The Master UPPER control arm thread
11-13-13, 04:27 PM
#16
I have a set of Moog UCAs on my 92 and they installed just fine. Mine were made in Canada, but I don't know if the 95+ ones are made in Canada. I also have a set of sway bar links on the front from Moog and those were made in Japan. The price for the OEM UCAs is just too insanely expensive. Not spending $1,200 on two parts when the car cost $1,800.
11-13-13, 06:37 PM
#17
Lexus Champion
I have a set of Moog UCAs on my 92 and they installed just fine. Mine were made in Canada, but I don't know if the 95+ ones are made in Canada. I also have a set of sway bar links on the front from Moog and those were made in Japan. The price for the OEM UCAs is just too insanely expensive. Not spending $1,200 on two parts when the car cost $1,800.
What other parts were changed out?
11-17-13, 01:16 PM
#21
(I also swapped out my front LBJs, inner and outer tierods, front swaybar links and bushings, rear swaybar links and bushing, rear carrier bushings, installed a LED flood light under the rear bumper aimed at the curb as not to damage my wheels when parallel-parking at night....)
Alignment is all out to lunch right now, I took too long getting the car back together to make my original appointment, so i'm booked in this upcoming friday to get the strut rod bushings and alignmnet done. The car drives great, despite the incorrect alignment and should be outstanding to drive once dialled in. However i'm going with a more aggressive alignment and aiming for toe in spec, with -3.5º F and -4.5º rear of camber.
Last edited by Shmee; 11-17-13 at 08:20 PM. Reason: cowboy was confused, bolded the changes....
11-17-13, 08:03 PM
#22
Where could I find a complete set of original alignment specs for a 1991? Once all the parts have arrived and we have had the chance to install them my car will get a thorough four wheel alignment done.
11-17-13, 08:18 PM
#23
If you are having a shop do the alignment, they will have all the specs on the machine they use.
If you plan to do this in the garage, there are a bunch of special tools you will need in order to obtain an accurate alignment; toe plates, camber/caster gauge, string system, slider plates and stands. Such tools will cost you a couple hundred to build, or $1000+ to buy...
If you plan to do this in the garage, there are a bunch of special tools you will need in order to obtain an accurate alignment; toe plates, camber/caster gauge, string system, slider plates and stands. Such tools will cost you a couple hundred to build, or $1000+ to buy...
11-17-13, 08:26 PM
#24
It will be a job for this one particular specialized alignment shop I'm using. He does have "The Big Book" but I usually try to find the factory numbers just in case. Quite often my cars are old enough not to be listed in his book.
11-17-13, 09:48 PM
#25
Forum Administrator
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LSCcowboyLS, please exit this thread and I'll also ask you to stop replying to Shmee's threads in the future (several posts removed)
Please add him to your ignore list https://www.clublexus.com/forums/pro...?do=ignorelist
Please add him to your ignore list https://www.clublexus.com/forums/pro...?do=ignorelist
11-18-13, 11:09 AM
#26
Cool keep us posted on what it aligns out to be. As bushings wear, the readings bounce all over when they snug it up. A good tech will tell the owner it cannot be aligned correctly but I have come across shops that don't care.
Dad's Corolla is one example, he's come up a few curbs and taken some pot hole hits. He's had it aligned and when he shows me the sheet, I'm
. The right rear is so far out even the print out is obvious. But they collect the money and send him on his way. 
Dad's Corolla is one example, he's come up a few curbs and taken some pot hole hits. He's had it aligned and when he shows me the sheet, I'm
. The right rear is so far out even the print out is obvious. But they collect the money and send him on his way.
11-18-13, 11:38 AM
#27
Yeah, I spent about 4 years doing alignments on the multitude of track cars that came through our shop and our own race cars, so I sort of know my way around alignments. 
Moving to a new city kills my ability to do them myself though, so I'll be taking it to the dealer and having a nice long talk with the alignment guy there.
I'm of the mind that "if it's not tight, it's not right" and you'll never get an accurate alignment. Part of the reason why i replaced pretty much everything. I don't plan to replace the FLCA bushings until I go air. The rear, other than the carrier bushings because they were completely broken, isn't being touched because I'm planning on buying some Megan arms(Battle versions rod ends won't last 2 years around here) this winter which replace pretty much every wearable bushing in the rear. The RUCA's and anything left will get done with everything else when I go air.
I'll be sure to post the alignment once it's done.
Moving to a new city kills my ability to do them myself though, so I'll be taking it to the dealer and having a nice long talk with the alignment guy there.I'm of the mind that "if it's not tight, it's not right" and you'll never get an accurate alignment. Part of the reason why i replaced pretty much everything. I don't plan to replace the FLCA bushings until I go air. The rear, other than the carrier bushings because they were completely broken, isn't being touched because I'm planning on buying some Megan arms(Battle versions rod ends won't last 2 years around here) this winter which replace pretty much every wearable bushing in the rear. The RUCA's and anything left will get done with everything else when I go air.
I'll be sure to post the alignment once it's done.
12-05-13, 10:28 AM
#28
I finally got in for my alignment. First couple shops couldn't get my car on the house because of how low it is. My schedule hasn't been very flexible at this time of year either. So because RA40 wanted to see the alignment, here it is: click here
Keep in mind I specified the camber settings to where they are and the caster is out due to those camber settings and how low the car is....
Keep in mind I specified the camber settings to where they are and the caster is out due to those camber settings and how low the car is....
I check them every time the car is in the air.
12-07-13, 10:22 AM
#30
Driver
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Finn - I've the factory manual for the 1990 LS, I don't believe anything changed for 1991. I can look up the factory specs for you, but they're different for air suspension versus standard suspension. Which is yours?