My SPC UCA experience. It's not good.

This is a very likely scenario. If the LCAs are not settled and torqued while on the ground clunking can occur. Sometimes you have to actually rock the truck with the cam bolt loose and then torque it while loaded. Alignment techs get this sometimes, but not always. Clunking can occur over bumps or while turning.

As far as LR/SPC UCAs, Ive ran the old ones and the new ones, for over 40k miles and theyve been solid and had no issues.

 

Washers from spc are on correctly

 

I loosened the long top bolt and noise and clunk is gone. Problem is up there in bushings.

 

Take it all off and give up seems like kind of a drastic move. FWIW, my JBA's were cheaper than SPC and they've been great.

 

Unfortunately SPC has always had issues. I thought they had resolved them with their last set of delran bushings, but now they went to a different set. 75% that I have installed have had this clunking issue. SPC is inexpensive, but there are better alternatives as of now. You'll have to go through their process to warranty your UCAs out. I wouldn't say go back to stock suspension, I'd say see if they'll give you a refund, and spend your money on something better. Camburg, Dirt King, and JBA are all close to the price range of SPC. Then there's Icon, TC, and Camburg uniball. Weigh your options and see what best suits you.

 

Mine broke after 7 years and they replaced them for free. Just had to pay shipping.

 

If noise is a concern than any uniball style will not help.

 

Having a noise is different than having shitty bushings.

 

Were they greased when you put the through bolt on, as in grease in the inner holes of the bushings, as well as grease on the bushings when you pressed them in?

 

Bushings are replaceable for a reasonable price though, its unfortunate I agree, but its an option. The eventual noise that uniballs make is on the engineering behind it, replacing them will result in the same outcome, greasing them helps for a while. JBAs ball joint looks to have the same amount of range of motion as a lot of uniball alternatives, with out the additional care and noise. If the issue is with the bushings thats something that can and does occur on Icon,TC,Camburg style UCAs as well.

 

75% huh. How many have you installed and what are the chances that the issue is related to installer error? I ask because no company could keep the doors open with a 75% defect rate.

 

They can keep their doors open because 0% of the 3 times Ive installed SPCs have had clunking. So that must balance things out.

 

75% percent of the time; it works everytime.
everytime.

-Ron Burgundy

 

I've done a few. I abide by the rule of tightening the main bolt once wheels are on the ground to 85ft#'s.

 

Zero issues with my Previous style half tube half forged, non zerk ball joint, specride style bushing (besides the occasional bushing squeak which goes away with some grease), going on 50k miles on them. Going to pull them off soon and refresh them with the new xAxis joints and regrease the ball joints. I doubt ill have any issues.

 

So I have put about 300 miles on the arms. When cold they are quiet but when you get some movement going the drivers side starts popping and clunking like crazy.
Called spc and they say yes they are defective and had a bad batch, but cannot help me because I bought from 4wheel online through Amazon.
Called 4wheel online and they say sure send them back.
Problem is they want them in their hands before they send me another pair or give money back, and obviously I need to drive my truck.

So I think I'm just going to order some total chaos uppers since I freaking hate the spc x-axis bushing and if I order again from 4wheel online, whose to say they send another bad set?

I love the SPC ball joint and caster plate, and dont really need a uniball setup. Aesthetically I prefer a tubular control arm because hey it looks race AF.

Any input on some good high caster arms for my truck would be appreciated.

 

JBA all day!!!

 

That red though...

 

Seriously you have good experience with them?