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Alignment issue/adjustable upper control arms?

2021Ranger

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2021 ranger FX4, I installed a leveling kit and also replaced the rear springs with icons. I also installed icon upper control arms.
I droped it off for an alignment and they were able it get the camber in the green but as you guys know it’s going to ware the tirs on the outside edge and the caster is not in spec and it seems to wander on the highway.
They told me it’s the best they could do.
So my question is before I invest a $1000 + in a set adjustable upper arms has anyone else had to do this? And what one did you go with?
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Msfitoy

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How much front lift are you at? I leveled mine to 2.5" and have been aligned without UCA...
 
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2021Ranger

2021Ranger

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I did this about a year ago and fairly sure it was a 2’‘ spacer..
Do you have the alignment sheet on your truck?
 

Msfitoy

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I did this about a year ago and fairly sure it was a 2’‘ spacer..
Do you have the alignment sheet on your truck?
I'll look for it...
 

ScarzRanger21

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Before I lifted mine, I had a leveling kit with 32” tires and stock UCA’s. Never had a problem with alignment. Sounds like the guys at that shop need some practice… When I put a leveling kit on the wife’s Ranger, I had some extra UCA’s laying around (manufacturer sent me 2 sets with my lift kit) so I installed them.

Probably wasn’t necessary but I figured I might as well since I had the front suspension taken apart anyway. All it did was give the ball joints some room to move so they weren’t almost maxed out. A leveling kit shouldn’t really mess with your alignment though. When you start going higher than 2.5” is when you really need to change UCA’s.

Did you take your truck to some hole in the wall shop or is it a place that actually knows how to do alignments on trucks? Wondering if you got the new guy or something lol
 


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2021Ranger

2021Ranger

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Seems to be a decent shop, but I’m going to try and talk to the shop that works on my BMW’s to see if he will put it on his alignment rack. He does not like to work on anything but BMW.Audi and MB..
‘There are just eccentrics on the lower arms so it can’t be that hard, so those that know, what is adjusted first? Adjusting caster will change camber some I’m thinking so there s got to be a happy medium between them.
 

DukeCanBuildit

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I think it’s the shop, not the level kit.

When I had 2-1/2” spacers, the alignment was performed within spec by the Ford dealership .

When I switched to Fox coilovers set at 2”, the alignment was performed within spec by the Ford dealership.

I recently had a road force balance and alignment and it was performed within spec by Tirecraft, a tire specialty shop.

I’ve put 80,000 kms on the truck since first levelling it and the tire wear is even.
 

hookem57

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2021 ranger FX4, I installed a leveling kit and also replaced the rear springs with icons. I also installed icon upper control arms.
I droped it off for an alignment and they were able it get the camber in the green but as you guys know it’s going to ware the tirs on the outside edge and the caster is not in spec and it seems to wander on the highway.
They told me it’s the best they could do.
So my question is before I invest a $1000 + in a set adjustable upper arms has anyone else had to do this? And what one did you go with?
70259229800__F640F40A-5AE3-415B-A79C-ED86AB03775A.webp
I put Eibach Pro2's on my Tremor and UPC uppers which are adjustable. Alignment guy loves it. Said it makes it easy.
 

ScarzRanger21

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The only thing I can think is either the guy who did the alignment doesn’t know what he’s doing OR the control arms are wrong for the leveling kit you installed. Manufacturer could’ve sent the wrong parts? It happens…

Had that issue myself when I lifted mine. It ultimately lead to misalignment and premature ball joint failure. Even then, the shop never noticed the alignment being off. I only realized something was wrong when the tires started to wear unevenly on the insides, quite a while after installing the lift kit.

The only way to really tell is to compare the angle of the new UCA’s with the original stock parts. If it doesn’t match or isn’t close to being the same, you might have the wrong UCA’s on your truck. I only say this because I’ve been there and done it lol I doubt this is the case but worth mentioning if it saves you a headache.
 

fusseli

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Caster is not adjustable, I thought, on 5th gen Rangers.

I have Icon Stage 6 (2.5" level, UCAs, leaf springs) and my alignment was all in the green except 1 slightly red on one caster. I think my shop got the camber slightly better than yours. My camber was not as good before the Icon UCAs.

I think you're good to go.
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