UCA question - thoughts and of course opinions welcome.

[Powder_Hound]

I have been researching this since February, but still not 100% where I want to or should go. My vision would be that I am on pavement 75-80% of the time, in the dirt 15%, and wheeling 5-10%. I'm not into mudding or jumping, but I do enjoy challenging trails (think Moab Hells Revenge at high end)

Long story short
Removed XREAS, OEM springs and Daystar 2 1/2 X 1 1/2 lift.
Replaced with OME/Toytec RCC2.0HD.
Castor is maxed at .5 so I am buying new UCA's for better tracking, improving castor, and hopefully helping to stuff 285/70/17 vs. 275/70/17's.

Ball joint vs. Uni-ball
Pros
BJ - less maintenance and less expensive
UB - stronger by design and more articulation
Cons
BJ - weaker by design, and less articulation
UB - more maintenance (lube and over time more replacement of uni-ball), cost, and not as user friendly in snowy environments (sand, salt, mag chloride are hard on uni-balls)

SPC, Camburg BJ, and Total Chaos are the three I am leaning towards. Adding JBA Off-road based on comments in thread
What are the Pro's vs. Cons? I've added my thoughts based on research.

The UCA matchup
Pros
-SPC is less expensive (around $500) requires less maintenance, and has adjustability in UCA (could help fitting 285/70/17 without BMC or cutting and pinning fender.
-TC is stronger by design and uses a 1" Uniball for better strength and maximizes travel. Also will have a straight forward alignment.
-Camburg for straight forward alignment, sealed Moog (K500018) ball joint, and "about 2.5 degrees of castor correction" (per Carlos at Camburg).
-JBA is less expensive (around $450), uses Moog ball joints, Moog factory style bushings, amd adds 3 degrees of additional castor.
Cons
-SPC has a reputation for failure, bushing issues in the past, and you need to educate alignment tech on adjustability of upper arm.
-TC is more expensive (around $700) and requires maintenance (periodic lubrication)
-Camburg ???
-JBA is newer to T4R market , they been used and designed for Jeeps since 2004 and was first used in Toyotas 1/2015.

Nuetral
-SPC - Ball joint
-TC - Uniball and unknown castor gain. Castor will be improved, but not sure how much is built into UCA
-Camburg - Ball Joint and is around $600
-JBA - Moog ball joint, only color is red

These are my Pros and Cons, but I'm not sure I fully understand the reality of what I have learned. Please share your thoughts on Pros and Cons of the 3-4 UCA's I am looking on adding to my T4R before summer...I hope.

Thanks for looking and offering your knowledge.

 

[JimInTN]

I went with camburg ball joint arms. I didn't want to fool with uni balls and maintaining them or fool with trying to explain to the alignment tech how to adjust the spc arms.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The only knock I have against the Camburgs is that they do not have enough caster built into them.

The SPC arms are hit or miss in the past, it seems they are improving and the set I have on (a bit over a year old) are holding up well. The Total Chaos units are nice ones and I think they will probably be my next set of UCA when I get other stuff squared away.

 

[Macallan]

I've had spc on 3 of my vehicles (2 present, 1 past). They warranted a bushing and has worked great ever since on one vehicle (4runner) 3+ years now. Tundra spc working perfect 2+ years. Sold my tacoma working perfect for 3 years.

 

[truckhigh]

i had spc's and soo many problems... they released new grease-able bj's and didn't let anybody know. the design of the old boot was loose. If anybody with spc's pulls their boot down they will see a crusty mess. On top of that they don't have a gusset for strength.

I have eBay arms and I'm still on the fence with them. You should buy camburg ball joint UCA for the best all around arm.

 

[dkyleb]

i had spc's and soo many problems... they released new grease-able bj's and didn't let anybody know. the design of the old boot was loose. If anybody with spc's pulls their boot down they will see a crusty mess. On top of that they don't have a gusset for strength.

I have eBay arms and I'm still on the fence with them. You should buy camburg ball joint UCA for the best all around arm.

Regarding the eBay arms, what are you on the fence about?

 

[truckhigh]

Regarding the eBay arms, what are you on the fence about?

I still have a tiny amount of play from the spindle adapter uniball adapter. The spacer i made is getting more and more play because there is almost 1mm of play out the box. there is 1 degree of camber that no tech can figure out . I didn't have it with the Spc's but i will never put a SPC products on my car again.

 

[07V8]

I could not bring myself to pay for something that has known CATASTROPHIC failures. Between three or four different bushing revisions and weld failures, they're not a quality product.

I went with Camburg and as others have mentioned, they don't have too much extra caster. In hindsight, I wish I went with TC.

Overall the Camburgs have been flawless. I religiously lube the joints with TriFlow and bushings with the polyurethane grease.

 

[BusinessHippieRH]

The "maintenance" on the TCs really isn't that bad. They have zerks for the bushings, just point them right when you install and keep a grease gun stocked with what TC calls for. I don't remember what the brand/type was...The grease has lasted me quite some time (~2 years I think).

