I've read through a lot of threads on here and can't find a definite answer. I will be lifting my 07 expedition 2.5in, do I need to replace the uca's or will they be okay with this lift? If I need to replace them please recommend some and if there's anything else I should do let me know. I've only ever lifted one vehicle in my life and didn't have to worry about replacing anything else, so I want to make sure I do this right before taking everything apart.
UCA question
- Thread starter Logan97
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Expedition Dave
Full Access Members
What type of lift are you using?
If I had to guess, I'd say "yes" but this is based on if you plan on ever having your supsension at full droop.
If I had to guess, I'd say "yes" but this is based on if you plan on ever having your supsension at full droop.
Frank Wilson
Full Access Members
You will be fine going 3" front, 2" rear. Over 60k on my UCAs.
These aren't Baja Racers and will never be boulder crawlers, so "droop (or drop depending on what youtube vijayos you watch ) " is irrelevant.
These aren't Baja Racers and will never be boulder crawlers, so "droop (or drop depending on what youtube vijayos you watch ) " is irrelevant.
Just the rough country 2.5in lift
I only use this thing on some dirt roads, desert driving, and occasionally through the woods up north, nothing crazy. Definitely would never rock crawl in this thing, be to scared to damage the underside
Expedition Dave
Full Access Members
FYSA:
By adding things like longer shocks or coil spacers, you will bottom out even sooner b/c you have already maxed almost 2/3rds of your downward travel by simply raising your vehicle.
My 2 inch shock lift bottoms out my front UCA on my spring. That means it does so FOR EVERYONE lifted past a certain point (w/o aftermarket UCAs)
I can assure you, it does not take much to lift a wheel if you go off-road (ask me how I know) unless flat/beach/gravel/sand/snow road stuff and there are no undulations or ruts and you don't drive fast over bigger bumps.
Further, if your UCA gently hits your coil--which for most people here if they droop--it will damage nothing unless somehow it gets caught and even then probably will pop out easily.
Just go into it with full knowledge.
What this guy is doing is not even remotely excessive, andi f this was our trucks (w/o aftermarket UCA) you will be hitting your coil spring at max droop (as seen here) because droop is increased with certain lifts.
www.youtube.com
By adding things like longer shocks or coil spacers, you will bottom out even sooner b/c you have already maxed almost 2/3rds of your downward travel by simply raising your vehicle.
My 2 inch shock lift bottoms out my front UCA on my spring. That means it does so FOR EVERYONE lifted past a certain point (w/o aftermarket UCAs)
I can assure you, it does not take much to lift a wheel if you go off-road (ask me how I know) unless flat/beach/gravel/sand/snow road stuff and there are no undulations or ruts and you don't drive fast over bigger bumps.
Further, if your UCA gently hits your coil--which for most people here if they droop--it will damage nothing unless somehow it gets caught and even then probably will pop out easily.
Just go into it with full knowledge.
What this guy is doing is not even remotely excessive, andi f this was our trucks (w/o aftermarket UCA) you will be hitting your coil spring at max droop (as seen here) because droop is increased with certain lifts.
2020 Ford Expedition Offroad
Finally got a chance to take the Expedition offroad, and I was quite impressed!Engine Adventures strives to explore and test the AWD and 4WD systems of all c...
www.youtube.com
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How long have the new one's lasted?
Are there any other pieces I should change out while I'm in there? Everything is stock on mine except the rear suspension I took the air bags off and put regular shocks like the front. Personally I don't trust air bag suspension unless it's on the bus I drive.FYSA:
By adding things like longer shocks or coil spacers, you will bottom out even sooner b/c you have already maxed almost 2/3rds of your downward travel by simply raising your vehicle.
My 2 inch shock lift bottoms out my front UCA on my spring. That means it does so FOR EVERYONE lifted past a certain point (w/o aftermarket UCAs)
I can assure you, it does not take much to lift a wheel if you go off-road (ask me how I know) unless flat/beach/gravel/sand/snow road stuff and there are no undulations or ruts and you don't drive fast over bigger bumps.
Further, if your UCA gently hits your coil--which for most people here if they droop--it will damage nothing unless somehow it gets caught and even then probably will pop out easily.
Just go into it with full knowledge.
What this guy is doing is not even remotely excessive, andi f this was our trucks (w/o aftermarket UCA) you will be hitting your coil spring at max droop (as seen here) because droop is increased with certain lifts.
2020 Ford Expedition Offroad
Finally got a chance to take the Expedition offroad, and I was quite impressed!Engine Adventures strives to explore and test the AWD and 4WD systems of all c...
The UCA's on freedom off road, did you buy the black or silver one's? I like the look of the black but the silver sounds like it'll be more durable based off description.
So do the lower control arms need replacing too or are they okay? No one has mentioned those.
Expedition Dave
Full Access Members
LCAs are fine. Also, UCA bear no heavy weight they are there for allignment through the suspension arc. The LCA supports the weight of the truck.
*I am no expert, and learning as much as I can about IFS and IRS as I can* NOTE THESE ARE ALL GEN4 Specs:
I believe the front suspensions "bump stops" are the strut's limitations.
And from my conversations with Bilstein Techs and ICON techs (no Ford techs) I have a "feeling" that the Gen4 zone is 1.6 inches max lift before your factory UCAs will hit the coil (Bilstein 5100s) on the droop and a max lift above that will require a new UCA (ICON 2.25 height coil overs but their shock linits too much downtravel).
Guys with 3 inches of lift and aftermarket UCAs may overstrees their front axles--but IDK about this at all--just specualtion.
If I had a garage and lift, it would be fairly easy to determine I think.
*I am no expert, and learning as much as I can about IFS and IRS as I can* NOTE THESE ARE ALL GEN4 Specs:
I believe the front suspensions "bump stops" are the strut's limitations.
And from my conversations with Bilstein Techs and ICON techs (no Ford techs) I have a "feeling" that the Gen4 zone is 1.6 inches max lift before your factory UCAs will hit the coil (Bilstein 5100s) on the droop and a max lift above that will require a new UCA (ICON 2.25 height coil overs but their shock linits too much downtravel).
Guys with 3 inches of lift and aftermarket UCAs may overstrees their front axles--but IDK about this at all--just specualtion.
If I had a garage and lift, it would be fairly easy to determine I think.
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Frank Wilson
Full Access Members
The front drive shafts must experience increased "stress" with the 3/2 lift. Maybe just more resistance at the joints?
What about 3rd gens?
So I noticed at 2.5 inch spacers on the front, my aftermarket UCA’s would still rest on the coils when the front end was off the ground and suspension was at full droop. That being said, I haven’t heard any clunking on speed bump or with pot holes at all, and the thicker pipe construction on the UCA’s I installed seem to be less prone to hanging up in the coil.
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