JBA UCAs... do you use the alignment sheet that JBA gives you?

Just picked up some JBA UCAs... do you use the alignment sheet that JBA gives you to give to the alignment shop?

Or do you just tell the alignment shop to get it as close to 4 degrees or more if possible?

Thanks!

 

I used the JBA specs. Call around to shops that will use your specs, big box places like Firestone might or might not, depends on the location if they will do it, or stick with OEM for legal reasons.

Honestly, however, the caster is built in so OEM specs will be fine and it's not a big deal if you have to.

HOWEVER, get the report when you're done of the final settings. Places that won't make me wonder if they did it right at all.

 

A good shop will do what you ask, so long as it's within reason.

If your shop will only stay within stock specs, you can tell them to max out the stock caster (+3.9 degrees, I believe).

But your caster number really depends on what you're trying to accomplish.......like if you're trying to clear larger tires, want better road handling, ect.....

 

My alignment guy got 6 degrees of caster with my JBA's. Rubbing is the issue now but its an easy fix. My mileage is up 1.5 mpg too.

 

Some alignment shops will use the specs. you give them, mine did. When I put on the JBA's the spec was 4.4 caster. I told the shop I wanted around 4.0 when they did the align, when it was done the pass. side said 4.0 and the driver side was 3.8, it had a slight pull to the right, so I had them redo to allow for road crown, according what I've seen the driver side should be slightly more than the pass. side, ended up with 4.2 on driver side 4.4 pass. side, now it's good to go. The print out on the sheet you get may say "modified specs."

 

So is it the more caster you can get the better? Always try to get maximum or try to keep at around 4.0?

 

I'm going by what JBA is suggesting(they said per phone conversation between 3.0-4.0) After reading other accounts of alignments done on the forum, I decided to try 4.2 on the driver side and 4.4 on the pass. side. If it does not work well that way I will change it. Have never been from the "more is better" side of the table, but if recall serves me correct, I believe some are at the 5.5 degrees caster. So as my "formula" for caster is 33% mine, and is listed as a "modified specification" on the printout of the alignment, if I were you I would see what the manufacturer of the UCA's suggests and go from there. I know this subject gets beat to death on the forum, but, maybe other members could give you examples of the same UCA's and tell you what works for them.

 

We need more info from you to answer the question more accurately.

Have you done the fender liner mod?

What are your wheel/tire specs?

The reason I ask is because higher caster numbers can potentially cause rub on the front fender liner/fender flare......and wheel and tire specs have a big influence on this.

 

My shop was able to get +4 degrees out of my JBA UCAs.

 

Spec. sheet

 

Research what caster does. The best example is what you see on a shopping cart (at least that worked for me). More is not always better, the steering will feel very heavy. However, too little is much tricker, because steering will feel twitchy. I mainly felt the effect while on the highway. I'd have to really "drive" the vehicle more with too little caster, because I was constantly making small corrections to it's wandering and twitchy feel. Very tiring.

 

good info. Im going to pull the trigger for JBAs soon. Waiting on my Dobinson lift to arrive.