Folks have gone back and forth on lubricating the uniball. I do it sometimes (usually when I have time to get the truck REALLY clean- otherwise I feel I'm just working dirt in to them). This isn't difficult either. Just get a good dry lube.

They do squeak a bit when they get dry. So, when they squeak, get out your grease gun. I also tend to do it whenever I do the driveline.

 

[Powder_Hound]

Thanks for all the quick feedback!!! It's great stuff as I expected from this group. I'm hoping a few more will add thoughts and opinions, however, I think adding the Camburgs Ball Joint (with pre-installed Moog ball joints) looks like a great option.

I'm seeing SPC for around $500, Camburg for $600, and TC for $700. Purchase price would be a pro for SPC, a con for TC, and nuetral for Camburg.

It also sounds like getting alignment done would be a con for SPC in that you would have to teach the alignment tech about the upper arm adjuster. I haven't been able to confirm increased Castor for TC or Camburg, but these would be a pro to have alignment done (just moving lower adjusters), but possibly a con if I can't get Castor around 3.

I'll update first post with this info.

 

[BusinessHippieRH]

The alignment guys have never had a problem adjusting mine (TCs)... I don't have the numbers at work, but I could get em for you this weekend (Sunday- out of town til then).

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Thanks for all the quick feedback!!! It's great stuff as I expected from this group. I'm hoping a few more will add thoughts and opinions, however, I think adding the Camburgs Ball Joint (with pre-installed Moog ball joints) looks like a great option.

I'm seeing SPC for around $500, Camburg for $600, and TC for $700. Purchase price would be a pro for SPC, a con for TC, and nuetral for Camburg.

It also sounds like getting alignment done would be a con for SPC in that you would have to teach the alignment tech about the upper arm adjuster. I haven't been able to confirm increased Castor for TC or Camburg, but these would be a pro to have alignment done (just moving lower adjusters), but possibly a con if I can't get Castor around 3.

I'll update first post with this info.

Honestly, adjusting the SPCs is not hard at all. You just look at the sheet and set the caster plate to where you want it. On our vehicles you're best off pulling the upper balljoint to the furthest out position for clearance.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

The only knock I have against the Camburgs is that they do not have enough caster built into them.

Not enough, as in; you can't achieve a proper alignment? And at what lift height? Over 3"? Over 4"?

I'm curious since I've been dead set on Camburgs. I'm planning 3" of suspension lift.

Thanks.

 

[NZDZRT]

Check out JBA Offroad UCA's

Best of both worlds! Range of motion that a uniball has, lower maintenance BJ design. I have had mine for a few months, have wheeled. Very happy so far as alignment came in great with about 3.5 deg caster. Less than $500 shipped!

NZDZRT

 

[Billynath1988]

Best of both worlds! Range of motion that a uniball has, lower maintenance BJ design. I have had mine for a few months, have wheeled. Very happy so far as alignment came in great with about 3.5 deg caster. Less than $500 shipped!

NZDZRT

How come ive never seen this before? How do these compare to the Camburg balljoint ucas in terms of quality?

Also, what instance other then desert racing/ taking jumps at 100mph lol, would going to the HD version benefit you. would there be anything noticeable?

 

[blackoutt]

wow the price of SPC's has gone up! I picked mine up sept 2015 for $350 shipped new off of ebay using the best offer button. I've been happy with their adjustability (although too complex for some alignment techs, it's really not that difficult) and haven't had a failure of any sort. Mostly street driven with occasional mild offroad. I didn't want to deal with uniballs.

 

[NZDZRT]

Jba

How come ive never seen this before? How do these compare to the Camburg balljoint ucas in terms of quality?

Also, what instance other then desert racing/ taking jumps at 100mph lol, would going to the HD version benefit you. would there be anything noticeable?

They are newish to Toyota, they started with Heeps. Several guys on Tacoma forum use them. I didn't want to spend the extra on the HD version. Just another option, I have no vested interest in your decision. I just knew that I wanted caster! And didn't want uniballs.

NZDZRT

 

[Billynath1988]

They are newish to Toyota, they started with Heeps. Several guys on Tacoma forum use them. I didn't want to spend the extra on the HD version. Just another option, I have no vested interest in your decision. I just knew that I wanted caster! And didn't want uniballs.

NZDZRT

scanning through this for reference:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ntrol-arms-and-suspension-mega-thread.364484/

 

[dkyleb]

I still have a tiny amount of play from the spindle adapter uniball adapter. The spacer i made is getting more and more play because there is almost 1mm of play out the box. there is 1 degree of camber that no tech can figure out . I didn't have it with the Spc's but i will never put a SPC products on my car again.

You had to make an adapter? Honestly, I'm having trouble visualizing what you're talking about. Do you have any pictures?

I could not bring myself to pay for something that has known CATASTROPHIC failures. Between three or four different bushing revisions and weld failures, they're not a quality product.

Are you talking about SPC?

 

[07V8]

You had to make an adapter? Honestly, I'm having trouble visualizing what you're talking about. Do you have any pictures?



Are you talking about SPC?

Yes SPC.