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Installing UCA’s

Arkangel

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Arkangel Enthusiast

Arkangel

Posted
Posted

Hey folks,

 

looking at ordering up some UCA’s, is this something I can do myself in the garage?

 

havent been able to find any DIY

 

 

aaronarf Enthusiast

aaronarf

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, Arkangel said:

Hey folks,

 

looking at ordering up some UCA’s, is this something I can do myself in the garage?

 

havent been able to find any DIY

Fairly easy install, just make sure you have all the proper size sockets etc. 

 

You will need an alignment afterwards.

4 hours ago, Arkangel said:

 

 

 

Madcow2020 Enthusiast

Madcow2020

Posted
Posted

Here was my write up when I did mine and my shocks. DONT GET THE ICONS!

Silverado with Icon 71555c GM shocks and Dirt King UCA

I'll start with the Dirt King UCA. They rock. The UCA is solid and beefy, and the alignment shop had no issues getting a good alignment on the truck set at 2.5 inches of lift. The Dirt King UCA shipped fast and arrived packaged well.

There does sound like there is a piece of slag rolling around inside the UCA, but I have not heard it from inside the cab. I wish they would of drilled and tapped a hole on top of the UCA to relocate the ABS Sensor cable. It would of been a simple enough modification. I cut the locator tabs off of the factory ABS sensor cable bracket and ziptied it to the UCA. I plan drilling and tapping the UCA when I have time.

The Icon Vehicle Dynamic 71555c shocks:
They are the 2.5 inch remote reservoir CDCV adjustable ( means you are able to soften or firm up the shocks). Install was pretty straight forward. They do not come with the directions, so I had to download them from their website. The factory lower shock mount bolts have to be used. Keep them if you put a leveling kit. I was only able to find 3 out of my original bolts but luckily I had an extra from one of my past trucks. It was a little shorter but worked.

The tricky part was setting the ride height. If you watch the video on how to set the ride height for Icons it is good and accurate, but the four turns equal half an inch is not. The hardest part about getting the ride height set was getting a good reading of the shock mount to adjuster nut.

There is a bezel on the upper mount that makes it a little difficult if you do not have perfect lighting.

My recommendation is to set the shock to the highest setting with the tires removed and a good flood light. Once set at the heights setting and a good calibrated eyeball alignment drive it for a day and check the ride height. 24.13 inches from Center Hub to the fender is what they say will give you 2.5 inches of level over factory. Then get an alignment.

Driving impressions they are 1000 times better than factory. I am still braking them in and seeing what I think. They have rally shown how poor the factory rear shocks are. If anyone want to send me a matching set for the rear I'll review and write those up too.

Oh by the way they like to say .827 inches that's 7/8 of an inch. So unless you want to use a micrometer.

MRT had awesome prices I'll be ordering some other parts from him in the future. Looks like a set of Matching rear Icons and a Dirt King rear shackle kit are in the future.


If anyone has any questions just ask, and I'll be updating as I have some more time to evaluate.

Here are my notes:
Wheel well measurements

Passenger front 40.5 inches

Driver front 40 3/8 inches.

Sway bar 15 mm socket and wrench

Ball joint 18 mm wrench
Smack with 2 1/2 lb hammer


Upper shock 18mm deep socket extension and impact

Lower shock were 17mm impact socket and a wrench. I had a 2.5 leveling kit.

Unbolt 10mm abs sensor and disconnect.

Loosen upper ball joint small with BFH to feee balljoint.

Tie spindle to frame I used a ratchet strap

Remove nut from upper ball joint

Remove factory shock.

23.5

Lower control arm measurements from chassis pivot to ball joint
Approx 21 inches
Inside approx 20.5


Shock mount to chassis 11.5

Spring 9 inches on truck
Spring 13” 3/16” off of truck

I do not recommend Icons.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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