LR UCA ball joint life

[iRide4Runner]

I am heading out to Colorado tomorrow so I took my truck in to have the oil changed and tires rotated this morning. After a while the mechanic came out to tell me that the upper ball joints are toast, and the lowers are on the way out. I went back to check it out and sure enough there was play in them both. The UCA's have only been on for 20-25k so it seems awfully early for these things to be failing. Is SPC likely to help me out or should I just pick up new ball joints from toytec when i'm out that way?

 

[05Rrunner]

I just checked mine and I have 27,000 on it and both my uppers are dead I was very surprised . I'm not counting on SPC helping me . best price I found was at Wheelers off-road

 

[Jeremy556]

I am heading out to Colorado tomorrow so I took my truck in to have the oil changed and tires rotated this morning. After a while the mechanic came out to tell me that the upper ball joints are toast, and the lowers are on the way out. I went back to check it out and sure enough there was play in them both. The UCA's have only been on for 20-25k so it seems awfully early for these things to be failing. Is SPC likely to help me out or should I just pick up new ball joints from toytec when i'm out that way?

The LR upper ball joints are not Toyota quality ball joints, by a long shot. 20k miles before being worn out would not be surprising to me; mine were worn out in about the same time, with one having a hole in the boot. Others on this forum have had the ball joints fail completely and cause major damage to other suspension and drive line components.

The lower ball joints should last 200K+ miles as long as the boot and spring seal are not compromised. I replaced one LCA because the boot was torn for about a year before I did anything about it, and I replaced the boot on the other side soon after I noticed a tear.

 

[Curly Jefferson]

If it's common that these wear out that fast it would be good to find or make an alternative. Wondering if it would have been better to go with Total Chaos or Icon?

 

[gm350reratliff]

Both surprising and disappointing. I haven't checked my 4th gen in a while. Maybe that's why it's been a little squirrelly lately. I'd have to check my records but I think I'm around the 30k mark on the SPC UCAs on my 4th gen.

 

[iRide4Runner]

If I were to do it over again I would probably go with the Camburg arms that utilize the oem ball joints. I still might ultimately go that route if the LR arms keep giving me trouble. I am going to stop by toytec on Monday and pick up new ball joints and hope they last a little longer.

 

[Intruder]

Others on this forum have had the ball joints fail completely and cause major damage to other suspension and drive line components.

:wave:

If I were to do it over again I would probably go with the Camburg arms that utilize the oem ball joints. I still might ultimately go that route if the LR arms keep giving me trouble. I am going to stop by toytec on Monday and pick up new ball joints and hope they last a little longer.

I like the idea of the Camburg arms but keep in mind that if/when the OEM ball joints fail you can't order them as a separate part from Toyota. You'd need to order the whole UCA assembly.

 

[sandcrawler]

If I were to do it over again I would probably go with the Camburg arms that utilize the oem ball joints. I still might ultimately go that route if the LR arms keep giving me trouble. I am going to stop by toytec on Monday and pick up new ball joints and hope they last a little longer.

I like the idea of the Camburg arms but keep in mind that if/when the OEM ball joints fail you can't order them as a separate part from Toyota. You'd need to order the whole UCA assembly.

also keep in mind that the Camburgs only use the OEM ball joints if you press your originals in, otherwise they ship with Moog BJs, which aren't built to Toyota's exacting speciifcations, either.

 

[Intruder]

also keep in mind that the Camburgs only use the OEM ball joints if you press your originals in, otherwise they ship with Moog BJs, which aren't built to Toyota's exacting speciifcations, either.

Camburg uses a moog ball joint , that's oem style not a oem toyota ball joint. But you are correct toyota only sells the complete upper arm with ball joint installed.

Yup, but if you read the post I was replying to...

If I were to do it over again I would probably go with the Camburg arms that utilize the oem ball joints.

 

[aha2988]

FWIW, SPC has replaced my balljoints free of charge 3 times since I originally purchased. I usually have to pay a core charge which is then refunded once I send the old ball joints back. Also the most recent time I inquired a warranty exchange I had to produce an invoice of original purchase.

I originally purchased them in 2011.

