4th gen Adjustable Upper Control Arms

[RonJR]

I've had mine for a year and 15,000 miles, some moderate offroad, with zero issues. I like the adjustments, since my lower cam bolts are frozen and this allows me to get the alignment correct without all the pain of replacing the LCA's.

From his signature, I would guess that [MENTION=105800]Brutalguyracing[/MENTION] probably puts more stress on his suspension than I do, and thus may have different results. Also, a couple of recent changes in the SPC arms, both within the last year or two, are:
- Grease fittings on the ball joints to extend their life.
- Increasing the torque spec on the ball joint nut from 125 ft-lbs to 150. Apparently they were having some issues with the adjustment slipping at 125 ft-lbs. I check mine every few thousand miles and they've never budged.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I have them. They work great. Only thing i dont like is the ever changing bushing bullshit with SPC. They come out with a redesign every 3 weeks (dramatic). Its annoying but the UCA is a good one and i have all my adjustability.

I've had mine for a year and 15,000 miles, some moderate offroad, with zero issues. I like the adjustments, since my lower cam bolts are frozen and this allows me to get the alignment correct without all the pain of replacing the LCA's.

From his signature, I would guess that [MENTION=105800]Brutalguyracing[/MENTION] probably puts more stress on his suspension than I do, and thus may have different results. Also, a couple of recent changes in the SPC arms, both within the last year or two, are:
- Grease fittings on the ball joints to extend their life.
- Increasing the torque spec on the ball joint nut from 125 ft-lbs to 150. Apparently they were having some issues with the adjustment slipping at 125 ft-lbs. I check mine every few thousand miles and they've never budged.

I can confirm the slipping, had them slip on me before at 125ft.lbs.

They're not bad arms, but if you're going heavy (bumpers, tires, skids, ect.) you may start maxing their limits. On my 35's with some hard wheeling I was seeing the UBJ slip inwards, I just don't think they were meant to handle that much unsprung weight and that much stress from off-roading. Wasn't a big issue with the 33's and before I started throwing skidplates and such on her.

As for adjustability, for the price they are more adjustable than anything on the market in that price bracket. The only arms that are more adjustable tend to be the billet ones because you can adjust each upper heim in/out and on my Camburg's they have spacers to set Caster to 3.5* or 5.5.*.

I did have issues with my first set a few years back in the bushings wearing out, but they were warrantied and all was fine. I hope the quality has gotten more consistent because in years past there were some with poor welds. But I haven't kept up on the SPC stuff in the last year or two.

 

[alia176]

From the pictures in the Group Buy \Spc arms, it looks like SPC is using rubber OEM style bushings in their products. I'm thinking of placing an order for these arms but wanted to know if the Bushing issue have been eliminated from the old days.

Thanks.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

From the pictures in the Group Buy \Spc arms, it looks like SPC is using rubber OEM style bushings in their products. I'm thinking of placing an order for these arms but wanted to know if the Bushing issue have been eliminated from the old days.

Thanks.

I thought they were sticking with Delrin? The ones I had were Delrin bushings and they held up nicely.

 

[RonJR]

Pretty sure the ones on mine are Delrin.

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

Has anyone tried the Rancho or Mevotech Adjustable upper control arms? I'm trying to restore factory castor settings to stop the front end from darting.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2006,4runner,4.7l+v8,1432833,suspension,control+arm,10401

It's just got done rebuilding a set of OEM uca's with energy suspension bushings and new moon greasable ball joints ...if you'd like as an option. 0 miles since rebuild...I actually think I have 2 rebuilt sets available now.

 

[fast325it]

Adjustable upper control arms

My V8 Limited has 210,000 miles on it and about 10,000 miles ago I rebuilt the entire front end using new ES poly bushings on all four original control arms, new steering rack bushings, new greasable ball joints, new struts and new tie rod ends. The alignment shop couldn't adjust for enough caster so now I have the same darting I was trying to eliminate, however, the front end squeaks like a box spring in a cheap hotel and the bushings in the lower control arms pop whenever I turn sharp - like in a parking lot.

I've decided to throw in the towel on the rebuild and try adjustable UCAs with the 1A Auto LCAs, both with oem style rubber bushings. This is a hwy cruiser that never gets off road and the poly bushings are too punishing. My options are to roll this thing off a cliff and buy a different vehicle or install adjustable UCAs so I'm very interested in feedback on the Rancho and Mevotech adjustable UCAs.

 

[alia176]

I thought they were sticking with Delrin? The ones I had were Delrin bushings and they held up nicely.

Pretty sure the ones on mine are Delrin.

Good info gents, thank you for the correction. Sounds like these are good for the non 35s/hardcore wheeling types and the BJ is lasting a decent time.

 

[BackOff]

None of those UCA's listed there are adjustable. They're all OEM replacement parts. Only adjustable OEM parts listed are the LCA's that are done by the cam bolts.

Look again. The Mevotech look to my eyes like a SPC clone. With adjustable castor/camber.
The Rancho look like a TC clone.

 

[Mike07SE]

Look again. The Mevotech look to my eyes like a SPC clone. With adjustable castor/camber.
The Rancho look like a TC clone.

I see it now. Mevotech's definitely look like an SPC clone.

 

[alia176]

Look again. The Mevotech look to my eyes like a SPC clone. With adjustable castor/camber.
The Rancho look like a TC clone.

This is interesting info and I wonder who cloned whom! In any case, the price of each Mavotech UCA * x 2 comes out to be the normal price that I'm seeing on the net unless I'm missing something.

 

[BackOff]

Don't know who cloned who but I did just get a rebuild kit for the SPC, bushings and greasable ball joints. The bushings look like a polymer type to me, molding marks and lathe work.

 

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Anyone end up trying the Mevotechs or the Ranchos?