UCA question - thoughts and of course opinions welcome.

[Powder_Hound]

Damn!!! Love this forum. Good stuff. Although it Keeps me from staying focused at work while in the office! :lmao:

Thinking the JBA might be a 4th contender as I like the price, the easily replaceable Moog ball joint, the OEM UCA bushings, but the red is terrible!!!! Not that I am a color princess, but red against blue, black, and yellow OME shocks would be less desirable than a good ole flat black or grey UCA. IMO of course.

 

[The Yin]

This right here.

I've been researching and reading and asking myself the same questions, and I've come to just about the same lack of conclusion. I've read about all 4 options mentioned (haven't checked ebay).

I'd rather not have uni balls, so the TC was out. I'd like to not buy something that will brake, so SPC (LR) was on the bench. Then I came to Cam. (w/ ball joints) that seemed like a good choose, less cost then TC better build then SPC.
But now there is JBA! However, the more pricey JBA looks comparable to the Cam as far as the build, and the cheaper ones look more like SPC.

So now I'm trying to decide between one of the 2 JBA or Camburg (w/ ball joints).

I plan on doing my build at the end of the year, so I've still got some time to see how the JBA's are holding up.


UPDATE: I'm just noticing on JBA's site they mention the "Ball joint has a grease fitting and should be lubed every 3000 to 6000 miles"
Would that be the case with the Moog ball joints on the Camburg UCA?
I'm noob, so I'm not sure, but is that something that should be done with all Ball Joints?

 

[jfry008]

2003 2009 Toyota 4Runner 2007 2014 FJ Cruiser Upper Control Arms 2WD 4WD | eBay

$235 shipped...very similar to camburg ball joint UCAs..something to consider

 

[Powder_Hound]

2003 2009 Toyota 4Runner 2007 2014 FJ Cruiser Upper Control Arms 2WD 4WD | eBay

$235 shipped...very similar to camburg ball joint UCAs..something to consider

Thanks for sharing, but for 1/2 the price of an already issue prone UCA (SPC/LR) these would have me nervous everytime I drove my truck; let alone driving my family in my T4R while towing my PUP at 75 MPH.

Has anyone else used these? How long in use? How much castor do they add? Price is great, but will I get what I paid for?

I'm with [MENTION=116319]The Yin[/MENTION] and now leaning toward the Camburg or JWA's.

 

[jfry008]

The eBay link and picture are for replica Camburg balljoint UCAs....not similar to SPC/LR.

 

[4RunninMD]

Thanks for sharing, but for 1/2 the price of an already issue prone UCA (SPC/LR) these would have me nervous everytime I drove my truck; let alone driving my family in my T4R while towing my PUP at 75 MPH.

Has anyone else used these? How long in use? How much castor do they add? Price is great, but will I get what I paid for?

I'm with [MENTION=116319]The Yin[/MENTION] and now leaning toward the Camburg or JWA's.

I was looking at a guys Build Thread that is running these.. Said he has not had any issues ill see if i can find jt an post a link

 

[4RunninMD]

The link was Jfry008's thread :lol:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Powder_Hound]

The eBay link and picture are for replica Camburg balljoint UCAs....not similar to SPC/LR.

Thanks for the clarification, but at $200 they are still more than 50% less than the SPC's that are going for about $500 these days.

It's crazy how many UCA's are out there and the difference in pricing. I'm comfortable with EBay for some things, but for driveline parts and suspension I'm a little less confident.

 

[jfry008]

I don't have any interest in convincing you to buy them. I just wanted to let you know they were out there and very similar to the Camburgs. If I had children riding in my runner or a wife that was going to be driving it I would want the part to be safe, with a good solid history as well. Good luck on your UCA decision.

 

[Mile high]

I'm no expert but as another affordable option I've gone with Light Racing on my last two Lifted Toyotas. 14 Tacoma with OME LIFT and 16 4Runner Toytech Boss. Some very reputable shops have recommended them highly. Don't have the cool factor like Icon or TC UCA's but very adjustable and reliable.

 

[07V8]

I'm no expert but as another affordable option I've gone with Light Racing on my last two Lifted Toyotas. 14 Tacoma with OME LIFT and 16 4Runner Toytech Boss. Some very reputable shops have recommended them highly. Don't have the cool factor like Icon or TC UCA's but very adjustable and reliable.

LR is SPC.....

 

[truckhigh]

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

I took a caliper to everything on the eBay arms. There is 2pieces that have adapt to the uniball by the spindle. The 2 pieces have 1mm of play and the piece that fits into the uniball has no play. I might weld them together or weld and drill it again.

I like the idea of the jwa's but I wish they put a gusset on the ends or have some kind of gusset or strap for where the balljoints mounts. I'm guessing it 1/4 plate and would think it has some flex. I haven't seen these in person and just guessing from the pics.

Just don't get LR/spc's... none of my techs would touch the LR/spc uca, I would have to go home and mark and adjust. If any mechanic touches them its more of their fault then LR. I would even say with some research eBay arms are better the LR .

