[Aric Roberts]

I currently drive a 2014 Nissan Titan SV 2WD and I just got new tires put on today because two of the old ones were super unevenly worn. I also got an alignment done and they told me that the upper control arms on the front are maxed out so the front two wheels still have -1 degree of camber. They suggested purchasing a set of SPC Adjustable Upper Control Arms, but I just forked out a ton for new tires so I'm not trying to drop another 500 unless I have to. I'm not alignment savvy, but I'm curious why they can't just bring the lower control arm in to account for the maxed out upper? The lift kit is a 4 inch Rough Country Suspension lift and the tires are 33x12.5 on 18s. Anybody else had this issue and found any other alternatives? I'm not trying to wear these tires unevenly like the last ones so I want to find the fix.

 

[dubyam]

The Titan doesn't usually have adjustable UCAs, though the DK/PRG/et al heim-style arms are adjustable. The adjustment is done, as you surmise, via cam bolts in the lower control arm mount. Here's what you need, and a shop which understands how Titans are aligned to do the work.

Amazon.com: MOOG Chassis Products K80276 Cam Bolt Kit: Automotive

Buy MOOG Chassis Products K80276 Cam Bolt Kit: Cam Bolts & Parts - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Now, if you already have these, and they're adjusted all the way to one side and you still have -1deg camber, you may have to have adjustable UCAs to make up the difference. If that's the case, I'd strongly recommend you confirm your lift is properly installed and something isn't reversed to cause your issue, before you spend the money.

A quick look at the SPC arms tells me they're not what you want, anyway. they appear to be an adjustable ball joint mount, which to me seems ripe for movement and constant need for realignment. My guess is, you don't have cam bolts, or the shop doesn't understand Titans (but they are a bigtime Toyota shop, right?).

 

[ZackTitan]

The Titan doesn't usually have adjustable UCAs, though the DK/PRG/et al heim-style arms are adjustable. The adjustment is done, as you surmise, via cam bolts in the lower control arm mount. Here's what you need, and a shop which understands how Titans are aligned to do the work.

Amazon.com: MOOG Chassis Products K80276 Cam Bolt Kit: Automotive

Buy MOOG Chassis Products K80276 Cam Bolt Kit: Cam Bolts & Parts - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Now, if you already have these, and they're adjusted all the way to one side and you still have -1deg camber, you may have to have adjustable UCAs to make up the difference. If that's the case, I'd strongly recommend you confirm your lift is properly installed and something isn't reversed to cause your issue, before you spend the money.

A quick look at the SPC arms tells me they're not what you want, anyway. they appear to be an adjustable ball joint mount, which to me seems ripe for movement and constant need for realignment. My guess is, you don't have cam bolts, or the shop doesn't understand Titans (but they are a bigtime Toyota shop, right?).

Strongly agree with you man. I have a 2013 Nissan Titan SV 2wd with a 6 inch RC lift. I have the dirt king uca’s and I could probably add another 2 to 3 inches of lift if I really wanted to. I also have the moog cam bolts, but I never put them on. I wish I knew how to do that without haveing to take the suspension apart.

 

[dubyam]

Pretty easy, actually. Get your truck on level ground, wheels turned to travel dead forward. Measure the distances side to side from as far up the front inside edge to front inside edge of the tire, and back inside edge to back inside edge of the tire. Once you get that done and written down, you can jack up the truck and put it on stands. Then just remove one LCA bolt at a time (if you live in a road-salt state, you may have to use penetrating oil or a sawzall) and replace with the new cam bolt in a neutral position (bolt at the bottom or top of the circle, so to speak). Support the LCA with your floor jack or bottle jack (truck still on stands) to align the bolt holes and make removal and replacement easy. Once you get them all done, put the truck on the ground and bounce on it a little, then back out of the space and pull back in. That will settle the suspension. Then you can measure the inside edges (front and back) at the same location up the curve of the tire as before, and see what adjustments need to be made. Put the truck on the stands, adjust the cam bolt position (do both driver's bolts and then both passenger's bolts, don't just adjust one bolt at a time) until your measurements are the same as before when settled on the ground. If you want to try to adjust it to no negative camber, you can use a 2' carpenter's level (as long as your parking spot is level) to get it as close to dead vertical as possible. Then take it for an alignment and they should be able to tweak it if necessary.

 

[Aric Roberts]

The Titan doesn't usually have adjustable UCAs, though the DK/PRG/et al heim-style arms are adjustable. The adjustment is done, as you surmise, via cam bolts in the lower control arm mount. Here's what you need, and a shop which understands how Titans are aligned to do the work.

