Ball joint UCA's and limited articulation.

[Presa Canario]

I need to get some UCA's. The last set I had were the newer style adjustable SPC with the ball joints. I only had the vehicle for 10K miles while they were on, but I didn't have any complaints with them. I would prefer to stick with SPC or JBA with the greaseable ball joints. My question is, how much, if any, will the ball joints limit my articulation over an UCA with a uniball? Will the sway bar limit it before the ball joint would? I want to have as much lift as possible (icon EXT Coilovers), but still be fully functional.
2017 TRD ORP and NO KDSS.

 

[wfo9]

I had the camburg BJ UCAs at first and ran them with extended travel ICONs and no swaybar. I did not have any issues or travel limits to speak of.. but it did concern me a bit in terms of long term durability of the moogs. I switched to TC uniballs and noticed no major difference.

The camburgs are good though. I don't trust the SPC for extended travel and have seen them limit travel on other trucks ( not mine). ICON also offers a balljoint style UCA now and will eventually have similar joints that replace uniballs on any UCA.

Swaybar does not come into play on vertical travel BTW. just articulated...

 

[jbstrd]

I need to get some UCA's. The last set I had were the newer style adjustable SPC with the ball joints. I only had the vehicle for 10K miles while they were on, but I didn't have any complaints with them. I would prefer to stick with SPC or JBA with the greaseable ball joints. My question is, how much, if any, will the ball joints limit my articulation over an UCA with a uniball? Will the sway bar limit it before the ball joint would? I want to have as much lift as possible (icon EXT Coilovers), but still be fully functional.
2017 TRD ORP and NO KDSS.

SPC has a bad rep around here due to their early bushing/ball joint designs. I have had my SPC UCA's on since Oct. 2012 (41k miles) with no issues. But, I have upgraded to the newest bushings and ball joints along the way. No aftermarket UCA's are maintenance free.

This pic shows info on the newest ball joint design with 80 degrees of articulation. Not sure how this compares to the uniballs, but it's nice having a sealed joint and requires less maintenance than a uniball.

 

[(none)]

The sway bar is going to come into consideration before the ball joint for articulation. After that, you may get slightly more travel from a uniball, but as noted, I prefer the ease of maintenance approach of the ball joint.

 

[Presa Canario]

I appreciate the info guys.

 

[wfo9]

The sway bar is going to come into consideration before the ball joint for articulation. After that, you may get slightly more travel from a uniball, but as noted, I prefer the ease of maintenance approach of the ball joint.

Just to clear something up that confuses most people.. The swaybar will not protect the joint if it is limiting articulated travel. The joint will eventually fail if it is the limit for vertical travel. Example. stock UCAs with extended travel = guaranteed failure. Just stating the obvious, but some people might not follow. Articulated travel is just one type of travel. On IFS.. you have the same articulated and vertical travel. Much different than solid axle setups where articulation results in more travel and bind.....

 

[Presa Canario]

I went ahead and ordered the adjustable SPC with the ball joints. For $395 shipped, it's hard to pass up. Plus I can change out a ball joint very easily and cheap if it were to go bad versus dealing with a uniball.

 

[jbstrd]

I went ahead and ordered the adjustable SPC with the ball joints. For $395 shipped, it's hard to pass up. Plus I can change out a ball joint very easily and cheap if it were to go bad versus dealing with a uniball.

Yea, purchased the new BJ design from Wheelers for a good price. Took about 20 minutes per side to replace.

 

[4Running303]

Yea, purchased the new BJ design from Wheelers for a good price. Took about 20 minutes per side to replace.

Is it fairly easily to swap the joints with the UCA still on? I have the old style SPC UCA's and have been wanting to upgrade to the new joints...figured I might as well do it now.
Thanks!

 

[Hybryd40]

Just installed my SPC tonight. Not sure why pic is sideways.

 

[jbstrd]

Is it fairly easily to swap the joints with the UCA still on? I have the old style SPC UCA's and have been wanting to upgrade to the new joints...figured I might as well do it now.
Thanks!

Yes, UCA stays on. Separate the spindle from the ball joint, undo the top nut, replace and reverse to put back together. Easy peasy.

 

[GmanChris]

I went ahead and ordered the adjustable SPC with the ball joints. For $395 shipped, it's hard to pass up. Plus I can change out a ball joint very easily and cheap if it were to go bad versus dealing with a uniball.

Where did you order from for that price? I usually see them for $485+.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[AudiTech]

^^^^ I'm interested in knowing as well.

 

[Spudgey]

There's a group buy going on for 400 shipped in the group buy section.

Here's a link:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/group-buys/241353-spc-upper-control-arm-group-buy-all-gen-4runners-tacomas-fj-cruiser.html

That's where I got mine from. Shipping was fast. I installed them 2 weeks ago and so far so good.

 

[Presa Canario]

I order direct from Emnoteck Motorsports. This is my second set and I just send him an email and tell him what I want and he sends me a PayPal invoice. It's $395 shipped. This may or may not be who the group buy is thru? This guy was originally on Amazon and I got his contact info and bypassed Amazon.

 

[Presa Canario]

Here is a pic.

 

[83Mule]

I got the new SPC for $398 on Amazon as well.....really like them and the 4.0 Caster makes the truck track straight.

 

[GmanChris]

I order direct from Emnoteck Motorsports. This is my second set and I just send him an email and tell him what I want and he sends me a PayPal invoice. It's $395 shipped. This may or may not be who the group buy is thru? This guy was originally on Amazon and I got his contact info and bypassed Amazon.

Thanks! I need to order some soon. My driver's side one rubs the coil spring at full droop with my 2.5" lift. Ball joint boot also made contact and pinched the boot.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk