SPC Upper Control Arms: Safe or Not Safe?
- Thread starter Sup41
- Start date
So I have a set of new SPC upper control arms sitting in a box. I inspected them thoroughly when they arrived.
The current version is a fully cast arm. The ball joint mount allows loads of flexibility for setting caster. The pivot bushings do not have grease zerks, so if they start to squeek you're pretty much hosed. The ball joint does.
The adjustability of the SPC is above anything else I've seen.
JBA now runs a custom made ball joint but the GM unit can be used in a pinch. The Ball joint is replaceable without a new alignment. (I don't think this is the case for the SPC from looking at them.)
I paid $400 for my SPC set, but I think I'm gonna just toss in the extra $50 and go with the JBAs.
The current version is a fully cast arm. The ball joint mount allows loads of flexibility for setting caster. The pivot bushings do not have grease zerks, so if they start to squeek you're pretty much hosed. The ball joint does.
The adjustability of the SPC is above anything else I've seen.
JBA now runs a custom made ball joint but the GM unit can be used in a pinch. The Ball joint is replaceable without a new alignment. (I don't think this is the case for the SPC from looking at them.)
I paid $400 for my SPC set, but I think I'm gonna just toss in the extra $50 and go with the JBAs.
YellowSnow
Banned
Yep ^^
And the JBAs have zerks and a lifetime warranty...
And the JBAs have zerks and a lifetime warranty...
tristero
New member
x2
My ball joint on drivers side went bad after 8k miles. Weld quality was not great. Bushings helped my inner fenders sound like a bat cave.
I've heard people say they haven't had any problems but I've never met one. There's a guy in a lifted black GX near my office that has a toytec boss kit with SPC for the last 2 years FWIW. I don't know him or if he's had any issues but that's the longest I've seen someone use their product.
Powder_Hound
New member
I wouldn’t put a JBA anything on any of my trucks. The owner is a douchebag and his parts started with Jeeps. Hence the name Jeeps By Al.
That's not useful. Add some data. Being started as a jeep part co has no bearing.
Charlievee
Senior Member
https://jbaoffroad.com/toyota/jba-std-high-caster-upper-a-arms-for-2005-toyota-tacoma.html
I'm guessing it has to do with a note on the JBA page. Any thing over a 32" tire, may require off set rims. For some reason I couldn't cut and paste the list. Fyi, I ordered a set on Friday, got shipment confirmation like an hour later and follow on emails on installation and alignment. Also some propaganda about the company and a merch advertising. Reached out to them in email and got a prompt response. Time will tell if it was a good decision, but for the price and from my research it's the route I took.
YellowSnow
Banned
They just do this as a precautionary....several people running 285+ tires which are well over 32”, with JBA’s with no issues.
Sup41
New member
YellowSnow
Banned
HD are for hardcore off road use and probably overkill in most applications....the standard HC model is more than adequate according to Marlin.
joshoowa
New member
I have SPC I don't know how many miles unfortunately, maybe 5-6k miles as it's been on the vehicle for about 5-6 months now. I give the ball joint a few pumps of grease every 5k miles, haven't had any squeaks since initial install (I didnt pump enough grease the first time). They don't squeak right now in winter so thats a plus IMO. I went with SPC because I didn't want to run a uniball for longevity and maintenance. I can't really comment against the JBAs but in doing my research, I just didn't like the amount of welds JBA had vs SPC. I also haven't heard/read any failure of either UCA due to the welds, its mainly bc of the ball joint which is the replaceable part.
They way Marlin explained it to me, the HD are or guys going over lots of whoops and jumps. If that’s not you, buy the standard version.
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Wow, that’s for the useless slander [emoji849]. Don’t know who this ‘Al’ is
When I bought my JBAs I went to their shop to pick them up. Not only did Marlin meet me on a Saturday(when they’re closed) but he spent over an hour showing me around the shop and discussing ideas and plans for future products.
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YellowSnow
Banned
Sorry, I cannot understand a word you are saying...I’m too traumatized after looking at your gross ass, gnarled Hobbit feet.
Marlin has answered every text, email phone call that I’ve thrown at him and stands by his product. What’s more, i have yet to read one person running JBA in here having any kind of issue or having experienced bad customer service.
I was running 285 Ridge Grapplers on TRD Pro wheels with the JBA UCA's. No issues at all. Not even close to rubbing. They were great. No Squeaks and great alignments. A little difficult to install though due to tight tolerances.
Powder_Hound
New member
No slander here, because it is MY opinion and based on the communication I had with Marlin. He was nothing but a complete jerk throughout the communication process and I am only sharing this information so that future purchasers know what they might have to deal with. Jeepin By Al is the company Marlin acquired; hence the name JBA! https://jeepinbyal.com
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Powder_Hound
New member
I emailed company with questions about there UCA’s. The responder (Marlin/owner) informed me that my questions about color and actual castor impovements were irrelevant. I should just buy his UCA’s because they were the best...nuff said (simplified version of communication). I’ve been in sales too long to put up with that kind of BS from an owner. It turned me off to the point I will never purchase anything from him and as a proud member of T4R.org I thought it was appropriate to share my experience.
Most on this forum trash Jeeps as a whole and as this company started making parts for Jeeps I felt it was relevant for those to know what this company, JBA, did in the beginning. For some it could be a deal breaker and for others...maybe not, but my experience was so negative it correlated with the beliefs of many about Jeeps.
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