RC 1.5 Leveling Kit make suspension Stiff ? Stock UCA quality even without level still crap?

[Meethead]

Morning All,

 Just picked up a 2021 Trail boss. I am looking to install the RC 1.5 Leveling Kit RC 1.5 . But I just want to make sure the Front suspension does not get super stiff. I will be adding Bilstein 5100's on all 4's as well. 

I saw someone mention that GM was doing warranty on the UCA as they were failing. Is that from when a level is installed, or they are just junk with stock components?

 

[JT2000]

8 hours ago, Meethead said:

Morning All,

 Just picked up a 2021 Trail boss. I am looking to install the RC 1.5 Leveling Kit RC 1.5 . But I just want to make sure the Front suspension does not get super stiff. I will be adding Bilstein 5100's on all 4's as well. 

I saw someone mention that GM was doing warranty on the UCA as they were failing. Is that from when a level is installed, or they are just junk with stock components?

 

I think the level for the Trailboss/AT4 is a 2” by RC and it’s not the same kit for the regular trucks. Make sure you get the right one and RC told me the UCAs are fine with the right kit and installed right.

[Amcguy1970]

A level compounds the UCA failures since you are adding additional stresses. GM isn't warranting a UCA if you have a level, if it is warrantied it is by the dealer for good faith for some reason or they missed it, GM has specific instructions looking for leveling/lift kits and making sure they aren't warrantied because they are operating out of designed parameters. 

 

Haven't heard much of UCA failures, if so it is because people are going too high or stacking kits (TB plus additional level) or adding much larger and heavier tires or big off set wheels/spacers; now there can be a rogue failure but I don't see it happening often with stock vehicles or often even with leveled trucks. 

 

Tyler

[newdude]

On 7/24/2021 at 10:55 AM, Meethead said:

Morning All,

 Just picked up a 2021 Trail boss. I am looking to install the RC 1.5 Leveling Kit RC 1.5 . But I just want to make sure the Front suspension does not get super stiff. I will be adding Bilstein 5100's on all 4's as well. 

I saw someone mention that GM was doing warranty on the UCA as they were failing. Is that from when a level is installed, or they are just junk with stock components?

 

 

 

Change the arms if you level a TB/AT4.  GM had over 200 failures of UCAs with a level installed which resulted in this authorization requirement now.  Majority if not all of them were on Trail Boss/AT4 trucks. 

 

TB/AT4 and the non factory lift trucks use the SAME upper control arms.  So a non Trail Boss truck should be able to withstand 2 inches of level and then as a factory Trail Boss/AT4 it still has the proper geometry.  Its when you go BEYOND the stock TB/AT4 it becomes a problem.

 

I'll see if I can find any of the posts/threads but there has been some on here with blown out UCAs and CV shafts that all had some sort of leveling kit installed on them.  

Edited July 26, 2021 by newdude

[newdude]

Here.  Might have to hit expand to read it all:

 

Quote

All upper control arm warranty claims are now routed through the Warranty Support Center. You will need to inspect and photograph the suspension area of vehicles that have upper control arm failures.  Look for any lift kit, leveling kit, or aftermarket suspension parts. If found, the repair is not warrantable. The owner, upfitter or installer of the kit becomes responsible for the damage.  GM has inspected parts from over 200 upper control arm ball joint failures and every one had a modification that caused the failure. The most common cause was lift or leveling kits on trucks equipped with RPO Z7X suspension, which is the Trail Boss or Sierra AT4 package. The ball joint angle on rebound is close to its limit with this suspension and any additional rebound travel will damage the ball joint. Failure is typically seen within 20,000 miles of installation of these modifications.  This is usually noted as noise from the ball joint but can lead to front suspension collapse. The concern is more likely to be seen on the right side because more road inputs like sewer drains, potholes and curbs will be on the right side.

 

Edited July 26, 2021 by newdude

[newdude]

Basically, because GM uses the same UCA as the regular truck, the 2 inch lift from the kit already puts the ball joint near its rebound limit (downward travel).  A level reduces that rebound to the point of failure.  

 

TLDR:

 

Get new UCAs to level a Trail Boss/AT4.  

Edited July 26, 2021 by newdude