Cognito Alpha Ball Joint SM Series UCA Builders Kit | 2011-2019 Silverado/Sierra 2500HD/3500HD

The Obsidian Vision

This is a Builders Kit — the control arms are raw and unassembled. That is not a limitation; it is the point. A builder who wants to custom powder coat these arms to a specific color or finish can do so before assembly, rather than purchasing pre-assembled black powder coated arms and then pressing out the bushings and ball joints to strip and recoat — a process that risks damaging the bushings, ball joints, and the arm itself. The Cognito Alpha Ball Joint SM Series Upper Control Arm Builders Kit ships raw, ready for your finish, then assembled with the included Cognito patented Alpha Ball Joint, maintenance-free pivot bushings, and added caster correction for lifted and leveled applications on the 2011–2019 Silverado and Sierra 2500HD/3500HD. Corrected ball joint angle, improved droop travel, 1.5-hour install time. Made in the USA.

Concierge Fitment Guarantee

Every order is manually reviewed by our technicians to ensure 100% compatibility with your build before we ship.

Engineering Breakdown

• Corrects the ball joint angle for lifted and leveled applications on the 2011–2019 K2 Silverado/Sierra 2500HD/3500HD by replacing the factory upper control arm with an SM Series arm built with a modified ball joint angle that keeps the Cognito Alpha Ball Joint operating within its designed angular range at the elevated ride height — eliminating the droop travel limitation and accelerated ball joint wear that the factory arm produces when forced to operate at angles beyond its designed range.
• Increases allowable droop travel beyond the factory arm's limit at the elevated ride height, providing the suspension compliance required for good ride quality and proper suspension component longevity — ample droop travel is required for all suspension components to operate within their designed range and achieve their designed service life.
• Ships raw and unassembled as a Builders Kit, allowing the owner or builder to apply a custom powder coat finish before assembly — eliminating the need to press out the Cognito patented Alpha Ball Joint and maintenance-free pivot bushings from a pre-assembled arm to strip and recoat, which risks damaging the ball joint, bushings, and arm finish during the pressing process.

The Cognito patented Alpha Ball Joint is the premium ball joint specification for this application — a high-angle, heavy-duty, maintenance-free ball joint designed for the elevated operating angles of lifted and leveled K2 2500HD/3500HD applications. The SM Series arm construction provides the structural rigidity required for a heavy-duty upper control arm at these applications. Added caster correction improves straight-line stability and steering returnability at the elevated ride height. The Builders Kit format ships the arms raw (uncoated, unassembled) with all components included — the builder applies their chosen finish, then assembles the ball joint and pivot bushings into the arm per Cognito's included instruction sheet. Fits as a stock replacement or in leveled and lifted applications. Made in the USA.

Audit Table

Verified Fitment (OFAS Standard)

✅ CONFIRMED — Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD (K2, 2011–2019):
2011–2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD WT, LT, LTZ 2WD/4WD
2015–2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD High Country 2WD/4WD

✅ CONFIRMED — Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD (K2, 2011–2019):
2011–2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD WT, LT, LTZ 2WD/4WD SRW & DRW
2015–2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD High Country 2WD/4WD SRW & DRW

✅ CONFIRMED — GMC Sierra 2500HD (K2, 2011–2019):
2011–2014 GMC Sierra 2500HD WT 2WD/4WD
2011–2019 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE, SLT, Denali 2WD/4WD
2015–2019 GMC Sierra 2500HD (base) 2WD/4WD

✅ CONFIRMED — GMC Sierra 3500HD (K2, 2011–2019):
2011–2014 GMC Sierra 3500HD WT 2WD/4WD SRW & DRW
2011–2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE, SLT, Denali 2WD/4WD SRW & DRW
2015–2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD (base) 2WD/4WD SRW & DRW

❌ REQUIREMENTS:
⚠️ K2 GENERATION ONLY (2011–2019): This kit is designed for the K2 generation Silverado/Sierra 2500HD/3500HD only. It is not compatible with the T1 generation (2020–2025). For T1 2500HD/3500HD applications, see the Cognito SM Series UCA kits designed for the T1 platform.
⚠️ BUILDERS KIT — RAW AND UNASSEMBLED: These arms ship raw (uncoated) and unassembled. The builder must apply their chosen finish and assemble the ball joints and pivot bushings before installation. If you require pre-assembled, black powder coated arms ready to install, this is not the correct product — contact the OFAS team for the assembled version.
Requires front alignment immediately after installation — the corrected ball joint angle and added caster affect caster and camber and must be set to specification before driving.
Requires ADAS recalibration if equipped with forward collision alert, lane departure warning, or adaptive cruise control.

Installation & Technical Notes

Estimated Install Time: 1.5-Hour DIY Install (after finishing and assembly — with basic hand tools, ball joint press, and torque wrench; alignment appointment required after installation)
Builders Kit Assembly Sequence: (1) Apply chosen powder coat or finish to the raw arms and allow to fully cure before assembly. (2) Press the Cognito Alpha Ball Joints into the arm ball joint pockets per Cognito's included instruction sheet. (3) Install the maintenance-free pivot bushings at the arm pivot locations. (4) Install the assembled arms on the truck per the included instruction sheet.
Ball Joint Installation: Use a ball joint press to install the Alpha Ball Joints into the arm pockets — do not use a hammer or impact to drive the ball joints in, as this can damage the ball joint housing and void the warranty.
Alignment Required: Yes — professional front alignment is mandatory immediately after installation. The corrected ball joint angle and added caster affect caster and camber and must be verified and set to specification before driving.
Torque Specifications: Refer to Cognito's included instruction sheet for all UCA mounting, ball joint, and pivot bushing hardware torque values.

Wheel & Tire Fitment

This is a front suspension geometry correction component — wheel and tire fitment is determined by the lift or leveling kit installed on the vehicle. The Cognito Alpha Ball Joint SM Series UCA Builders Kit is compatible with all wheel and tire configurations on the 2011–2019 K2 Silverado/Sierra 2500HD/3500HD platform at the lift heights for which the kit is designed. Contact the OFAS team to verify tire and wheel fitment for your specific lift height and configuration.

Our team is standing by to verify your specific K2 configuration, desired finish, and lift height to confirm 110-91159 is the correct Builders Kit UCA for your build. Purchase with confidence; we review every build.