Amazon.com: MOOG Chassis Products K80276 Cam Bolt Kit: Automotive

Buy MOOG Chassis Products K80276 Cam Bolt Kit: Cam Bolts & Parts - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Now, if you already have these, and they're adjusted all the way to one side and you still have -1deg camber, you may have to have adjustable UCAs to make up the difference. If that's the case, I'd strongly recommend you confirm your lift is properly installed and something isn't reversed to cause your issue, before you spend the money.

A quick look at the SPC arms tells me they're not what you want, anyway. they appear to be an adjustable ball joint mount, which to me seems ripe for movement and constant need for realignment. My guess is, you don't have cam bolts, or the shop doesn't understand Titans (but they are a bigtime Toyota shop, right?).

You hit it right on the head man, they are a HUGE toyota shop. I live in Hawaii and everytime you blink you see another lifted tacoma or 4runner. As far as I can tell just by getting under and looking I don't think my upper control arms have cam bolts so if the ones you linked will work I'd much rather spend 22 compared to 500 bucks. Do nissan titan's not come stock with adjustable cam bolts in the upper control arms? And if not, is that why they are saying that they are "maxed out" and that I should get adjustable UPCs?

 

[Aric Roberts]

The Titan doesn't usually have adjustable UCAs, though the DK/PRG/et al heim-style arms are adjustable. The adjustment is done, as you surmise, via cam bolts in the lower control arm mount. Here's what you need, and a shop which understands how Titans are aligned to do the work.

Amazon.com: MOOG Chassis Products K80276 Cam Bolt Kit: Automotive

Buy MOOG Chassis Products K80276 Cam Bolt Kit: Cam Bolts & Parts - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Now, if you already have these, and they're adjusted all the way to one side and you still have -1deg camber, you may have to have adjustable UCAs to make up the difference. If that's the case, I'd strongly recommend you confirm your lift is properly installed and something isn't reversed to cause your issue, before you spend the money.

A quick look at the SPC arms tells me they're not what you want, anyway. they appear to be an adjustable ball joint mount, which to me seems ripe for movement and constant need for realignment. My guess is, you don't have cam bolts, or the shop doesn't understand Titans (but they are a bigtime Toyota shop, right?).

Also I looked at the link you provided, but i saw comments that those are for the lower control arms? My current lower control arms already have cam bolts, but it's my upper control arms that need to be adjusted. Would these still work?

 

[dubyam]

If your LCAs have cam bolts, adjust them to set your camber. There are no cam bolts for Titan UCAs.

If you're adjusted fully in an attempt to correct the -1deg camber, your only option is to purchase some adjustable UCAs (but I wouldn't touch those SPCs. If you need adjustable, get the Dirt King Heim Style. Their bushing/ball joint style are good arms but not adjustable. I'm doubting your adjusted all the way in on your LCAs, and that's the adjustment in the Titan to fix camber. If you are adjusted all the way in, I'd start looking at your lift, as it is likely installed incorrectly if you're having alignment troubles and are adjusted all the way in on the cam bolts in the LCA, but still have negative camber.

 

[honda250xtitan]

here's another option. youre 2wd? ditch the RC kit. Find some CST spindles and stock length coilovers/strut assemblies. 4" lift. tons of ground clearance.

can you find another shop to do the alignment? a second opinion might help

 

[Aric Roberts]

If your LCAs have cam bolts, adjust them to set your camber. There are no cam bolts for Titan UCAs.

If you're adjusted fully in an attempt to correct the -1deg camber, your only option is to purchase some adjustable UCAs (but I wouldn't touch those SPCs. If you need adjustable, get the Dirt King Heim Style. Their bushing/ball joint style are good arms but not adjustable. I'm doubting your adjusted all the way in on your LCAs, and that's the adjustment in the Titan to fix camber. If you are adjusted all the way in, I'd start looking at your lift, as it is likely installed incorrectly if you're having alignment troubles and are adjusted all the way in on the cam bolts in the LCA, but still have negative camber.

I looked at the cam bolts and one is maxed out, so they adjusted the other one to match it. I asked why it would be like this and they said it’s normal...? And I trust you on the Dirt King Heim Style I’m just looking for something that will fix the negative camber and if those aren’t adjustable like you’re saying then I feel like I’d be wasting my money. I’ve looked at the lift but nothing seems wrong to me and I didn’t put it on so I’m not sure if it was installed incorrectly. At this point the SPCs or a different lift kit seem like my only option.

