RUCA Installation

(Taken from NICO forums)

by Vipersrt10

Overview:

The ability to adjust your camber correctly after installing aftermarket suspension components is integral to an effective suspension setup.

Difficulty: ***

Time: 1-3 hours

Cost: $250-$300

Tools:

- 2 Ratchets
- 2 19mm sockets
- 1 17mm socket
- 1 19mm wrench
- 1 or 2 pipes for breaking bolts lose.

Materials:

- set of RUCAs
- 1 can of PB Blaster

Procedure:

*note* I'm sure that most of you already know this, but just in case. Always be sure to tighten or loosen a bolt by the nut and not the head. I have broken many bolts by turning the wrong end and it is a major pain. *note*

Here are the new control arms:





Here is where the rear upper control arm is:





Here is the bolt that connects the RUCA to the sub-frame. Be sure to note where how the bolt is positioned because it is an adjustment bolt. That way you can put it back in the same position when you bolt up the new RUCA.



Here is the bolt that connects the RUCA to the knuckle:



Always a good decision:



Since these bolts were fairly weathered I used a pipe for leverage to break them loose...







Here is where the bottom of the strut attaches to the knuckle, you will want to take off this bolt and detach the strut from the knuckle.



Now when you have the strut off the knuckle and the RUCA un-bolted, you can slide the RUCA out.

Here is the SPL RUCA compared to the stock RUCA:



Now you want to adjust the SPL RUCA to the same length as the stock RUCA.

****Be sure to have the same amount of thread on each side of the bolts so it can be adjustable****



Now slide the new SPL RUCA in and bolt it down being sure to put the back bolt in the same way it was before.

Torque the back bolt to around 60 ft-lbs and the front bolt to about 65 ft-lbs.

Now bolt the bottom of the strut back onto the knuckle and torque it to 80 ft-lbs.



Lather, rinse, repeat for the other side.

When you are all done hop in and go get it aligned!