Got the new UCA bolted in place with the 2 body mounts but I can't get the rear axle and the ball joint bracket to align. The axle needs to come back like 1/2" to an inch. How do I get them together again?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Can't get rear UCA bracket to align with the axle
- Thread starter HoosierJeeper
- Start date
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duderz7
Full Access Member
A jack under the diff to rotate it backward may do the trick
uss2defiant
Full Access Member
this YT vid might help you
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renegade 04
Full Access Member
I usually use a jack under the front of the differential and then a ratchet strap on each side of the control arm to help it align.
Most of the things I have seen this guy do is funny as all get out, bet it takes him 27 steps to take a quarter out of his pocket.
So much easier to remove the whole bracket
on the workbench then you can get the pinch bolt out easily, install the new one ( tri-link)
Install two front bolts and roll the top of the diff into place to align the 3 bolts in the diff
Royy
Full Access Member
I found the easiest way (for me at least) is to use ramps, and not jack anything up. Simply drive the rear wheels onto the ramps. It gives you plenty of space to work, and has the added benefit of pushing the suspension and rear axle up, removing the pressure on the tri-link. Makes it really easy to get everything back into place, don't even need to use ratchet straps to pull the tri-link down.
Got it, I put a block of wood under the pinion side of the diff and jacked it up there, lined up and bolts in 30 seconds later. Easy!
Is it possible to get a blem rear UCA? Replacing a factory one and it seams 3/8-1/2 short of the 2 upper bolt holes lining up. It is being lifted but even without the ball joint connected to the diff the two upper holes do not match up as if the unit is short.
sleazy rider
Retired moto tech and gearhead
Match it up with the old UCA to verify bolt holes are correct.
DadOSix
Full Access Member
Sounds like you mounted the ball joint part first. What I usually do is mount the right side, then the left, then look at the ball joint and see if I need to jack up the front of the diff or pull is down a bit.
Note that I do not drop shocks et al. Just pull up on ramps and I work it that way. Stock jeep - not lifted. I can release the UCA and drop it out the left side in front of the rear wheel that way.
From what I read on yours, if you think the holes are too far back, you need to pull the front of the differential down to rotate and shift the holes forward.
Hope this makes some sense
Note that I do not drop shocks et al. Just pull up on ramps and I work it that way. Stock jeep - not lifted. I can release the UCA and drop it out the left side in front of the rear wheel that way.
From what I read on yours, if you think the holes are too far back, you need to pull the front of the differential down to rotate and shift the holes forward.
Hope this makes some sense
nOT A BLEM lol
jUST NEED TO ROTATE THE DIFF TO ALIGN EVERYTHING
So I started with the diff/ball joint point installed then went to the front 2 bolts rotating the diff with no luck only getting one in. After the diff and only one bolt In I removed the ball joint and tried to just install the other bolt first and side to side the holes are not matching up. With one side bolted in I even tried ratchet straps to align the second bolt with not luck. I’ll pull it out and compare the old. Just ***** I had the bolt over the muffler installed the ball joint/diff installed and couldn’t get the second bolt the easy location to line up.
Take a break and start over again
Two front bolts
then ball joint
I assume here that you are tryng to do it with the bracket still on the rear diff
I always remove the sway bar and throw it in the junk pile
Then remove the bracket, mount the ball joint in bracket
then whole bracket into the rear diff
For me its much easier this way and you can use a jack to rotate the diff to the right location
Two front bolts
then ball joint
I assume here that you are tryng to do it with the bracket still on the rear diff
I always remove the sway bar and throw it in the junk pile
Then remove the bracket, mount the ball joint in bracket
then whole bracket into the rear diff
For me its much easier this way and you can use a jack to rotate the diff to the right location
Got it… with some extra hands and loosing the first bolt up I was able to then pry and ratchet strap pull plus raise and lower the ball joint side to just get the second bolt hammered in and to line up. Turns out I had the first bolt snugged up enough the rubber wouldn’t flex. I was excited to get that muffler side bolt in to start with I didn’t want it falling out. Starting over and some help was the key.
duderz7
Full Access Member
Haha! You sounded drunk when I read that!
sOUNDED ??? LOL
Well there was a half full quart jar sitting on the desk by the laptop
