as I get them installed.

 

I can tell you this about the Dirt Kings, they are built like a tank.

 

 

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corncob Enthusiast

corncob

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Yes I plan to wait until my Icons show up. I'll write a review as soon as I get them installed.

 

I can tell you this about the Dirt Kings, they are built like a tank.

 

 

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I'm looking forward to hearing about them, but probably won't wait for your Icons to show up before I pull the trigger on the Kings :)

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