01-16-2019, 02:10 PM
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#1
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Location: Addis, Louisiana
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Are the New SPC UCAs Good To Go??
I know this has been beat to death and I've read a ton of stuff but some of the threads have a lot of older info in them. Bare with me please.
Are the most recent SPC arms good quality. Have there been any issues or breakage with arms that have been purchased in the past year or so? I was going with the JBA arms but have 2 concerns.
1: They only come in red. I'm going with Fox COs that are black and silver. I know it's superficial but I like common theme.
2: I like the adjustability on the SPCs and that I can move my tires forward with them that may allow for 285s without the BMC.
Any help of info would be much appreciated.
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Paul
2016 TRD Pro, Mag Gray. Mods: SSO Sliders, Bilstein 6112 Front Springs, Dobinson 599 Rear Springs, GY Duratrac LT285/70R17s, Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers, Morimoto LEDs (Lows, Highs & xB Fogs), Full LED Interior Lights....More to Come
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01-16-2019, 02:14 PM
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#2
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Join Date: Feb 2017
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FWIW I told a local SPC and Icon dealer that I was thinking of going with Icon Delta Joint UCAs and they said they sell SPCs all day long with all levels of suspension installs and haven't had problems. Then they touted the SPC warranty on the off chance there are problems.
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01-16-2019, 02:23 PM
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#3
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Join Date: May 2018
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I run them with no issues
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01-16-2019, 02:24 PM
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#4
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Houston, Texas
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I've had mine on for 7 months now and I just grease them every 5000 miles when I get my t4r serviced. They have been great. No regrets.
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01-16-2019, 03:08 PM
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#5
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: California
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I run SPC UCA and I wheel my rig.
I've run them for thousands of miles now w/o a single issue.
They are whisper quiet and the adjustability to get back into factory alignment is great. Just be certain the alignment tech can either read the directions and put that into practice or has experience with these.
I'd buy them again.
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01-16-2019, 03:39 PM
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#6
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Join Date: Aug 2017
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I've had them for 15,000 miles. No problems. Didn't need a BMC with 285's also. Read on this forum someone with JBA's had to do a chop. Not sure if it was the UCA's or not though.
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2017 Off-road Premium w KDSS, moon roof, sliding rear cargo deck,3" Toytech Boss lift, SPC upper control arms, Sonoran Steel High Articulation KDSS Trac/PanHard Bar, RCI sliders, RCI skid plates aluminum including gas tank, C4 Fab diff skid plate, SCS Ray 10 Wheels Matte Gray, 285/70R17 Hankook Dynapro AT2 RF11 E-load RWL, Cali Raised LED 3x2 fog-light pods, Lock'r Down EXxtreme console safe with electronic lock, Auto Heat Shield all windows, Raingler rear cargo net, Canvasback rear covers, LFD Off-Road cross bars aluminum, LFD Hybrid bumper, LFD wind fairing, LFD Hi-lift jack mounts, Goat Armor, Blackgate Custom KDSS spacers, Ironman 2.5 awning with quick release mounts, Ironman 12,000 lb synthetic line winch.
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01-16-2019, 03:48 PM
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#7
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Denver, Colorado
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I also run them without any issues. Alignments are a breeze. Maintenance is minimal. Just lube every 5k miles or so. I do have a bmc but my build is probably a bit different than yours. The shop I go to strongly recommends them also
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'13 TE w/ KDSS, 4:56 Gears, Dobinson's IMS C59-352/C59-701V, Sonoran Steel KDSS Trac Bar, Overland Custom Design Control Arms. Fuel Revolver 17x9 +1 mm 5" Backspace, Falken Wildpeak A/t3w 285/75r17, Hefty Fabworks Aluminum Front Bumper and Full Skids, C4 Fab Dual Swingout Rear Bumper, MetalTech OPOR Sliders, Northstar, Off-Grid Engineering, SPod, Blue Sea, Rigid, Baja Designs, KC HiLites, Stedi, Aplharex, National Luna, Drifta, Goose Gear, RAD Rubber Designs, Viair, Bandi Mount, URD, Gobi, ARB, Warn, Factor 55, Fourtreks, Axia Alloys, Desert Does It, Agency 6
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01-16-2019, 03:52 PM
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#8
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Thanks guys!! I'm liking what I'm hearing. Was at 4-Wheel parts last week and I was talking to them about tires and doing my alignment after the lift. He mentioned that he thought I might need UCAs and I said something about the SPC and he joking said oh that's the ones that are like a jigsaw puzzle to assemble. He said a lot of the Toyota guys were bringing them in to install. Even though they didn't sell them he said they were very happy with them and they looked to be good quality.
