SPC Ball Joint Greasing

I've never posted on here since I can usually find my answers from another post. This forum has been my go to for all the mods I've made to my truck. However, I've found limited info on greasing SPC ball joints.

Per installation manual you're supposed to pump 5 - 10 times. Then pump every oil change for subsequent maintenance. This is the second set of ball joints on my uppers since the last set was not properly maintained through my own stupidity.

For the first set, I pumped what I thought was enough initially (grease gun was cheap), then failed to keep up on maintenance since I didn't read the manual. After installation I had a clunk in front suspension that I couldn't put my finger on. When I finally thought about pumping more grease to see if that was the issue, it immediately took away the clunk but, since they hadn't been greased properly throughout their life the boot cracked and grease was oozing out.

Since the ball joints were toast from not greasing I installed another set. This time I bought a better grease gun and Pumped 10 full pumps which seemed to do the trick. After I drove on them for a week, I could still feel them clunking slightly so I pumped another two times. After that I can still feel them.

With all that being said, does anyone have the same clunking with SPC upper ball joints that are properly greased?
Am I being too paranoid?
Should I be wary of over greasing?
Thoughts?

 

what grease are you using?
what is the current condition of the ball joint boots?
have any pictures? pictures can help sometimes
clunks in the front end could be a number of things...
how many miles on the truck? condition of lower ball joints? condition of sway bar endlinks? condition of tie rod ends?

 

Do your arms have the x-axis bushings or the older rubber bushings? They had issues with the rubber bushing ones making noise and now all they are selling are the x-axis version.

 

-Current condition is Brand new week old.
-I could post Pics but I don't think it'd do much since they are new and there aren't any noticeable defects.
-I agree, Clunks could come from a number of sources. I had Bilstein 5100 with 888's and spacers installed. That was not a good set up at all. I thought since the shocks themselves had clunking issues from topping out, that it might be the problem. I upgraded to Elka 2.5's so I know it can't be the shocks. Like I said though, after I packed grease in the old ones it alleviated the clunk so, I'm leaning more towards the upper ball joints.
Currently I have around 40k on the truck. So I'm guessing lower ball joints and tie rods are still in good condition.
- However, I remember when I lifted the truck a while back the tie rods were loose. I'll go ahead and re-check that.
Sway bar is uninstalled so it couldn't be coming from that.

I skimped out and found older ball joints since they were half the price (from what I remember.) That could also be the problem there, Good point.

 

For anyone that finds this thread through a search looking for answers. The issue ended up being the bushings; "long arm-to-frame bolt bushings.
The clunk I was feeling in the ball joints while rocking the truck was actually telescoping through the arm from the bushing. After I completely loosened the bolt going through the bushing the clunk disappeared. while have to remedy somehow.

-Either I installed them wrong and torqued them without wheels on ground
-I don't have the x-axis bushings...which I think I do
-or SPC is just garbage

 

Was the issue always the bushings? Were the original ball joints mistakenly replaced?

 

If you have the old style bushings Spc will replace the arms with the x-axis ones under warranty. At least they have in the not so distant past for a customer of mine.

 

Well sh*t, I have about 1100 miles into my SPC’s and haven’t greased them yet. I also have a clunk on both sides when the suspension tops out.

 

I fill each boot with 3oz of moly grease every 7k-9k miles and haven’t had clunks. Seems excessive but oh well.

 

I doubt it is. My JBA UCAs from my 4R needed grease every 5k miles. And I suck with grease guns, so that made it annoying.

 

Ball joints were mistakenly replaced. 5 - 10 pumps upon initial installation per joint is sufficient. Then a few pumps every oil change should do it. So I'm thinking I just installed the Upper A-arms wrong. Even though the arm-to-frame bolt with the x-axis bushings can be torqued with the truck on jacks, I would still torque them after the wheel is installed and on the ground. At least that's what I'll do next time.

I called SPC and they said I have to warranty them through who ever I bought them from. Problem is I don't even remember where I got them...it's been a while. SPC was very helpful on the phone though. They offered me to send them video or pics to help resolve the issue. Pretty good customer service.

 

had the same problem with SPC from day 1 contacted toytec where arms were purchased and found out SPC were having issues when they redid the bushing. Contacted SPC and was told upc arms were warranted and they would send new arms without ball joints and was instructed to switch out ball joints and return defective arms. Never received new arms and it has been over 10 months Brought camburg uniballs and would never recommend SPC to anyone.

 

Was a bad batch of bushings...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-end-suspension-clunk-after-lr-ucas.528560/