eBay uniball control arms?

[tmb3203]

That sucks. You can replace the uniball without removing the arm if you have a ball joint press. The stainless uniballs that Total Chaos use are FK WSSX16T. You can get them from Summit for $45

It appears that FK WSSX16T may the part number for the uniball but I will not know for sure until I have it out of the arm. I will be using an arbor press in my garage so the arm will have to come off. Hopefully Kartech has some uniballs in stock, I need my ride ASAP. BTW, Total Chaos is a world class operation. They know their stuff and have been very helpful in the past. I will be using them next time.

 

[ajonesnv]

I have been running my EBAY Silver UCA's for 45 days or so and just noticed today that the passenger side uniball puked a "cloth" like liner. See Photo. Now the uniball is very loose. Checking into a quality replacement uniball. I sure hope it's not some unusual size! I will post the size as soon as I have time to remove the arm from the vehicle. I'm beginning to regret trying to save a $.

Out of curiosity, what kind of lubrication method did you use?

It appears that FK WSSX16T may the part number for the uniball but I will not know for sure until I have it out of the arm. I will be using an arbor press in my garage so the arm will have to come off. Hopefully Kartech has some uniballs in stock, I need my ride ASAP. BTW, Total Chaos is a world class operation. They know their stuff and have been very helpful in the past. I will be using them next time.

This is correct...many places have these, you might be able to even get them through Prime on Amazon.

 

[tmb3203]

SIlver EBAY UCA

Out of curiosity, what kind of lubrication method did you use?



This is correct...many places have these, you might be able to even get them through Prime on Amazon.

In fact, the question about lubrication is a good one. The arms came lubricated with a heavy grease. Not what I would have used since most PTFE run with dry lubricant to avoid attracting sand and dust. I could not get a reply from the seller about lubricant so I just wiped away the excess grease. I had no way of knowing what kind of uniball was installed.

 

[tmb3203]

Silver Ebay UCA

Here it is.....the uniball is a standard size 1" ID. Off to locate good quality replacements.

 

[ajonesnv]

In fact, the question about lubrication is a good one. The arms came lubricated with a heavy grease. Not what I would have used since most PTFE run with dry lubricant to avoid attracting sand and dust. I could not get a reply from the seller about lubricant so I just wiped away the excess grease. I had no way of knowing what kind of uniball was installed.

I ask, because I have them and immediately cleaned the grease out and have been using dry lube.

My wonder was if maybe the failure is related to the lubricant. Ill keep an eye on mine. However I'm gonna order some new balls so I have them around.

If you can wait to order till this evening my buddy found a set (made in USA) for, I wanna say 50.00+shipping, Im waiting to hear back to confirm. He bought them to replace his old balls on his Camburg arms.

 

[ajonesnv]

Thanks for the great writeup. Added it to the first post so more people see it. Hope thats ok.

FYI the link for the write-up was lost due to the quoting...here is that address eBay Upper Control Arms Write-Up/Review

 

[Troymclure]

FYI the link for the write-up was lost due to the quoting...here is that address eBay Upper Control Arms Write-Up/Review

Thanks for noticing, added in the link just now.

 

[tmb3203]

Silver Ebay UCA

Found another issue while disassembling the UCA on the other side. The misalignment bushings (top and bottom) are just a little too long. When bolted together the shoulders bottom out on each other and do not snug against the uniball. when you turn the spindle the uniball was not rotating, the spacers were spinning inside the ball. This was not good! Wear can be seen on the shoulder of the spacer. This wear took place in a short 45 day period. I may have not noticed but because of the failure of the uniball on the other side I was looking closely at everything. Kartech was out of Stainless Uniballs but Total Chaos had some in stock. The recommended uniball for a street application have a 17-4 stainless HT body with a 440C stainless HT ball and is PTFE coated. This prevents rust when subject to water.

 

[AARONR]

Here it is.....the uniball is a standard size 1" ID. Off to locate good quality replacements.

@tmb3202 I have been running FK uniballs in my long travel truck for years without excessive wear. This liner coming out is common in race truck abuse, but not 45 days of four wheeling. Glad you upgraded.

I carry these in stock at the shop if any one needs an upgrade :beer:

 

[angus]

Well, I am about to pull the trigger on a set of these "suicide UCA's" myself - at 3" lift in front I was only able to get my camber to 0 on the left and +0.5 on the right and more concerning (as everyone has found) my caster is maxed out at about 1.2 degrees - I'd like to see 2.5-3 deg. caster and say .5 neg camber.

These arms should get me there.

I doubt there is much concern over catastrophic failure as the "captured" nature of the uniball makes it less likely too separate than the OEM joint - unless of course they are installed wrong (as we've seen).

I will shave down the bushings and check that the misalignment spacers are the correct length (grind them down if needed).

