Adjustable upper control arms - what's deal?

[Archialfa]

Why should I buy adjustable upper control arms instead of non-adjustable?

I'm looking at Hotchkis ($883) and RMS ($350) adjustable UCAs and QA1 ($285) non-adjustables. I'll probably go with 17" Year One Magnum wheels so caster/camber needs to be adjusted for radial tires.

Since it will be a street cruiser only, driven on local curvy roads, I need it to drive around bends w/out problems and excessive body roll. I am aware that if I go with adjustable UCAs they will probably be set up once and never touched afterwards, but do adjustables offer anything else compared to non-adjustables that I should be aware of?

[b5cuda]

I believe the main benefit is they allow you more caster.  On my '69 cuda I could not get a good alignment with stock arms. 

[Katfish]

I'd try the offset UCA bushings with stock arms.  The adjustables are overkill 99% of the time.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Offset bushings is likely all you need for arms. You'll want upgraded sway bars more than arms if curvy roads are in your future.


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[Katfish]

Rockauto has stock UCA's for $125, add the offset bushings and you're good to go

[anlauto]

Rockauto has stock UCA's for $125, add the offset bushings and you're good to go

At Rockauto that's $125 each....Tom's Classic on EBay sells the same ones for $89 PAIR 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1962-1974-Mopar-chrysler-B-and-E-body-upper-control-arms-charger-challenger/351063607641?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D44040%26meid%3Dcb507d5947e44770ba8f71790942dd17%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D262923954538%26itm%3D351063607641&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[Katfish]

Different brand, but that's an incredible deal, especially if they come with the ball joints installed like the pic shows.

[Brads70]

Different brand, but that's an incredible deal, especially if they come with the ball joints installed like the pic shows.

  Wow you would pay more than that for 2 Moog ball joints up here! 

[dodj]

If you need to replace your uca's, buy the qa1 arms. If you ucs'a are still good, buy moog offset bushings.

IMO, hotchkis make a nice product ( in their ucs's ) but charge double what it is worth.

[anlauto]

Different brand, but that's an incredible deal, especially if they come with the ball joints installed like the pic shows.

I think they're made by the same company, and yes they come completely assembled. I've probably used half a dozen or so sets now and have two three pairs in stock still. However they're usually around $100/pr.....$89 is sweet, but I don't need any more right now.

[autoxcuda]

I'd try the offset UCA bushings with stock arms.  The adjustables are overkill 99% of the time.

Exactly.

Offset bushing with stock arm will get you to 3 deg positive caster unless you have something bent or patched up wrong. And you can add spacers between LBJ and spindle to get added camber adjustment.

Watch out for poly strut rod bushings. They are thicker than stock and can work against getting a higher positive caster adjustment. You can cut 3/16" off them to get to stock thickness.

[Archialfa]

If you need to replace your uca's, buy the qa1 arms. If you ucs'a are still good, buy moog offset bushings.

IMO, hotchkis make a nice product ( in their ucs's ) but charge double what it is worth.

UCAs are bad and need to be replaced, that's why I'm trying to figure out what's the best course of action.

I can get adjustable UCAs from Reilly Motorsports for $350 while QA1 non-adjustables are $285... I guess it's worth buying adjustables for $65 more, no?

If I decide to go with RMS (https://www.reillymotorsports.com/Adjustable-Upper-Control-Arms-for-70-74-E-body.html) the only thing I don't know is whether I should get them with rod ends or bushings? (I'm not a mechanic and have no practical experience, hence the question.)

Did anyone install RMS UCAs?

I guess if Hotchkis had a bit lower price I'd go for the full TVS kit piece by piece, but I'm now turned down with the UCA price. Even with some big discount they would still be in the $500-600 range.

[HUSTLESTUFF]

I made my own.  I had Hotchkis but the older pain in butt ones.  Used their hardware and rod ends.  Had the bracket for front to move mounting point, but made extras for my other cars.  Can probably make for $200 a set including brackets ball joint and rod ends for the rest of my fleet.  I gave them a drawing back in 2012 for their new offerings at the MATS. 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I made my own.  I had Hotchkis but the older pain in butt ones.  Used their hardware and rod ends.  Had the bracket for front to move mounting point, but made extras for my other cars.  Can probably make for $200 a set including brackets ball joint and rod ends for the rest of my fleet.  I gave them a drawing back in 2012 for their new offerings at the MATS.

Nice. I have their old style and they really do suck to adjust. I wish there was a reasonable way to retrofit or trade mine in toward new.


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[Archialfa]

I made my own.  I had Hotchkis but the older pain in butt ones.  Used their hardware and rod ends.  Had the bracket for front to move mounting point, but made extras for my other cars.  Can probably make for $200 a set including brackets ball joint and rod ends for the rest of my fleet.  I gave them a drawing back in 2012 for their new offerings at the MATS.

Nice. I have their old style and they really do suck to adjust. I wish there was a reasonable way to retrofit or trade mine in toward new.


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Has anyone tried the new ones they debuted a few months ago?


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