SPC Disappointment - Need Budget Friendly UCA

I guess I can be added to statistics of having the SPC controls arms yielding problems. I've had a harsh clunking noise I've been tracking down last few months. Replaced a LBJ (was needed), did the "zip-tie mod" on the rag joint in the steering column, and pushed, pried, pulled at every movable part on front suspension and steering.....and then I tugged at the UCA.....CLUNK CLUNK

First thought was the SPC ball joint, no movement there, greased it heavily, no improvement. Noticed I could feel the clunk in my hand the closer it got the bushing...sure enough I can feel it shifting with every push and pull on the UCA. Replacement bushing kit is $275+ and then the headache of replacing them.

In all my troubleshooting these were the last thing I suspected because they are the newest parts on the whole truck. Surely it couldn't be the 'new' UCA I installed and barely used, but here I am now. I installed these in 2021, I put maybe 25K miles on the truck since then. Very disappointed when I called SPC's customer service and was told this was out of warranty.

Looking for options for replacing the UCAs all together because I'm not dealing with SPC anymore after this. I followed the directions and then some extra care just to insure I didn't botch the install and mess the bushings up in the process. I've read up some on JBA UCAs, but would like/need more insight before committing.

 

oem. ran them for 7.5 years with 5100/ome spring lift 2"
going to do the same soon with my full old man emu heavy kit, oem UCA

 

I did the same after I lifted mine. Ran the OEM's through two sets of tires, but I had alignment issues and tire was rubbing the UCA occasionally. Was why I replaced them.

 

RIGHT ON
interesting too. i only ran 255 75 75 pizza cutter on fj cruiser wheels for the t4r setup i had, 2004
now my 2015 itll be 255 75 17 again, and 0 offset 17x8, old man emu 2.5
hoping to run the stock uca again...

old man emu sells UCA, and IRONMAN i think too, and big ironman sale going on right now, 25% sitewide, good luck

 

The X axis bushings are junk.

The old style Spec bushings are way better but they no longer sell them for some stupid reason.

I have 100k+ miles on my set and they’re still solid.

I dread the day I have to replace them.

 

You can get OME UCAs for a pretty reasonable price compared to other quality aftermarket UCAs. They've held up without issue for me.

 

My son has been running the budget Freedom OffRoad UCAs on his 2000 Tundra for about 2 years now with a 2 1/2 lift. Now issues so far.

 

The Freedom set look appealing to my budget. Similar to OEM setup, but with the alignment correction for the lift. And servicable.

 

yeah i am not happy with SPC right now.

 

Ironman used to be rebranded OME. Who knows what they are now.

Get Total Chaos. They are rebuildable too