Author Topic: Hotchkiss UCAs (Read 3436 times)

73EStroker · « **on:** June 08, 2012 - 10:24:41 PM »

So after owning these arms for two years I installed them last weekend. The installation was fairly easy. Placing the spacers in between the HEIMs and the original top brackets were a little hassle but some patience pays off here. I ground a point on to a 1/2" bolt to act as a guide to line up the spacers and HEIM buttons. The alignment guy cursed the method of adjustment as the left wheel took about 20 minutes but the right wheel took about 1-1/2 hours of assembling, checking, disassembling and so on. We finally got it at 3/4�Neg Camber, 4� of positive caster and 1/8" toe in. Now this thing feels like a modern car. Turn in to the corners is more even without having to take some lock out halfway thru a corner. Steering wants to center itself even in the corner. Generally feels like it is not a fight to steer it now and no noticeable bumpsteer.

Problem was we drove the car 300 miles from BC to Calgary on Sunday. Noticed a suspension creaking sound when the left side suspension was moving very little. Talking to Hotchkiss today they say that the HEIMs are not teflon but are steel to steel!!!!!! I said WTF. They suggested I use the rubber sealing boots and place grease in there to prevent the noisy HEIMs. I asked them why they sold me an $800 set of arms without supplying those boots which I would have installed the first time. I think Brads70 used those rubber boots at the first install. Now I will trailer the car back to my hoist in BC and disassemble once again to install the grease boots. Not happy!! Hotchkiss are you reading this or do you care? Hopefully I don't lose the alignment settings as the rear HEIM is/can still be adjusted some using the concentric factory bolt and that has to come right out to install these boots. Just want others, contemplating using the HK UCAs to make sure they have the grease boots installed on the first install.

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2012 - 12:07:05 AM »

virtually every Heim joint I have used in 4 links ladderbars & other steering & suspension applications is steel on steel

mellowguy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2012 - 11:48:31 AM »

73estroker- Thank you for this posting! There is something about being noise free and ease of alignment. Expensive, tough to align, and noisy, WOW! I was looking at the Hotchkis UCA but considering, the Firm Feel, RMS, or Magnum Force upper A arms are looking better and better.

73EStroker · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2012 - 12:12:21 PM »

Mellowguy - the Hotchkiss units are the only one that lower the front pivot point which corrects the caster on suspension travel. In that regard they are superior. Only thing is that one has to install those boots on the HEIMs before installing. And in fact, if I had to repeat the process, I would install greasable HEIMs there and install the boots on the inital installation It is just sad to pay good money and not get the complete kit.

Road_Runner · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2012 - 02:42:56 AM »

Just so I'm clear, are you saying the rubber boots shoot have been included initially or are optional and Hotchkis supplies them if you pay extra or complain about the noise? Like a lot of others here, I'm looking seriously at these upper control arms and some other Hotchkis pieces to complete my suspension. But I don't want something that sounds like its coming apart every time I go over a bump. Thanks for sharing this.

Later, Jim

mellowguy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 10, 2012 - 12:44:27 PM »

73 Stroker- Again thank you for sharing your experience. Excuse my ignorance but a few questions. Do the heim joints that come with the kit have greaseable fittings? Or is this something that you will have to buy in addition to the boots? Or what they suggested is get some boots, throw some grease in, and that was their fix for that issue?

brads70 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2012 - 06:28:12 PM »

Ya I used seals on mine right off the bat. No clicking with well over a year of driving. The best deal for the street is teflon lined rod ends they don't click.
Are you positive its the rod ends clicking? I ask as I have poly LCA bushings but used Firm Feels greaseable pins, and have never had a problem with noise? Also check that the shock rubbers are centered and the shaft is not rubbing on the shock tower? What did you use for strut rods?

http://www.sealsit.com/rodend.asp

mellowguy · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2012 - 12:14:01 PM »

This has been a very, very, good post. I realize that the Hotchkis UCA are a unique product that corrects steering geometry on our Mopars like no other product out there. But with not dealing with a noise problem by including different grease-able heim joints or teflon lined rod ends and the pain in derrier of the alignment method, respectfully MOST customers don't want to deal with either of these issues. If you want a product for the track, sure great, easy choice. If you want this product for the street make the ALIGNMENT EASIER and USER FRIENDLY and include a quiet grease-able heim joint or teflon lined rod ends. The corrected steering geometry DOES NOT make up for the before mentioned issues. Some people here will disagree with me but the way this product is now most people, including me, knowing of the before mentioned issues, won't buy this product!

73EStroker · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2012 - 08:51:11 PM »

OK I will try and address all the posters queries here:
1. Hotchkiss are suggesting that I use the rubber grease boots like Brad said he used on his.
2. No they do not include them with the kit. I think they should for twice the price of say FFI arms.
3. No. The HEIMs are not greasable. Teflon lined ones like Brad usggested would be the best way to go IMO.
4. I have poly bushings throughout and have run them for 3 years with no noise ( Iused the silicon grease). After driving one trip at 300 miles she makes these noises. They are not the typical poly "squeak". I have yet to get it back on my hoist and take a look but will provide feedback once I find the culprit.
5. The HEIMs that Hotchkiss supply are strong but they are steel on steel - go figure - would you guys put new ball joints in and not grease them? I find this out once I did the trip and talk to Hotchkiss. Apparently greasable ones are weaker on the side that the nipple goes in - makes sense!
6. The noise is really noticeable at slower speeds like going around a rough parking lot.
7. These arms are well made, well designed but have that small weak link where we cannot lube it. They sure make the car steer straight even today at a 120mph burst.
8. One other thing to ponder for those contemplating a complete tubular kit for the front - is there any kits out there that do not use HEIMS. Yes I like the look of Firm Feels UCAs with the stock type bushing but they do not correct the progressive caster issue but really, how important is that?
......more to come when I dissect the suspension

73EStroker · « **Reply #9 on:** June 29, 2012 - 10:18:57 AM »

Brad - I have the stock strut rods. Will buy some FF adjustable ones and install. Maybe I will get ambitious and get some greasable LCA pins as well.

brads70 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2012 - 05:51:37 PM »

Quote from: 73EStroker on June 29, 2012 - 10:18:57 AM

Brad - I have the stock strut rods. Will buy some FF adjustable ones and install. Maybe I will get ambitious and get some greasable LCA pins as well.

You can get poly bushings that screw on like rod ends. They are popular with the street rod crowd.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Stainless-Steel-4-Bar-Rod-Ends-5-8-18-RH-Thread,37752.html

If you do get greaseable LCA pins find someone with a lathe and machine the grease groove all the way around. Might take 5 minutes tops. Or maybe if you can't find a lather use a thin cut off wheel and a drill press?

73EStroker · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2012 - 07:38:46 PM »

Thanks for the tip Brad. Will think of those and try them if the rubber boots do not work.

Author Topic: Hotchkiss UCAs (Read 3436 times)

73EStroker

Hotchkiss UCAs

Chryco Psycho

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

mellowguy

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

73EStroker

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

Road_Runner

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

mellowguy

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

brads70

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

mellowguy

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

73EStroker

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

73EStroker

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

brads70

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs

73EStroker

Re: Hotchkiss UCAs