I'll be purchasing uniball style UCA's the next time these BJ's give out

 

[05Rrunner]

I'm considering switching to camburg also but the one big advantage that the light racing has is all that caster. I don't believe the Camburgwill give you the same amount of caster . it would be nice to be able to compare the two side-by-side . maybe I'll take A drive down to Camburg and compare them.

 

[sandcrawler]

Yup, but if you read the post I was replying to...

i wasn't correcting you, [MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION]; was just expanding upon your point to further clarify for [MENTION=95801]iRide4Runner[/MENTION]. :cheers:

 

[Intruder]

FWIW, SPC has replaced my balljoints free of charge 3 times since I originally purchased. I usually have to pay a core charge which is then refunded once I send the old ball joints back. Also the most recent time I inquired a warranty exchange I had to produce an invoice of original purchase.

I originally purchased them in 2011.

I'll be purchasing uniball style UCA's the next time these BJ's give out

Yeah, three times in four years is a lot to be replacing them. I'm on my second winter with the TCs and the uniballs (or Lance Armstrongs as I like to call them) are still fine without any squeaks. When you consider all the crap they put on the roads around here in winter I'd say that's pretty good.

i wasn't correcting you, [MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION]; was just expanding upon your point to further clarify for [MENTION=95801]iRide4Runner[/MENTION]. :cheers:

Yeah, was just pointing out that the OP was talking about reusing the OEM BJs. I wonder if anyone with the Camburgs has used the Moogs instead of reusing the OEMs.

 

[gm350reratliff]

If I were to do it over again I would probably go with the Camburg arms that utilize the oem ball joints. I still might ultimately go that route if the LR arms keep giving me trouble. I am going to stop by toytec on Monday and pick up new ball joints and hope they last a little longer.

If your lifted much, I wouldn't recommend the Camburgs. No additional caster built in like they advertise. I would go with a uni-ball style next time.

I'm considering switching to camburg also but the one big advantage that the light racing has is all that caster. I don't believe the Camburgwill give you the same amount of caster . it would be nice to be able to compare the two side-by-side . maybe I'll take A drive down to Camburg and compare them.

I agree. Much more caster can be achieved with the SPCs. Also, you can dial in camber on the SPCs as well.

Yeah, three times in four years is a lot to be replacing them. I'm on my second winter with the TCs and the uniballs (or Lance Armstrongs as I like to call them) are still fine without any squeaks. When you consider all the crap they put on the roads around here in winter I'd say that's pretty good.


Yeah, was just pointing out that the OP was talking about reusing the OEM BJs. I wonder if anyone with the Camburgs has used the Moogs instead of reusing the OEMs.

There are Moog BJs in the Camburg UCAs on my 5th gen. I'm hoping they will last a while but honestly, I'm not expecting much.

 

[Jeremy556]

There are Moog BJs in the Camburg UCAs on my 5th gen. I'm hoping they will last a while but honestly, I'm not expecting much.

Moog seems to have gone to hell in the last 5-10 years

 

[03_4x4Runner]

What does LR stand for?

 

[Jeremy556]

What does LR stand for?

Light Racing AKA Specialty Products Company

 

[4Rager]

Well, I just go my LR UCA's for my build in the mail today, and now I'm second guessing. That being said, they were 30% off, so I paid about half the price of Icons or Total Chaos. I guess I have 20k to save up for some new ones.

 

[AZrunner11]

Since this is related - will I be able to go back to my OEM UCAs with the stage 2 icon with extended travel and get good alignment with all of this negativity toward the SPC light racing UCAs?

 

[Intruder]

Since this is related - will I be able to go back to my OEM UCAs with the stage 2 icon with extended travel and get good alignment with all of this negativity toward the SPC light racing UCAs?

Probably not. Look, personally I wouldn't run LR UCAs again or recommend them but I don't think people should rush to take them off. If you're really worried, start saving for replacements and keep an eye on the ball joints in the meantime. Visually inspect the boots for any holes or tears and check the joints for any play. Even now that I've switched to TC UCAs I have a pair of uniballs and replacement bushings ready to go as soon as mine wear out.