Upper Control Arms which brand?

[TrunksGen3]

Hi all.
After fitting a 2" suspension lift, and 285 tyres, my wheel alignment is out, and can't get back within factory spec with standard UCA's. In the UK there is pretty much no option but to pay the costly shipping and import TAX, so am after some input from your collective wisdom & experience please, before taking the plunge!

I seem to have 3 options:

1. SPC Adjustable UCA's
2. Camburg Uniball UCA's
3. Total Chaos Uniball UCA's

These are my concerns/questions:

1. Have SPC finally sorted out their issues? Balljoint failure, welds cracking and bushes shredding?

2. The SPC has loads of adjustment to allow me to get within factory alignment specs, Camburg & TC don't (not on the UCA's anyhow, but seem to have slightly different geometry?). How have folks got on with getting the Camburg & TC UCA's aligned after fitting? Are your alignment measurements back within factory?

3. The winter weather in the UK is dreadful! Snow, slush. The roads are grit salted to stop the ice - i'm concerend that the 'open top' uniball will pretty much get destroyed within a year. I think the rubber boot of the SPC might offer some more protection from the elements. Am i wrong here? What sort of weather/winter have peoples uniballs survived?

4. Any other brand recommendations i'm overlooking.

5. should i just stop worrying about getting factory alignment and just live with Mr T's standards UCA's?

Thanks in advance

James

 

[T4R2014]

There's a reason OEM's never use uniballs - they make no sense if you use your vehicle like a normal person uses one. They are no good for winter conditions.

 

[Scramble]

Dont forget about All-Pro UCA's.

I'm using them in salty winter conditions. If you're driving in winter salt you should bring your car to the car wash at least once a week whether you have uniballs or not. People who dont...well their frames are shot. I keep a can of teflon spray in the truck & spray them after a wash.
People on this forum are not normal, we're car guys.

 

[kolelt]

Built Right Fabrication makes uniball arms to but you have to call to order. It's what I run.

Uniball require more maintenance, but you will be ok in winter. I've been running it for a while, through NJ winter, mud and more. It's fine.

 

[Mighty Buffalo]

Icon offers a shorter top ball joint adapter so you can run a cover over the top of the uniball.

 

[PWD4R]

Dont forget about All-Pro UCA's.

I'm using them in salty winter conditions. If you're driving in winter salt you should bring your car to the car wash at least once a week whether you have uniballs or not. People who dont...well their frames are shot. I keep a can of teflon spray in the truck & spray them after a wash.
People on this forum are not normal, we're truck** guys.

Fixed it. Lol



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[absalom]

Another "what type of oil should I use" shi-tfest. My SPC's were fantastic, and around 1/2 the price of other options.

 

[JayRolla]

Spc have most adjustment and are better for firewall clearance. You should be able to get 1-2* caster on stock uca's. That is more than enough. Also 2" lift should not max the ball joint like 3" would. You dont need aftermarkets.

 

[PWD4R]

I read this earlier but I will chime in my experience. I have a 3" up front with stock UCAs and mine aligned perfectly fine.

Just last week.


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[T4R2014]

In other words, yup, uniballs are fine in the winter as long as you like driving around with a can of Teflon spray and trying not to forget to spray your UCA's when you wash your truck every week(and before anyone thinks I don't, I run the sprinkler under mine daily in the winter). And even then I can't guarantee it will last as long as a normal ball joint.

But yeah, car and truck guy stuffs.

 

[Scramble]

In other words, yup, uniballs are fine in the winter as long as you like driving around with a can of Teflon spray and trying not to forget to spray your UCA's when you wash your truck every week(and before anyone thinks I don't, I run the sprinkler under mine daily in the winter). And even then I can't guarantee it will last as long as a normal ball joint.

But yeah, car and truck guy stuffs.

A spray can of lube is smaller than a quart of oil, a gallon of antifreeze or a gallon of windshield wiper fluid which many people carry around in the backs of their cars or trucks. Spraying two uniballs is easier than checking & filling up 4 tires with air.

 

[T4R2014]

A spray can of lube is smaller than a quart of oil, a gallon of antifreeze or a gallon of windshield wiper fluid which many people carry around in the backs of their cars or trucks. Spraying two uniballs is easier than checking & filling up 4 tires with air.

True, but it just turns into another obligation that makes a 4Runner about as care free to use as a Jaguar E Type(ask me how I know).

Never understood why people carry gallons of stuff either. Are they planning on changing their coolant in a 7 eleven parking lot during a road trip? Do they have a head gasket leak that they they're too cheap to fix? Do they carry gallons of washer fluid because they drive through swarms of insects as high speeds, necessitating washer fluid refill stops in the middle of nowhere? The world needs an explanation.

 

[Scramble]

True, but it just turns into another obligation that makes a 4Runner about as care free to use as a Jaguar E Type(ask me how I know).

Never understood why people carry gallons of stuff either. Are they planning on changing their coolant in a 7 eleven parking lot during a road trip? Do they have a head gasket leak that they they're too cheap to fix? Do they carry gallons of washer fluid because they drive through swarms of insects as high speeds, necessitating washer fluid refill stops in the middle of nowhere? The world needs an explanation.

I used to carry nothing in my truck & was proud of it because it was so reliable. Now that's it's older I carry tools & fluids. They can get you home without calling a tow truck.