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Paul
2016 TRD Pro, Mag Gray. Mods: SSO Sliders, Bilstein 6112 Front Springs, Dobinson 599 Rear Springs, GY Duratrac LT285/70R17s, Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers, Morimoto LEDs (Lows, Highs & xB Fogs), Full LED Interior Lights....More to Come
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01-16-2019, 04:41 PM
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#9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bayou_Pro
Thanks guys!! I'm liking what I'm hearing. Was at 4-Wheel parts last week and I was talking to them about tires and doing my alignment after the lift. He mentioned that he thought I might need UCAs and I said something about the SPC and he joking said oh that's the ones that are like a jigsaw puzzle to assemble. He said a lot of the Toyota guys were bringing them in to install. Even though they didn't sell them he said they were very happy with them and they looked to be good quality.
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I would definitely get UCA's. Hopefully they know how to install them properly at your local 4 Wheel Parts. And make sure they are the new ones, not the old ones. I read that the old ones were the problem.
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2017 Off-road Premium w KDSS, moon roof, sliding rear cargo deck,3" Toytech Boss lift, SPC upper control arms, Sonoran Steel High Articulation KDSS Trac/PanHard Bar, RCI sliders, RCI skid plates aluminum including gas tank, C4 Fab diff skid plate, SCS Ray 10 Wheels Matte Gray, 285/70R17 Hankook Dynapro AT2 RF11 E-load RWL, Cali Raised LED 3x2 fog-light pods, Lock'r Down EXxtreme console safe with electronic lock, Auto Heat Shield all windows, Raingler rear cargo net, Canvasback rear covers, LFD Off-Road cross bars aluminum, LFD Hybrid bumper, LFD wind fairing, LFD Hi-lift jack mounts, Goat Armor, Blackgate Custom KDSS spacers, Ironman 2.5 awning with quick release mounts, Ironman 12,000 lb synthetic line winch.
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01-16-2019, 04:46 PM
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#10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mteolus
I would definitely get UCA's. Hopefully they know how to install them properly at your local 4 Wheel Parts. And make sure they are the new ones, not the old ones. I read that the old ones were the problem.
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Oh yeah I'm getting UCAs no doubt. I'm going with the Fox 2.5" COs so it'll be necessary. I'll be installing them myself so I know it'll be right. They are only going to do my Tire's and Alignment. Thanks for the help.
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Paul
2016 TRD Pro, Mag Gray. Mods: SSO Sliders, Bilstein 6112 Front Springs, Dobinson 599 Rear Springs, GY Duratrac LT285/70R17s, Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers, Morimoto LEDs (Lows, Highs & xB Fogs), Full LED Interior Lights....More to Come
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01-16-2019, 05:02 PM
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#11
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Houston
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I've had mine maybe 6months now no complaints, they did squeak at first but I just didnt pump enough grease into the ball joint during initial install. They've been silent since even through this winter.
In terms of build/quality, I've only seen chaos uniball UCAs in person to compare and without scientific testing they both look solid as hell. The SPCs look and feel like cast iron they are heavy duty. My only real concern is with the balljoint groove pathway design. The ball joint is held onto the control arm by 1 huge nut that allows the BJ to slides within a designated groove, its to correct camber for the most part and give more adjustments. Its torqued down to like at 150lb/ft (basically tighten the sh!t out of it). I've hit some huge rocks and curbs nothing has knocked it out of alignment but I could see how it could throw your alignment out given the right circumstances. Then again you should get your alignment checked after each wheeling outing.
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01-16-2019, 07:25 PM
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#12
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: SF Bay Area
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Real Name: Sean
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I had SPCs on my 2013 Tacoma before I moved over to my 4Runner. This was back in 2013 so they perhaps they've been redesigned since then, but I had problems with them continually losing their alignment settings as a result of the ball joints coming loose. That being said, I was not wheeling through rocks, just blasting unmaintained fire roads/forest access roads at high speed and they'd lose alignment every time I did that. So maybe it was the way I was using them, maybe it was because they were an older generation, maybe it was both, but it was that experience that prompted me to not even consider them when I did my build on my 4R and instead go with different UCAs. Down side, it was more expensive and I had no choice but to do the BMC.
