BLACKHAWK BHU3841P Ultimate Adjustable Upper Control Arms Instruction Manual
- June 13, 2024
- Blackhawk
Table of Contents
ULTIMATE
NEW ADJUSTABLE
UPPER CONTROL ARM
FITTING INSTRUCTIONS
BHU3841P Ultimate Adjustable Upper Control Arms
ENGINEERED TO PERFORM
OFF ROAD READY
VEHICLE Toyota Prado 120 / Prado 150 / FJ Cruiser
PRODUCT Blackhawk ULTIMATE Adjustable Upper Control Arms
PN# BHU3841P
NOTE Ensure vehicle has a wheel alignment immediately after installation.
Failure to do so may result in poor drivability and/or uneven tyre wear
NEW NEW ULTIMATE
UPPER CONTROL ARM
IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE INSTALLATION
The H/D Ball joints fitted to Blackhawk 4×4 Ultimate UCA’s have been
manufactured in the Hard-to-Hard style and require regular greasing, PLEASE
ENSURE YOU GREASE THE BALLJOINTS PRIOR TO FITMENT & AT REGULAR SERVICE
INTERVALS DO NOT APPLY any lubricants to the threads or surfaces of the
adjuster. It is coated and designed to work with no lubricant.
TOOLS REQUIRED
- General hand tools
- Torque wrench
TOOLS SUPPLIED
- 2x Blackhawk Ultimate Spanners
- 1x 16mm ø Bushing Alignment Rod
PRE ASSEMBLED
- 1x Blackhawk Ultimate LH Upper Control Arm Forging
- 1x Blackhawk Ultimate RH Upper Control Arm Forging
- 2x Blackhawk Ultimate Elliptical Bal Joint
- 2x Turnbuckle Adjuster
- 4x Final Lock Nut LH Thread
- 4x Final Lock Nut RH Thread
- 4x Intermediate Lock Nut LH Thread
- 4x Intermediate Lock Nut RH Thread
- 4x Bush Apertures w/ Bushes
- 2x ABS Lead Clamp
HARDWARE
- 4x M6x1mm – 20mm Socket Head Cap Screw
- 4x M5x0.8mm – 10mm Socket Head Cap Screw
- 4x M5x0.8mm – 10mm Socket Button Head Cap Screw
Removing Existing UCA’S
1. Remove Upper control arms from Vehicle
a. Lift vehicle using hoist or jacks and support appropriately.
b. Remove wheels.
c. Disconnect the ABS line from the factory UCA.
d. Remove the upper ball joint locking pin and undo the nut securing the
upper ball joint to the steering knuckle.
Leave the nut on the last few threads and do not remove yet. FAILURE TO DO SO
MAY DAMAGE THREAD.
e. Remove the upper control arm inner retaining bolt/s and remove the
factory upper control arm from vehicle.
For touring alignment measurements providing increased castor over factory and
neutral camber settings, please follow the TOURING SETUP instructions below.
For more advanced alignments where user specific alignment values are
preferred, please go to page 5 and follow the PERFORMANCE SETUP
instructions.
Set-Up: Touring
2. Set up Blackhawk 4×4 ULTIMATE Adjustable Upper Control Arms
a. Scan the QR code or visit
www.roadsafe.com.au for the adjuster settings
required for your vehicle and suspension lift.
b. Set out the Blackhawk 4×4 UCA on a bench and ensure all components
have been supplied.
c. Remove the ball joint cap on both UCA’s and ensure ball joints are
properly greased. If ball joint does not accept grease, articulate ball joint
until grease is accepted. 5 – 10 pumps of a grease gun or until grease can be
felt inside the grease boot is sufficient.
d. Align the bush holes, making sure the bush flange is on the outside,
feed the supplied steel rod through the bush centres and secure the steel rod
to a stable work bench.
e. Adjust the assembly to the recommended settings for your suspension
lift. Measuring from the inner face of both the bush aperture and the insert
in the main forging. See Figure 1.
See appendix for application specific base line adjustments.
3. Using the supplied Blackhawk ULTIMATE spanners, tighten the locking
nuts to the correct initial torques in the following order. To achieve the
required final torques, secure the steel rod to a stable work bench or
similar.
a. Tighten the Intermediate locknut (Left hand thread) against the arm to
approximately 40 Nm.
b. Tighten the Intermediate locknut (Right hand thread) against the bush
aperture to approximately 40 Nm.
c. Tighten the final locknut (Left hand thread) against the arm to
approximately 40 Nm.
d. Tighten the final locknut (Right hand thread) against the
arm to approximately 40 Nm.
e. Once both adjusters have tightened to their initial specification:
i. TIGHTEN THE FINAL LOCKNUT (LEFT HAND THREAD) AGAINST THE ARM TO 100Nm.
ii. TIGHTEN THE FINAL LOCKNUT (LEFT HAND THREAD) AGAINST THE ARM TO
100Nm. See Figure 2.
4. Fit Blackhawk 4×4 ULTIMATE Adjustable Upper Control Arms to vehicle
a. With the arms now set to the required alignment setting, and the
adjusters locked off to the required torque setting, the Blackhawk 4×4
Ultimate arms are now ready for fitment to vehicle.