The uniball issue seems somewhat relevant but maybe not - I doubt very much that some chinese manufacturer makes a "fake" uniball - more likely they are the same product - it's not as if it's a super mainstream part - and as noted above the "real" unable are known to spit out the liner on occasion, for that matter - who knows, maybe lots of uniballs come from china in the first place?

I think the grease in the one that spat out the liner could be a big factor so I'll clean mine thoroughly (may even degrease with brake cleaner) and lube them with dry graphite. It's funny, the liner sure looks like a nylon strap - I initially thought that it was a pic of a broken limit strap when I saw it!

One thing I am tempted to do is run a seal on the uniball - I may be able to find a rod end seal that will fit.

The balljoint "slug" adapter looks like I may have to buy the All-pro ones, but even in their instructions it makes no mention of having to press them in so I wonder if the fit of the suicide slugs will be just fine - maybe use some loctite sleeve retainer?

Although I don't put huge miles on my 'runner I'll certainly report back on the outcome.

 

[angus]

Well after writing this I went straight to eBay and ORDERED the WRONG damn arms - I got mixed up looking at the listings and ordered 4th gen arms for my 3rd gen...

So I messaged them and I hope they correct it.

MAN!

Edit:

Ok, they refunded me, this seller (suspension.marketplace) is great, I have bought many items from him in the past and never had an issue!

I then purchased the proper ones - now just waiting for them to show up!

 

[ajonesnv]

@tmb3202 I have been running FK uniballs in my long travel truck for years without excessive wear. This liner coming out is common in race truck abuse, but not 45 days of four wheeling. Glad you upgraded.

I carry these in stock at the shop if any one needs an upgrade :beer:

Whats your price?

 

[wnelax04sr5]

bump

who has an update?
[MENTION=109424]robaroni[/MENTION] ?

 

[ajonesnv]

bump

who has an update?

[MENTION=109424]robaroni[/MENTION] ?

Im still running mine with no issues outside of the stuff in the write-up (on page one post one). I would say I have about 2100 miles on them.

 

[angus]

OK, well I have an update.

I got my arms last thursday and it looks like they have been listening!

The Current arms (or at least the ones I have) have been updated so the bushing sleeves are longer than the bushing by a tiny bit so that is good news.

I measured the slug adapters and they look to be a tad on the small side - guess I may be ordering the All-Pro ones - the eBay ones I got measure 43.08mm and the All-Pros are supposed to measure 43.28mm - one thing I might do is go measure a OEM replacement balljoint and see as well.

At this point even $50 for a pair of All-Pro slug adapters is no big deal because it looks like everything else will be fine.

One thing is that they look like 14mm metric bolts grade 8.8 ( that's only a grade 5 bolt)

The holes in the misalignment spacers and slug adapters measure .750" so I may just go get some grade 8 3/4" bolts/nuts. They did supply an adapter to install the 14mm bolts but it doesn't look right and there are not enough of them (you'd need 4 and they only gave 2).

I like the idea of a larger, higher grade bolt anyhow.

 

[angus]

I am also going to order these.

Seals It Rod End Seals Metric 25mm WS25MM | eBay

 

[robaroni]

bump

who has an update?

[MENTION=109424]robaroni[/MENTION] ?

Update! Robaroni is a slacker! :ybrick: I'll do it this weekend! HAHA

 

[angus]

Ok, so although I have a 3rd gen, I have been posting here since this is where the info all seems to be.

As I said above, I have ordered the All-Pro slug adapters (BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE award goes to them BTW) - they measure exactly like the OEM balljoints so that should be good.

I also ordered 25mm rod end seals from seals-it and I will test fit those (about $16 from eBay)

While looking at the different uniball control arms, I noticed that ICON has a completely different design for their balljoint adapters and hardware. Instead of using a pressed in slug adapter, the whole thing is designed so that the bolt comes up from underneath and threads into the lower spacer, the top spacer is then bolted into the lower spacer - thus clamping the uniball.

It looks like a lot more thought went into that setup and I wonder if they will sell you just the hardware?

Take a look -

58400 - 96 - 02 toyota 4runner tubular uniball upper control arm system

Study the pics a little and you will see it is a lot more ingenious.

ALSO - they do also make a cap to cover the uniball (actually how I found their site) But it is too low profile to fit on our uniballs.

What I did think of is that it would not be hard to find a lid that will fit, a cut down spray-can lid would work if you glued it on with some RTV - not nearly as elegant as a CNC billet anodized piece - but would get the job done, I'm sure with a little more searching we could find a solution.

 

[angus]

I'll probably buy bolts like these - unless I can find something nicer like allen head or 12pt. head.

3 3 4 10x4 1 2 Grade 8 Hex Flange Bolts Cap Screws | eBay

 

[Be_Original]

Gentleman how about some built right uca's? Join the group buy

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/193852-group-buy-built-right-ucas.html