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SOLD - 2016 Mag Grey TRDP, 40" Rigid E Series, Gobi Stealth, BFG KO2s 285/70, Tepui, BAMF sliders, Fox 2.5 DSC, Icon Delta Joint UCAs, SCS RAY 10 Matte Bronze
Current - 2020 Raptor....yeah, yeah, I know...but it is a helluva lot of fun!
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01-17-2019, 10:54 AM
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#13
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Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Memphis, TN
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thevanillagorilla
I had SPCs on my 2013 Tacoma before I moved over to my 4Runner. This was back in 2013 so they perhaps they've been redesigned since then, but I had problems with them continually losing their alignment settings as a result of the ball joints coming loose. That being said, I was not wheeling through rocks, just blasting unmaintained fire roads/forest access roads at high speed and they'd lose alignment every time I did that. So maybe it was the way I was using them, maybe it was because they were an older generation, maybe it was both, but it was that experience that prompted me to not even consider them when I did my build on my 4R and instead go with different UCAs. Down side, it was more expensive and I had no choice but to do the BMC.
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I've always wondered how well the SPCs kept alignment. With all the adjustments on there it seems that can be both good and bad when it comes to keeping settings where they need to be. I haven't personally ever seen any SPCs so i am not sure what keeps everything in place and on the settings you choose, but i have always been weary for whatever reason. I know plenty of people run them without any problem, I've just always leaned toward a more "single piece", caster built in UCA. I know that's not what everyone needs, and they seem to work for tons of people though.
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'21 MGM Limited Nightshade | 1" Cornfed Leveling Kit | BFG KO2 265/60/20's | PrecisionLED 6000k LED Interior Upgrade
SOLD: '16 Silver TE w/ KDSS | C4 Fab Lo-Pro Bumper | Smittybilt X2O 10k Winch | ARB Dual Compressor w/ Tank | sPOD | XD Philips 4300K HID Upgrade | XD 6000K LED Interior Upgrade | SCS Ray10 Matte Black Wheels | BFG KO2 285/70/17's | Icon 3"/2" Stage 2 Lift | JBA UCA's
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01-17-2019, 11:26 AM
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#14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4runnin4mylife
I've always wondered how well the SPCs kept alignment. With all the adjustments on there it seems that can be both good and bad when it comes to keeping settings where they need to be. I haven't personally ever seen any SPCs so i am not sure what keeps everything in place and on the settings you choose, but i have always been weary for whatever reason. I know plenty of people run them without any problem, I've just always leaned toward a more "single piece", caster built in UCA. I know that's not what everyone needs, and they seem to work for tons of people though.
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The Caster is pretty much locked in since you have to pull it loose to move a position. The camber on the other hand just slides and then you torque the bolt down. Looking at their website they have revised the torque setting to 150ftlbs and said you can go as high as 175ftlbs. They also said that powder coating or painting the arms can cause them to loosen up and slide. My guess is that some shops aren't taking the time to properly torque them correctly.
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Paul
2016 TRD Pro, Mag Gray. Mods: SSO Sliders, Bilstein 6112 Front Springs, Dobinson 599 Rear Springs, GY Duratrac LT285/70R17s, Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers, Morimoto LEDs (Lows, Highs & xB Fogs), Full LED Interior Lights....More to Come
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01-17-2019, 04:14 PM
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#15
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My first set was defective and clunked due to play. The SPC warranty department was great and once replaced, I have not had any issues with them. Mine have kept alignment.
Depending upon what alignment numbers you need, I had a shop make sure that the upper ball joints were moved all the way towards the outside edge before alignment utilizing the lower control arms, so that an instance of needing to replace a ball joint won't affect the alignment. Of course this would only work if your vehicles' camber can be aligned to where it needs to be with just the lower control arms.
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2011 SR5/P 4WD Blizzard Pearl - 285/70/17 Falken Wildpeak AT3/W - Bilstein 5100 Lift @ 2.5 - SPC UCA's - Two-Tone Katzkin Interior - 15% Lumar Pinnacle Ceramic Tint - Canvasback Liner - Husky Weatherbeater Liners - Phillips Interior LED's - Completely upgraded ICE.
Last edited by TrkyMfns; 01-17-2019 at 04:21 PM.
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