Setting up our Adjustable Height Rod Ends and Uniball Joints

IFS is an integrated system that is meant to work together in harmony. That harmony is achieved by carefully calculating the arc radius of íts components so they are matched together to achieve íts great handling performance optimized for a NARROW operating range of heights and angles.

Because each of those arms (UCA, LCA and tie rods) have a different length, each one of the them is engineered to work on a carefully calculated arc radius to achieve certain spindle, thus front wheel, angles at different heights.

So, what happens when you lift your IFS system??

You are basically changing the starting angle of íts individual components, forcing them to operate closer to the outside limit of their design range of operation. This manifests itself in bump steering and weird handling behaviour.

When this happens, all what is needed is very small fine tuning of the height of the bearings of both UCA and rod end, to make the IFS operate back within íts optimal design range.

This is usually in the millimeter range of adjustment. That is all you need to bring the angles of the tie rod and UCA closer to OEM specifications.

So, what happens if you lift the bearings too much??

Arc radii will be very different from optimal and IFS components start impeding one another. In extreme cases, attachement studs can break.

That is why we strongly recommend to make height changes in small increments (typically 5mm at a time), then immediately perform a front end wheel alignment.

It is best to measure angles of UCA and tie rods at OEM height before any lifting. Those angles will be your target angles as you change the height of the bearings.