 

[iAlex684]

Well I had JBA for almost a month and I love them so far. I haven't really tested them off road since I'm busy with college. I included what they look like and my alignment spec after the install. After I purchased them I posted some pictures on 4Runner 4x4 Facebook page and I got one of this guy I talk to on Instagram to purchase it. I felt that us 4Runner people don't know about them so I wanted to inform the people. They aren't bad for the price. I didn't want to waste my money on adjustable ball joint when I have to take it to a alignment place to get it aligned when the person aligning it has limited knowledge about them.

 

[dkyleb]

I took a caliper to everything on the eBay arms. There is 2pieces that have adapt to the uniball by the spindle. The 2 pieces have 1mm of play and the piece that fits into the uniball has no play. I might weld them together or weld and drill it again.

I like the idea of the jwa's but I wish they put a gusset on the ends or have some kind of gusset or strap for where the balljoints mounts. I'm guessing it 1/4 plate and would think it has some flex. I haven't seen these in person and just guessing from the pics.

Just don't get LR/spc's... none of my techs would touch the LR/spc uca, I would have to go home and mark and adjust. If any mechanic touches them its more of their fault then LR. I would even say with some research eBay arms are better the LR .

(I know this isn't the right order, disregard)

Which piece are you talking about here?

 

[having fun]

My %'s are close to yours, wheeling 6+ ratings.

SPC's I had where 2+ yrs. There bushing I do believe are pretty much resolved from prior problems. I don't believe there BJ is even close to the strength of OEM. You can hit any variety of alignment #'s you wish to have.

My current Camburgs, Getting castor is to factory is not going to happen with 2+ lift,not sure if the BJ version helps. Stronger and travel with Uniball is there.

This is just the ones I have dealt with. Personally, If you are going to wheel HARD for the little you do, like I. Go with UNIBALLs is my suggestion. I don't think any of these aftermarket arm with BJ's in them will ever compare to OEM strength, they go out to fast.

 

[truckhigh]

(I know this isn't the right order, disregard)

Which piece are you talking about here?

from the bottom up it goes nut, washer,spindle adapter(gold) then uniball adapter. the gold spindle adapter does not match up to the uniball adapter. it has a 1mm of play and since there is only a nylock nut instead of a castle nut and pin. You want no vibration in that joint at all or it will loosen. i'm gonna try to get rid of the play and then try to find a lock nut.

 

[dkyleb]

from the bottom up it goes nut, washer,spindle adapter(gold) then uniball adapter. the gold spindle adapter does not match up to the uniball adapter. it has a 1mm of play and since there is only a nylock nut instead of a castle nut and pin. You want no vibration in that joint at all or it will loosen. i'm gonna try to get rid of the play and then try to find a lock nut.

Wow, that's unfortunate. Why didn't you just contact the eBay seller? They were kind enough to send me replacement sleeves when mine were too short.

My spindle adapter fit perfectly...

 

[Powder_Hound]

My %'s are close to yours, wheeling 6+ ratings.

SPC's I had where 2+ yrs. There bushing I do believe are pretty much resolved from prior problems. I don't believe there BJ is even close to the strength of OEM. You can hit any variety of alignment #'s you wish to have.

My current Camburgs, Getting castor is to factory is not going to happen with 2+ lift,not sure if the BJ version helps. Stronger and travel with Uniball is there.

This is just the ones I have dealt with. Personally, If you are going to wheel HARD for the little you do, like I. Go with UNIBALLs is my suggestion. I don't think any of these aftermarket arm with BJ's in them will ever compare to OEM strength, they go out to fast.

Interesting you can't get castor in spec. With 2.5 degrees of additional castor, in the bj version, correction I should be able to get 2.5-3 degrees as I'm at .5 now. I'm lifted 3".

 

[having fun]

Interesting you can't get castor in spec. With 2.5 degrees of additional camber, in the bj version, correction I should be able to get 2.5-3 degrees as I'm at .5 now. I'm lifted 3".

I'm on a 3/3 lift, sitting about 2 5/8" in front. We could hit caster numbers like above, but, would loose camber numbers doing so. Way high.
So I prefer better tire contact and wear even, life span, I'm at 0* camber, .06 toe, and 1.6 caster. I can live with this, as I drive big rigs, so when I get back in my 4r, I don't really feel that twitch/drift as others say they feel with low caster.

I've seen others with these arms sitting about the same. I have there 1.25 ball version. Theory is for every " in lift, you loose 1* caster. Personally I decided I prefer not to chance on breaking a BJ while running hard, I feel if the uniball goes bad, I can make it out.

 

[morphious]

Has anyone else used these? How long in use? How much castor do they add? Price is great, but will I get what I paid for?

I believe [MENTION=86063]wyanrard[/MENTION] uses those as-well. I have eBay UCA's but I have the one with uniballs.