UCA Type Question - Uniball or Balljoint???

[BHarv]

Ok, I'm getting parts together to lift my 07' 2WD. I'll be using the ICON extended length remote resi coilovers and Maxtrac spindles but have a question about UCA's.

To start I live in FL and as you know we don't have many hills or dunes to play on here, just mud for the most part. Also, the climate is on the humid side, plus I live near the beach, leading to pronounced rusting of pretty much everything.

So the question is, do I go with the ICON uniball UCA's or the Camburg balljoint type UCA's? My reasoning for even considering the balljoint UCA option would be the sealed joint versus the exposed uniball on the ICON's. Also, the maintenance of the uniball construction concerns me. I've done a lot of digging here and elsewhere and have heard horror stories about the noises that the uniballs develop, even when properly serviced with Tri-flow.

If I went with the ICON UCA's I would get their Uniball Cover Cap Kit which looks to shield the uniball from the majority of the elements. I'm wondering if applying Tri-flow and popping those covers on would be the solution over buying the Camburg balljoint type UCA's?

Money isn't a limiting factor here I just want to get the right thing the first time for my application. Any comments or experience would be appreciated so I could get these things ordered.

 

[Drunner97]

Personally I went with the ball joints so I didn't have to worry about maintenance. I have the caps to keep the water/dirt/mud out and the ball joints have zerks so they are serviceable as needed.

 

[BHarv]

Do the caps on the Camburg just pop off? One thing I don't like about the Icon caps is they are sealed using a 3M adhesive. So if you need to service them, which you will, you have to peel off the adhesive before you reinstall another adhesive strip to seal them again.

Drunner, any issues with the Camburgs so far in the time you have been running them?

 

[Drunner97]

Do the caps on the Camburg just pop off? One thing I don't like about the Icon caps is they are sealed using a 3M adhesive. So if you need to service them, which you will, you have to peel off the adhesive before you reinstall another adhesive strip to seal them again.

Drunner, any issues with the Camburgs so far in the time you have been running them?

The Camburg caps are held in place by an O-Ring and you have to grind/sand down the inside a bit to get them to fit. So far they're a solid fit and I can't pop them without using a flat head screw driver. No problems so far. I've only had them on for about 4k miles but I've had them off road a lot too. Everything from crawling to fast fire roads.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Honestly if you were just rocking a standard length 1~3" ride height lift kit I'd say just go with whatever fits your wallet and peace of mind. But if you're running some custom spindles and extended length shocks, you may want the extra articulation that the uniball offers because I have a feeling the combination of extended length shocks and slightly different spindle will put a bit more stress on that upper balljoint (because if the rest of the front suspension has plenty of room to "stretch out" and the upper balljoint becomes the part holding everything back, it will feel a bit more of the abuse.)

 

[BHarv]

Thanks for the reply's.

I do know that Camburg says the balljoint UCA's do work with the extended length coilovers. But I also agree that the balljoint would probably be the limiting factor in my setup.

Is there anything else I need to know about the uniball maintenance I'm not bringing up here. Basically, just hit it with tri-flow at every oil change and keep the dirt/salt out of the uniball? Obviously, I'd be running the cover caps so I hope that help keeps the majority of the crap out of the uniball.

 

[kaizer427]

Thanks for the reply's.

I do know that Camburg says the balljoint UCA's do work with the extended length coilovers. But I also agree that the balljoint would probably be the limiting factor in my setup.

Is there anything else I need to know about the uniball maintenance I'm not bringing up here. Basically, just hit it with tri-flow at every oil change and keep the dirt/salt out of the uniball? Obviously, I'd be running the cover caps so I hope that help keeps the majority of the crap out of the uniball.

The caps only work with the standard ball joint version, the uniball version remains open.

Just clean the dirt out of the top of the uniball, let it dry, hit it with triflow. Easy.

 

[BHarv]

Was talking about these uniball caps.

ICON Tubular Uniball Control Arm Cover Caps

But I got you on the maintenance. Any noise coming from your Camburg's?

 

[yosh2000]

i went with the Camburg BJs because they are enclosed. out here in CO we have mag chloride and i drive some messing dirt roads for work in the winter, so it was a no brainer for me. i have been very happy with them.

personally dont see the point in uniballs unless you are LT...i know some guys will disagree.