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SPC upper control arm

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by tacotruck93, Jan 4, 2023.

  1. Jan 4, 2023 at 6:12 AM
    #1
    tacotruck93

    tacotruck93 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I had installed SPC upper control arm on my truck in the summer (2022). I was checking over things recently and noticed that the passenger side has a little play from side to side being right side of truck to left side and it seems to be from the pass through bolt that mounts to the frame. Was curious if other people have had this problem before or know what to do that might help fix. I re torqued all the bolts that are on the SPC control arm. The driver side does not have any play in it.
     
    Brian422 likes this.
  2. Jan 4, 2023 at 6:24 AM
    #2
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    Yes I just warrantied a set that had play in the actual control arm bushings.

    SPC is pretty good just gotta warranty it through your vendor
     
    tacotruck93[OP] likes this.
  3. Jan 4, 2023 at 6:26 AM
    #3
    tacotruck93

    tacotruck93 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thank you !
     
  4. Jan 4, 2023 at 6:33 AM
    #4
    MikefromCT

    MikefromCT Well-Known Member

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    I also went through the warranty process last year because of a similar issue. They were great to work with throughout the process; had replacements shipped asap and promptly credited back the core charge when they received the old parts.

    I saw something recently on social media about them having a new design coming down the pike due the number of failing xaxis bushings. I cant find the post or comment right now consider this heresay..
     
    tacotruck93[OP] likes this.
  5. Jan 4, 2023 at 6:35 AM
    #5
    tacotruck93

    tacotruck93 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Well I appreciate it. I’ll have to start the process. Don’t want my tires to wear horribly or something worse to happen on the road.
     
  6. Jan 4, 2023 at 10:33 AM
    #6
    nd4spdbh

    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

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    I have unfortunately on set #3 of the shitty AF xAxis joints due to them developing slop in less than 15k miles. This was 1 upgrade kit to older tublar half forged arm, and now on my 2nd set or spc fully forged replacement arms.

    The next set that goes.... cus it will. I will be finding an OEM style bonded rubber bushing of the right size (looks like K80417 from moog etc will be close) to replace the xaxis joint with and never have to deal with the JUNK that is xAxis joints. They are great on paper but their implementation is no bueno.

    Nothing catostropic will happen its just some minor slop that develops in the heim style joint (which is 100% normal for heims) that is easily felt and is rather annoying when old school floating bushings (like they had previously) or bonded rubber bushings dont have.
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2023
    tacotruck93[OP] likes this.
  7. Jan 4, 2023 at 10:36 AM
    #7
    nd4spdbh

    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

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    I will say SPC seems fairly well aware of the issue (though they dont admit it) and make the replacements rather easy.
     
  8. Jan 4, 2023 at 10:36 AM
    #8
    tacotruck93

    tacotruck93 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yep contacted SPC and they confirmed the bushing is bad with the video I sent. Replacements on the way.
     
  9. Jan 4, 2023 at 11:02 AM
    #9
    FishaRnekEd

    FishaRnekEd Well-Known Member

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    I just got mine last month. They are the new forged design. The older model was tubular, right?
     
  10. Jan 4, 2023 at 11:12 AM
    #10
    Mark77

    Mark77 Well-Known Member

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    Nothing yet
    Same thing on my 2021, and the same side. Spc sent me 2 new bearings.
     
  11. Jan 4, 2023 at 11:13 AM
    #11
    MikefromCT

    MikefromCT Well-Known Member

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    Mine are forged. I believe the redesign is for the x-axis bushings that are failing.

    What I saw was someone complaining about them on insta, and SPC commented that a redesign was in the works. This was a couple weeks ago on some random post I saw scrolling. I made an attempt to find the post this am but have been unable to.
     
  12. Jan 4, 2023 at 11:31 AM
    #12
    nd4spdbh

    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

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    OLD model is full tubular with bonded rubber bushings, then there was a half tubular half forged that i believe originally came with bonded rubber bushings then moved to spec ride free floating bushings (that you could get an xAxis "upgrade" kit pressed in), then there is the current fully forged arm with xAxis joints at the frame.

    The failure point is radial slop that gets worse and worse within the xAxis joint itself.
     
    FishaRnekEd[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Jan 4, 2023 at 11:36 AM
    #13
    nd4spdbh

    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

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    I would love to find that post and reply back.... cus here is my saga (and my last email around september to spc - currently about 3kmiles on the latest set WHICH WILL NOW BE MY FOURTH SET ... jezus)

    The adjustability, baljoints and arms themselves have been great.... but the xAxis joints are complete failures.
     
  14. Jan 4, 2023 at 11:58 AM
    #14
    MikefromCT

    MikefromCT Well-Known Member

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    Well, shit. I love a good challenge. Found it. But my crappy short term memory strikes again. Related to the ball joint, not x-axis.

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmOCP1BOTYM/?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc=

    BFDEFC46-CC93-43DA-B4F1-3E7ACDE93E9D.jpg 9DB22F04-561C-4E91-8C26-F7AF1EC373C2.jpg

    Havent had any issues with my ball joints in the three years I have run them. Just the x-axis bushing. Happy with them standing by the product and warranting them for me. But seems to be an overall issue based on all the feedback about it.
     
    nd4spdbh[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Jan 4, 2023 at 1:47 PM
    #15
    reallifedog

    reallifedog wat.

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    this seems to be a pretty common issue with the SPCs
     

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