 

[dubyam]

So you're saying both of your LCA cam bolts are cranked to the inside position (what would be 3 o'clock on the passenger side, and 9 o'clock on the driver's side, looking from the front of the truck toward the rear? Because if they are, and your camber is still -1deg, I'd wager $1,000 it's either incorrectly installed suspension (left is on right, right is on left, or some such) or some other broken suspension part. I've literally never heard of someone needing adjustable UCAs.

 

[Aric Roberts]

 

[Aric Roberts]

 

[Aric Roberts]

 

[Aric Roberts]

So you're saying both of your LCA cam bolts are cranked to the inside position (what would be 3 o'clock on the passenger side, and 9 o'clock on the driver's side, looking from the front of the truck toward the rear? Because if they are, and your camber is still -1deg, I'd wager $1,000 it's either incorrectly installed suspension (left is on right, right is on left, or some such) or some other broken suspension part. I've literally never heard of someone needing adjustable UCAs.

here are some pictures from the front of the truck, first pic is the front cam bolts and second pic is the second set on the front, some are maxed out and some are not which Im assuming is to adjust for toe

 

[dubyam]

No, cam bolts don't adjust toe at all. They adjust camber and caster. Toe is adjusted with the tie rods. Based on these pictures, I'm going to say your alignment shop has no idea how to align a Titan. You need to cut your losses and find a shop which has an understanding of how to align a vehicle, not just adjust the toe with the tie rods. The pics prove your shop is full of crap.

Notice the pictures show the driver's side front LCA bolt in the 6 o'clock position, and the passenger's side back LCA bolt between the 6 and 7 o'clock positions? This is not adjusted to give a neutral camber setting. It's possible to move both front tires to a more positive camber setting than they are currently set (thereby eliminating your negative camber) by adjusting these bolts properly. That will also help your caster which is a little fouled. And notice on the paper how the left front started with -.8, but ended up at -1 after they "aligned" it? And the -.8 is actually within spec? This is why I'm saying its misadjustment of your cam bolts. They actually took you out of spec with their asinine and ill-conceived adjustments.

As I think about this, one of two things is going on here. They are incompetent, or they are crooked and misaligned you on purpose to sell you an expensive set of UCAs you don't need, which will magically "fix" this when they properly align your truck. Either way, I'd never go back to that shop again. Incompetence and lying are both non-negotiable for me.

 

[Aric Roberts]

No, cam bolts don't adjust toe at all. They adjust camber and caster. Toe is adjusted with the tie rods. Based on these pictures, I'm going to say your alignment shop has no idea how to align a Titan. You need to cut your losses and find a shop which has an understanding of how to align a vehicle, not just adjust the toe with the tie rods. The pics prove your shop is full of crap.

Notice the pictures show the driver's side front LCA bolt in the 6 o'clock position, and the passenger's side back LCA bolt between the 6 and 7 o'clock positions? This is not adjusted to give a neutral camber setting. It's possible to move both front tires to a more positive camber setting than they are currently set (thereby eliminating your negative camber) by adjusting these bolts properly. That will also help your caster which is a little fouled. And notice on the paper how the left front started with -.8, but ended up at -1 after they "aligned" it? And the -.8 is actually within spec? This is why I'm saying its misadjustment of your cam bolts. They actually took you out of spec with their asinine and ill-conceived adjustments.

As I think about this, one of two things is going on here. They are incompetent, or they are crooked and misaligned you on purpose to sell you an expensive set of UCAs you don't need, which will magically "fix" this when they properly align your truck. Either way, I'd never go back to that shop again. Incompetence and lying are both non-negotiable for me.

Thanks for elaborating on that because I was also unsure of why only a few of my cam bolts were maxed out. So basically what you’re saying is that they could max out all for cam bolts (or just adjust them more) which would throw off my toe, but then they can just adjust that using the tie rods. Which tells me they are just being lazy. The previous owner also had the truck aligned a year or two ago and in the notes they also put that the cam adjustments were maxed out. I have to go back there today because my TPMS has been on since I left and I’m not trying to get charged going somewhere else. I’ll being this up to them and see what they have to say

 

[Aric Roberts]

Well I’m at the shop now and they basically fed me some more bullshit about how they had to do it like or else it would cause excessive caster and the truck would drift to one side or the other and then they tried to play off the TPMS light like it was on when I got there by adding it to the pre inspection checklist that I signed. Luckily I had a pic of my dash from that day showing that it wasn’t, but overall shady mfers and I’m not coming back here.

 

[FinalFrontier]

This is a little off topic, but I'm curious why people are so against the SPCs? That's what I run on my truck. I've never had a ball joint shift on me. Further, most shops know how to adjust SPCs. If you bring in a tubular UCA with heims on the inside, a lot of shops won't even touch them for adjustment because they'd have to completely uninstall the UCA.