SPC UPPER CONTROL ARMS.. YAY OR NAY?

Do you know if the stock UCAs can achieve a proper alignment with a 2.5 inch lift? I have SPC but I want to ditch them and go back to stock

 

I don't know firsthand. I didn't lift my truck that high. I do know that a lot/most 2/3gen Tacos start having issues over 2" with various things such as UCA clearance, alignment, driveshaft angle, CV angle, balljoint life, but every truck is a little different.

 

Yeah I have read on here with the lift that I have I wouldn't be able to achieve the caster close to factory unless I ran aftermarket UCA.. I'm actually looking into rough country UCA I know the stigma that company has but at this point if SPC let me down I can't expect much from RC

 

Buy once cry once with suspension. I ditched SPC and went with the Dirt King tubulars. They have sufficient caster built into the geometry and are fully rebuildable in the home shop with standard bushings and BJs.

 

That's what I thought when I chose SPC over JBA. The RC uca is fully rebuildable aswell so I might just do it just waiting for my SPC to fall apart

 

Not trying to high jack the thread here, but I've been looking at JD fab UCA's or going back to OEM to replace my SPC's.

My SPC bushings are toast after about 1.5 years / 20k and I'd like to get something that uses an OEM bushing since they're known to last a very long time.

https://jdfabrication.com/collections/05-15-6-lug/products/tacoma-05-18-upper-arm

Anybody have any experience with JD Fab? Anyone know what to make of their caster measurements?

Does anyone know if an OEM UCA would be able to be aligned with an ~ 1-1/2" suspension lift? 6112/5160 on 3/2 perch setup up front

 

I've considered going back to stock but waiting for the SPC to fully give before I make a new purchase.. never heard of JD fab but the price tag is similar to all the competition so you have options

 

Recently my SPC ball joints had a little bit of play in them and I had a small tear in one of the boots. I got the new design ball joints from SPC. I installed them yesterday. I like the the new sealed design.
New vs Old

 

Do you know if I would be able to run stock UCA’s with only a 1-1/2” lift? It sounds like I should be able to but want to get some 2nd opinions

 

Yes. I did.

 

Shouldn't be a problem. I am running stocks on 2" lift. Shop that did the alignment is the go-to place for lifted Tacomas around here and he said he'd have like to get a little more caster in it but its OK. Drives perfectly fine IMO.

 

DO NOT GO SPC!!! I repeat DO NOT!! I installed them on my 4Runner that is a bit of a garage queen... within 17,500 miles the SPC ball joints are dangerously worn out!!! I contacted SPC and they absolutely will not help me out. they have a 3 yr warranty and anything beyond that they DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMER!! they tried to get me to purchase a new set of arms for $695.95 then when they received the old ones back they would reimburse me $445.95 and said id be responsible for 250 plus shipping and tax. when they could simply have saved both of us the headache and sent the $139 kit to make a happy return customer. instead they chose to forego the happy customer and make a sworn enemy!! NEVER AGAIN SPC!!! Esteben was Extremely rude!!! these were greased with the grease they recommended and nothing but that every 5000 miles with oil change.

 

Nice first post. Welcome to TW.

 

Yeah, sorry to vent. I'm not here just for SPC Bashing. There is a lot of great info here and decided you all might like to know about the terrible experience I had with them. Anyway thanks for the welcome and sorry my first post was so dang negative. They won't all be that way promise

 

All good. I think it's good people share their experiences.

 

received my replacements today!(purchased by me) ((credit to Summit Racing for NEXT DAY FREE DELIVERY)) they do look pretty good to be honest. wonder how long they will last.....

 

I just bought JD Fab UCAs as recommended by https://overlandoutfitters.ca/ and are getting them installed tomorrow. I don't have much to compare to, but they are quite heavy/beefy! I'll keep you posted on how they are and alignment specs.

 

I’ve switched back to the Total chaos arms, its much more solid feeling. The SPC arm has the best frame mount bushings, a uniball or a QUALITY ball joint could bring the SPC where it could be. The SPC ball joints suck, absolute junk. The UNIBall has more angle than a ball joint.

So why doesn’t SPC make sliding uniball joint. That waywe could actually get a good alignment and be reliable and solid. ?

Nothing is perfect.

 

Not sure it’ll help anyone but maybe.

I had to get a new set from SPC as the bushing had play. Over 3 years and 30k so had to opt for the trade program. Getting ready to sent the old pair back and found they will fit in the USPS large flat priority mail box and cost about $23 to ship them back. The cheapest i found to send them. It’s just the arms with ball joints that fit.

As an added bonus, you can get 2 new UCA bolts and nuts from RockAuto for under $20.

 

I emailed SPC to ask them the difference with the new design and they shared with me the following response and attachment. I thought I would share.

"You can see in 25001ill.jpg that it was a bit of a complex critter, and if one part is a little off it’ll throw the whole thing out of whack pretty quick. The greasable iteration was prone to contaminants getting in through the weepholes in the bottom of the boot. While a great piece of engineering they were just a little difficult to replicate on the scale we found ourselves producing them in.

The 3510X series is a much more straightforward design, like I said Toyota and a couple other OEs produce their ball joints using similar, if not the same, methods. The nylon race is baked on to the ball to ensure the best fit, the assembly is swaged into the housing, and that’s it. K.I.S.S. in action."