SPC UCA’s quality going downhill

[Rambo3500]

2018 4runner with Toytec Boss/Blistein Aluma 2.0 3” lift w/SPC UCA’s.

Use the truck for off-roading on a somewhat regular basis and this is the second set of these things that have developed play after off and on road use. I’ve barely put 30k on the truck in the time since I first installed the whole lift.

Has anyone else had bad luck with the SPC UCA’s? I like the fact that I was able to get my front wheels to not rub since the caster angle could be reset, but if these UCA’s were designed for posers who just want the lifted look and not for actual off-road use, I am denouncing SPC as the new Rough Country in terms of subpar quality.


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[Whippersnapper02]

Never had issues with mine on my Tacoma. I purchased a set but haven't installed them on my Runner. I know at some point there was a bad batch.

 

[Soneill]

Almost 60k on mine and zero issues.

 

[Rambo3500]

Never had issues with mine on my Tacoma. I purchased a set but haven't installed them on my Runner. I know at some point there was a bad batch.

I haven’t heard much bad press about them so that’s why both me and the guys in the shop that installed them were baffled. SPC does have good CS so hopefully they give me a credit because after 2 sets I just don’t have faith in them anymore.


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[Rambo3500]

Almost 60k on mine and zero issues.

With off-road use?


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[mbm112]

Have 50k on mine with lots of off-road use and no issues.


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[comtn4x4]

I've got about 80,000 miles and I do off road quite a bit. What exactly failed on them?

 

[Rambo3500]

I've got about 80,000 miles and I do of road quite a bit. What exactly failed on them?

First set had side to side play in the bushings. Replaced under warranty.

Noticed a popping sound when turning my steering wheel at low speeds which I thought was a tie rod. Brought it into the shop for an alignment and mentioned the pop. Turned out to be the second set but they didn’t say what was specifically causing it. Only that they were going to open a case with SPC and work on getting me a credit towards a different brand of UCAs. Truck left the shop without getting aligned.

Seems like I either got 2 bad sets or their quality is going down the drain.


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[comtn4x4]

First set had side to side play in the bushings. Replaced under warranty.

Noticed a popping sound when turning my steering wheel at low speeds which I thought was a tie rod. Brought it into the shop for an alignment and mentioned the pop. Turned out to be the second set but they didn’t say what was specifically causing it. Only that they were going to open a case with SPC and work on getting me a credit towards a different brand of UCAs. Truck was not aligned in the shop.

Seems like I either got 2 bad sets or their quality is going down the drain.


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Interesting that popping symptom. I'd like to know more about what was going on there.
Quite some time ago there was some issues with the bushings and something in the ball joint design IIRC. They changed the design and I hadn't heard much since then. That was probably '15 or around that time. I don't know if that could have affected you. I had a set installed in '13 and the shop I used at the time got me a new set for free in '16 under the guise of "failure".


If I was going to run something else I'd consider Dirt King ball joint UCA's

 

[Rambo3500]

Interesting that popping symptom. I'd like to know more about what was going on there.
Quite some time ago there was some issues with the bushings and something in the ball joint design IIRC. They changed the design and I hadn't heard much since then. That was probably '15 or around that time. I don't know if that could have affected you. I had a set installed in '13 and the shop I used at the time got me a new set for free in '16 under the guise of "failure".


If I was going to run something else I'd consider Dirt King ball joint UCA's

I’ll ask when I they call me for an update. And they were installed in 2020 and the second set in 2022 so definitely beyond the redesign.

Thanks for the recommendation for Dirt King!


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[rdruss]

Was watching a youtube video the other day and guy was unboxing his new SPCs and box was clearly marked: "Made in China". Don't recall the age of that video though.

 

[tylertenny]

My SPC's started making noise less than a year after install. It turned out to be a bad bushing on the passenger side arm. I've seen complaints from other people that had the same issue that had theirs fixed or replaced under warranty only to run into the same issues again. I was worried about that so I figured I was better off going with a different brand rather than pay for shipping and multiple alignments. I removed the SPC's and installed JBA's a few months ago and they've been great so far. To be fair, I'm guessing that there are probably more people running SPC UCA's than any other brand so there's bound to be more threads popping up about issues with them.

 

[TRD PANTHER]

I was initially going to go with SPC’s, but my off road shop talked me into Nolathane UCA’s. Just got these installed last month with my new extended travel Radflo’s. No tire clearance problems with positive offset wheels. Time will tell. Attached is a link. Nolathane Upper Control Arms for your lifted 4x4
Features:
Fixed camber & caster rectification (for typical 2 inch lift)
Non-adjustable meaning no slipping.
Built tough utilising 1020 grade forged ball joint housing, forged end-rings and 1020 DOM tubing with 360º welds.
Heavy duty, greaseable, chromoly ball joints with increased articulation for improved travel and minimal binding.
GIIRO – the ultimate touring bushing with increased articulation while being lubrication and maintenance free.

 

[Soneill]

With off-road use?


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Yes sir!!

 

[Teamoatmealpie]

SPC installed 11/16 - needed a new drivers side 11/2018. I probably could have greased them more often- I chalk this one up to me.

Installed 2 new BJ's 11/21 and now year later they are toast- this set I greased every 5k (on my oil change schedule), to avoid having issues again.
Not super pumped - shop that was going to do alignment today told me get OME or Icon for longevity.

Looked again at the mileage- lift install at 30k, now at 130k. So within that 100k miles I am now going to be installing ball joints #6 & #7. Only needed 1 in 2018 hence the odd number.

I see something else like JBA in the future for me.

 

[Rambo3500]

Glad to see I’m not the only one. This topic should be elevated in the 4runner community so folks who off-road in their runners know to stay far away from SPC junk!!!


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[Rambo3500]

Update: it was the ball joint. Shop said they used to be flawless up until around ‘14 when they changed the design and now apparently they’ve been getting more complaints from people running SPC’s.

Getting a credit towards Icons and will grease them religiously. Hopefully this solves my UCA woes. Aside from that everything about my lift has worked perfectly.


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[Xtremluck]

Update: it was the ball joint. Shop said they used to be flawless up until around ‘14 when they changed the design and now apparently they’ve been getting more complaints from people running SPC’s.

Getting a credit towards Icons and will grease them religiously. Hopefully this solves my UCA woes. Aside from that everything about my lift has worked perfectly.


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You’re not going to like Icons much better friend. Delta Joints are garbage as well. They wear out within a year of hard off-road use. I would just go with a reputable UCA with standard uniballs or a sealed ball joint


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[Rambo3500]

You’re not going to like Icons much better friend. Delta Joints are garbage as well. They wear out within a year of hard off-road use. I would just go with a reputable UCA with standard uniballs or a sealed ball joint


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Man there must be a lot of non-off roaders who would’ve been better with a puck lift out there!

Shame that more people don’t use their runners for what they were designed for. Maybe then the market would shift away from producing Chineseum grade rubbish.


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[Rambo3500]

You’re not going to like Icons much better friend. Delta Joints are garbage as well. They wear out within a year of hard off-road use. I would just go with a reputable UCA with standard uniballs or a sealed ball joint


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Are Total Chaos any better?


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