I work nights so if I bust a coolant hose I can cut off the end, put it back on, add fluid & be on my way. I dont want to be stranded at 2am somewhere freezing to death! LOL

 

[PWD4R]

I used to carry nothing in my truck & was proud of it because it was so reliable. Now that's it's older I carry tools & fluids. They can get you home without calling a tow truck.



I work nights so if I bust a coolant hose I can cut off the end, put it back on, add fluid & be on my way. I dont want to be stranded at 2am somewhere freezing to death! LOL

Move to Texas. It'll at least eliminate the "freeze to death" part


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[Scramble]

Move to Texas. It'll at least eliminate the "freeze to death" part


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lol Then I'll have to carry a gallon of water so I dont dehydrate to death!:becky:

 

[PWD4R]

lol Then I'll have to carry a gallon of water so I dont dehydrate to death!:becky:

Lol. Your body is mostly water. You'll live, sir.


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[fourfive]

Hi all.
After fitting a 2" suspension lift, and 285 tyres, my wheel alignment is out, and can't get back within factory spec with standard UCA's. In the UK there is pretty much no option but to pay the costly shipping and import TAX, so am after some input from your collective wisdom & experience please, before taking the plunge!

With a 2" lift a "skilled" alignment tech should be able to get it within or at least close enough to factory specs for you to not really notice much of a difference regarding function. My experience has been that the majority of the alignment accuracy has to do with the person doing the alignment. I've seen alignment numbers off on stock vehicles. I currently have a 2.25" front lift & I've had my alignment numbers range all over the place depending on who was doing it. If you're not sure, I would recommend sticking with your stock UCA for now.


I seem to have 3 options:

1. SPC Adjustable UCA's
2. Camburg Uniball UCA's
3. Total Chaos Uniball UCA's

As far as the 3 you mentioned, they all seem to have there pros & cons. I only have experience with stock & SPC UCAs. I went with SPC because aside from having different adjustment options, it also gave me the option of moving my front 285s & now 315s as far away from the rear wheel well as possible. However, doing this prevented me from getting my caster within spec but functionally it handles fine. If you get the SPCs & care more about factory alignment specs instead of rear wheel well clearance, there are settings for that too.

These are my concerns/questions:

1. Have SPC finally sorted out their issues? Balljoint failure, welds cracking and bushes shredding?

I've read about some of these issues and from what I've read, they were resolved a few years ago. However, they do have great customer service & have always been very easy to communicate with. I've had my SPC UCAs since December 2014 & have no complaints. I've had good experience up to this point therefore have only positive things to say...but trust me when I say I have no reason to be biased towards any company. If I have any issues with these, outside of normal wear and tear, I will have no problem sharing my experience with others.

2. The SPC has loads of adjustment to allow me to get within factory alignment specs, Camburg & TC don't (not on the UCA's anyhow, but seem to have slightly different geometry?). How have folks got on with getting the Camburg & TC UCA's aligned after fitting? Are your alignment measurements back within factory?

3. The winter weather in the UK is dreadful! Snow, slush. The roads are grit salted to stop the ice - i'm concerend that the 'open top' uniball will pretty much get destroyed within a year. I think the rubber boot of the SPC might offer some more protection from the elements. Am i wrong here? What sort of weather/winter have peoples uniballs survived?

My opinion is that rough environmental conditions such as snow and salt will typically require more maintenance attention regardless of which brand you choose. I've read equal amounts of pros & cons for the various aftermarket & stock UCAs. I think you'll be good whichever way you decide to go.

5. should i just stop worrying about getting factory alignment and just live with Mr T's standards UCA's?

Would definitely go stock route first if you're not sure so that if/when you do decide to go aftermarket, you'll have a better reference of comparing aftermarket to stock.

Left my comments in red.

 

[T4R2014]

lol Then I'll have to carry a gallon of water so I dont dehydrate to death!:becky:

I guess I'm a hypocrite. I carry what has to be more a gallon of water because I get thirsty.

 

[fourfive]

I used to carry nothing in my truck & was proud of it because it was so reliable. Now that's it's older I carry tools & fluids. They can get you home without calling a tow truck.

I work nights so if I bust a coolant hose I can cut off the end, put it back on, add fluid & be on my way. I dont want to be stranded at 2am somewhere freezing to death! LOL

I think it always comes down to what someone is willing to do to balance out convenience vs preparedness & I realize there will always be extremes. For me, various life experiences & emergency situations, regarding vehicle stuff, has led me to carry certain items in my 4runner to get myself or others out of bad situations.

 

[Scramble]

I think it always comes down to what someone is willing to do to balance out convenience vs preparedness & I realize there will always be extremes. For me, various life experiences & emergency situations, regarding vehicle stuff, has led me to carry certain items in my 4runner to get myself or others out of bad situations.

Yep, everyone has a different situation whether it be climate, work schedule, terrain & condition of the vehicle. There are some areas on my way home where I dont have a cell signal. Now that winters coming I'll carry a small duffle bag with a blanket, fold out army shovel, gloves, wool hat, candle etc. I take her to work in snow storms. You know...I should probably carry a sleeping bag instead of the blanket. Dont know why I just thought about that now after all these years! LOL

My 09 Accord does 90% of my DD & I really dont carry anything in it except jumper cables & wiper fluid.