Installer must ensure the final lock nuts on the UCA have been torqued to
100Nm.
b. Offer the UCA to the vehicle and loosely secure the inner arm bolt(s)
(DO NOT TIGHTEN AT THIS STAGE)
c. Fitment is the reverse of the removal.
d. Remove the factory bracket from ABS line. Secure the ABS line to the
upper control arm using the clamp provided, ensuring there is enough slack is
the line to allow for articulation.
e. Once the arm is refitted to the suspension, refit the wheels, and
lower the vehicle to the ground and torque the wheel nuts to the correct
specification.
f. Now tighten the inner upper control arm bolts to the factory torque
settings.
Note: This step is to ensure there is no preload on the inner bushes when
the vehicle suspension is at ride height.
5. Wheel Alignment
a. Carry out wheel alignment using factory adjusters to desired
specifications.
b. Finish alignment and test drive.
c. Please note that the adjuster measurements specific in the attached
appendix are designed to achieve 0 camber with the lower eccentrics
centralised. More specialised applications can utilise further adjustments.
Set-Up: Performance
2. Set up Blackhawk 4×4 ULTIMATE Adjustable Upper Control Arms
a. Scan the QR code or visit
www.roadsafe.com.au for the adjuster settings
required for your vehicle and suspension lift.
b. Set out the Blackhawk 4×4 UCA on a bench and ensure all components
have been supplied.
c. Remove the ball joint cap on both UCA’s and ensure ball joints are
properly greased. If ball joint does not accept grease, articulate ball joint
until grease is accepted. 5 – 10 pumps of a grease gun or until grease can be
felt inside the grease boot is sufficient.
d. Align the bush holes, making sure the bush flange is on the outside,
feed the supplied steel rod through the bush centres and secure the steel rod
to a stable work bench.
e. Adjust the assembly to the recommended settings for your suspension
lift. Measuring from the inner face of both the bush aperture and the insert
in the main forging. See Figure 1.
See appendix for application specific base line adjustments.
3. Fit Blackhawk 4×4 ULTIMATE Adjustable Upper Control Arms to vehicle
a. With the arms now set to the baseline alignment setting, The Blackhawk
4×4 Ultimate arms are now ready for fitment to vehicle.
b. Offer the UCA to the vehicle and loosely secure the inner arm bolt(s)
(DO NOT TIGHTEN AT THIS STAGE)
c. Fitment is the reverse of the removal.
d. Once the arm is refitted to the suspension, refit the wheels, and
lower the vehicle to the ground and torque the wheel nuts to the correct
specification.
e. Now tighten the inner upper control arm bolts to the factory torque
settings.
4. Wheel Alignment
a. For a maximum performance alignment, we will be setting the lower
eccentrics to the maximum outboard setting and using the Blackhawk ULTIMATE
UCA to adjust the camber and castor. This maximizes wheel track and wheel
travel capability.
Special care must be taken by the installer to ensure there is adequate
clearance between all the suspension components, wheel and inner guard at all
points in the suspension travel and steering lock with the customer’s specific
suspension, wheel and tyre combination.
b. After setting lower eccentrics to maximum outboard position and
locking off, use the UCA adjusters to set the alignment to the desired camber
and castor settings.
The adjuster measurement must not exceed 54mm See Figure 1.
c. Tighten the Intermediate locknut (Left hand thread) against the arm to
approximately 40 Nm.
d. Tighten the Intermediate locknut (Right hand thread) against the bush
aperture to approximately 40 Nm.
e. Tighten the final locknut (Left hand thread) against the arm to
approximately 40 Nm.
f. Tighten the final locknut (Right hand thread) against the arm to
approximately 40 Nm. See Figure 2.
g. Tighten the locknuts to the final torque setting. You may need to
remove the wheel or UCA to achieve the final torque rating.
i. TIGHTEN THE FINAL LOCKNUT (LEFT HAND THREAD) AGAINST THE ARM TO 100
Nm.
ii. TIGHTEN THE FINAL LOCKNUT (RIGHT HAND THREAD) AGAINST THE ARM TO 100
Nm.
h. Finish alignment and test drive. 
APPENDIX
- At each set vehicle lift, the following adjuster measurements will provide OE camber specs with centered lower eccentrics and an additional 1 degree of caster over OE. Further increases in castor or preferred camber adjustments can be achieved via the adjustment of the lower eccentrics.
- Further performance alignments may vary beyond these adjuster measurements.
Note: the maximum adjuster measurement must never exceed 54mm.
Vehicle Lift
(mm)| Adjuster Measurement
(mm)
---|---
0| 54
30| 53
50| 50
70| 47.5
100| 47.5
Only suitably qualified and accredited mechanics, with specialist 4WD Suspension knowledge should attempt fitment of these upper control arms. Ensure vehicle has a wheel alignment immediately after installation. Failure to do so may result in poor drivability and/or uneven tyre wear.
blackhawk4x4.com
A Division of Specialist Wholesalers Pty. Ltd.
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VIC Phone: 03 8687 1700 QLD
Phone: 07 3737 7420
Email: sales@roadsafe.com.au