Squeaky UCA - Need Advice

I tracked down where some squeaking/creaking is coming from on my UCA’s and it’s coming from the long bolt that the UCA mounts to. Before I go spraying in WD40 or anything I wanted to see any possible remedies for the squeaking that anyone has done? I’m assuming there’s a bushing in there that can be swapped out? The UCA’s are SPC.
Thanks!

 

I don’t know anything, but...
You could lube it. I wouldn’t use wd40 on rubber.

 

Options:
1. Turn up stereo and drive until it breaks (not recommended)
2. Learn to love the sound (not recommended)
3. Pull the long bolt and re-grease the bushings with proper grease
3. Contact SPC to upgrade to new arms w/new bushing design (swap old arms plus $200? If you are gonna do #3, you might as well do #4)

 

I was aware that they updated the ball joint, but did the bushings get a new design? Was squeaking coming in the “old” design? As long as the bolt stays in place it shouldn't be too much of a concern until it’s repaired or no?

 

When any bushing generally start squeaking on my vehicles, I tend to opt for the white lithium grease spray. Always does the trick. Usually it was seasonal like when the temps were changing and things start to expand/contract with the outside temps. Of course this is just my opinion.

 

New design bushings are the xAxis (let's see if I got the link right).

 

I bought mine last year in March, I wonder if those had it. I’ll contact SPC and see what they say, mine aren’t a year old yet so I’m surprised they’re making noise already.

Would squeaking in the UCA bushing indicate a replacement is needed or just greasing? It doesn’t look like it would “break” but I’m not an expert when it comes to suspension so I’m not sure. I might give the lithium grease spray a try. Your temp guess could be right as it doesn’t squeak 24/7, I notice it more in the cold than I do in warmer weather.

 

This was my experience with a different truck I had. I installed a lift kit myself. As I was assembling the bushings for the rear shocks and I think I used one type of grease to get the bushings together and installed. I started the second set for the other shop and the auto shop guy told me not to use that specific grease, that it would dry out and my shock bushings would squeak because they were dried out or something like that. Either or, every year when it got cold or hot, it would squeak and I would have to blast is with the WLG and it would go away. If yours have grease points, I would try that first, but if not, blast it with the lithium grease. But I would call the company and ask if they're willing to replace before anything

 

If you google search SPC x-axis TacomaWorld you will find several threads about a clunk or squeak from the older style bushings. SPC had/has a buyback program mentioned in those threads.
In replying to you above, I broke my own rule to follow Occam's razor. Do you know if the UCA long bolt was torqued with the truck at ride height? You could try loosening the bolt, and re-torqueing with the wheels on the ground and the suspension supporting the weight of the truck. Torqued with the wheels drooped could cause a bushing squeak. I don't know which bushings you have, so im just speculating.

 

Im not sure how these were installed, I had the local off road shop do it so I assume they did it correctly as these have been on for almost a year with no issues until now. I’m sure submerging them in water too hasn’t helped, but again they’re not even a year old. I’ll see if I can do any home repair before looking to switch them out.

I wonder if the bushing in the UCA would just be an annoyance at best and not cause a mechanical failure/issue. I could live with the squeaking as it only happens 99% of the time while I’m stopping and the nose of the 4runner dives a little. I’ll contact SPC first and see what they say, and maybe try the lithium grease spray. Thanks to you both!