SPC Light Racing UCA
- Thread starter tdsmither
- Start date
gm350reratliff
New member
Me too.
preacher35
New member
8 months and 10k miles on my LR UCA's and no issues thus far.
montijo505
Senior Member
preacher35
New member
Hey [MENTION=109843]montijo505[/MENTION], did you do the install yourself? I think I remember you purchasing those several months ago. Any issues with the install?
zopperman
Moderator
Check your ball joints. That's about when mine crapped out
montijo505
Senior Member
Yeah they sat in a box in my room forever. Finally installed them about 3 weeks ago. The install was very easy, don't know why I put it off for so long.
HokieRunner
New member
This. Mine lasted like 10k if that. The protective boot was in perfect condition but obviously didn't seal very well and one ball joint was in perfect shape and the other was scary worn/rusted/loose.
Customer service was no help. The only thing they helped me with was their washer/bushing revision #483.
Uniball maintenance takes 2 mins a week (and you probably don't have to do it that often). Yeh the joints are exposed but at least I know their condition and don't have to guess what's under the 'protective boot'.
Lots of people run SPC/light racing with no issues. But my experience was otherwise. I wish they would have worked out but c'est la vie!
BlackWorksInc
New member
Yeah it definitely looks like there was a welding issue with their earlier units, the one I saw in person was pretty mangled. But you could see that there might have been an issue with the heat affected zone (too cold?) The new design seemed to have better looking weld, but time will tell. I'd be interested if they ever send you that recall, I wouldn't be surprised if their older units had an issue in manufacturing from the similarities in failures.
blind squirrel
New member
BackOff
New member
Looks like a 'grinding' mark to me. You sure it is a crack?
...and to the fail, these SPC UCA have had a couple different bushing set-ups over the years.
The inner bushing was basically locked in place, so any suspension flex is then coming from the welded area of the joint till it fails.
The newer version is supposed to fix the problem.
I have had my SPC UAC on for the last 5+ years no issues with these.
Although I did get the new bushings...need to install one of these years.
No I don't work for or do I sell any SPC product.
blackoutt
New member
Doesn't look cracked to me either. Looks like the difference in texture between a cast and a ground area. Loading wouldn't make any sense to make a crack run around jagged around the middle of that part of the arm either.
You do have the outdated upper ball joint though, so if you get any knocking in those there's a greasable option. Yours look very clean though for their mileage.
You do have the outdated upper ball joint though, so if you get any knocking in those there's a greasable option. Yours look very clean though for their mileage.
blind squirrel
New member
Yeah, I emailed them and we both came to the conclusion it was casting. If it was a crack... they both would have surely failed already. No issues with the ball joints yet, I know they're the old style so I've kept an eye on them.
BackOff
New member
The issue was resolved with different bushings...
...I have the old style/no zerk ball joint too, and its working fine.
blind squirrel
New member
yeah, I'm happy with mine... I guess I never really looked or I would have seen that casting mark 2 years ago when I installed them.
WanderlostOverland
New member
We had a set of the old style on our FJ and the "no grease" ball joint failed early. SPC replaced them free of charge. The breaks in the welds has long been resolved and there were only a tiny handful of that happening. The bushings have been upgraded to better ones. We just put a new set on our 4Runner and are very confident in their future.
No worries or problems with the new SPC upper control arms.
