Gap in SPC UCA

A

alunnrhue

New member
Hey all,

Noticed something as I'm going through everything on the new 4runner. I'm having wear problems on the front left tire, the outside is wearing quickly. Yet, after 3 alignment checks, everything is in spec on their computer printout. Do the specs for alignment with the toytec lift and SPC UCA need to be different than what their stock computers say?

I also noticed some gap between the back bushing and nut on the UCA on the front left. The right does not have this gap. It looks like the left UCA is about 1/2" further forward than the right one. This doesn't look right.


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Cheers!
 
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The bolt looks loose. I had the same concern when I installed the updated SPC UCAs recently, it actually ended up going away as I tightened the assembly to spec. Did you grease the bushings properly and check the torque on the bolts?
 
alunnrhue said:
Hey all,

Noticed something as I'm going through everything on the new 4runner. I'm having wear problems on the front left tire, the outside is wearing quickly. Yet, after 3 alignment checks, everything is in spec on their computer printout. Do the specs for alignment with the toytec lift and SPC UCA need to be different than what their stock computers say?

I also noticed some gap between the back bushing and nut on the UCA on the front left. The right does not have this gap. It looks like the left UCA is about 1/2" further forward than the right one. This doesn't look right.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

The bolt is probably loose as brutalguyracing said. If it is not loose the only other thing may be that the UCA is bent.

Brutalguyracing said:
looks like your nut is loose and your missing the 2 inside washers------unless spc changed their design again for the 100th time
errrr
i hate spc products.......

your abs line is also missing its bolt

New Bushings for Light Racing UCA's. - Tacoma World Forums
Click to expand...

SPC did change their design again....the inside washer was prematurely destroying the bushings. Hooray SPC......:peep:
 
Idk why spc cant get the freakin bushings correct after all this time
This must be at least their 5-6th new bushing design in past 4-5 years
Glad mine went to scrap yard
Just picked up a set of camburgs
 
As a former alignment tech, I generally had good luck with SPC stuff. I don't know why these UCAs are giving them such a hard time. So far my SPC arms are doing ok.

As for the wear on the outside of the tire, my guess is that we may need to run on the low side of the camber spec due to how the tires have crazy positive camber when turning with these UCAs. Maybe even a little less toe-in. I also notice the outside wear. Very minimal, but noticable by about 4000 miles after tire rotation.
 
I don't know if the bolt necessarily looks loose, it actually looks like you're missing the inner washer? The new SPCs come with a longer sleeve (which is basically the same idea), but from your pictures it seems like the inner edge of the spec ride bushing i actually touching the shock tower's "mounting tube", for lack of better description, lol (the tube where the uca bolt goes through).

On mine, you see ~1/8" of sleeve showing on the inner edge (after it's torqued down) and that's also how far the bushing is from the tube on the shock tower.

OR, another thought could be, the arm is made wrong? I read on the 5th forum someone had an arm that was not the correct width, apparently SPC claims they made a bad batch? They exchanged it out no problem...so if you have no luck troubleshooting on your own give the guys at SPC a call, I've heard they are pretty responsive.
 
those are the newest bushings. I just changed my old ones out. Looks like its torqued but you dont have the inner washer so the small part of the shock tower is pushing the inner sleeve out which is what you can see. Supposed to have a big flat washer on inside and outside of each arm.
 
If the nut is torqued properly then there is something wrong with the arm (it's either bent or is an arm from the bad batch). The newest SPC bushings have the longer inner sleeve and NO inside washer.
 
Do you know which version you have? You might need to contact SPC to see if they have the proper washers. They have like 47 versions of this UCA.
 
HokieRunner said:
If the nut is torqued properly then there is something wrong with the arm (it's either bent or is an arm from the bad batch). The newest SPC bushings have the longer inner sleeve and NO inside washer.
Click to expand...



ebg18t said:
Do you know which version you have? You might need to contact SPC to see if they have the proper washers. They have like 47 versions of this UCA.
Click to expand...


Amazing they can still be in business
 
Okay Sorry I'm just getting back, school and work was crazy this week but I got some work done today.




momo.75 said:
You are also missing the bolt for your brake line bracket
Click to expand...

Thank you for noticing, fixed with a zip tie today.

BlackWorksInc said:
The bolt looks loose. I had the same concern when I installed the updated SPC UCAs recently, it actually ended up going away as I tightened the assembly to spec. Did you grease the bushings properly and check the torque on the bolts?
Click to expand...

Okay so I don't know what the spec torque is, but I was trying to tighten and had to be close to 100ft/lbs and the thing barely wanted to move. I tried tightening after I replaced my cv axles, so I was a little burnt out. I could not fit my torque wrench in there between the bolt and wheel well edge. I may try tightening again this week when I have more energy.

gm350reratliff said:
As a former alignment tech, I generally had good luck with SPC stuff. I don't know why these UCAs are giving them such a hard time. So far my SPC arms are doing ok.

As for the wear on the outside of the tire, my guess is that we may need to run on the low side of the camber spec due to how the tires have crazy positive camber when turning with these UCAs. Maybe even a little less toe-in. I also notice the outside wear. Very minimal, but noticable by about 4000 miles after tire rotation.
Click to expand...

This is what I was thinking and definitely noticed when I was parked and the wheels were turned, crazy positive camber! I'm going to take it into a 4x4 shop in town this week to do the alignment, no more general shops. The alignment techs looked at me dumbfounded the last two places I took it to and told them the UCA can adjust for caster :eek: not a good feeling. Depending on what the 4x4 shop says, I may have them take them camber just under 0, a little negative, and bring in the toe a bit.

eddiebx said:
I don't know if the bolt necessarily looks loose, it actually looks like you're missing the inner washer? The new SPCs come with a longer sleeve (which is basically the same idea), but from your pictures it seems like the inner edge of the spec ride bushing i actually touching the shock tower's "mounting tube", for lack of better description, lol (the tube where the uca bolt goes through).

On mine, you see ~1/8" of sleeve showing on the inner edge (after it's torqued down) and that's also how far the bushing is from the tube on the shock tower.

OR, another thought could be, the arm is made wrong? I read on the 5th forum someone had an arm that was not the correct width, apparently SPC claims they made a bad batch? They exchanged it out no problem...so if you have no luck troubleshooting on your own give the guys at SPC a call, I've heard they are pretty responsive.
Click to expand...

So I figured out I do have the newer specride bushings. The bushing is not quite touching the inside of the shock tower, maybe 1/4". When I had everything off I hit the UCA with a rubber mallet and could slide it back all the way against the nut, creating the space at the bolt end. I'm really wondering if I have a bad arm. I'm going to have the 4x4 shop take a look when I get an alignment and have them try to torque it down. If not I will be calling SPC. I purchased this vehicle with the UCA's already installed and the PO did not have the receipt from SPC. SO hopefully I can work with SPC on this.

LTDSC said:
those are the newest bushings. I just changed my old ones out. Looks like its torqued but you dont have the inner washer so the small part of the shock tower is pushing the inner sleeve out which is what you can see. Supposed to have a big flat washer on inside and outside of each arm.
Click to expand...

Do you mind taking a picture when you have time showing me what this washer looks like?/ your setup? There is no washer on my passenger side either, and everything is snug over there...

Cheers!
 
Mine arms had a fair amount of gap too after torquing, and came with only 2 washers per arm. I used 2 of the factory concave washers on the inside position with them curved inward toward the shock tower. No issue with rubbing on the bushing, tightened down solid. No squeeks after a year.
 
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