SPC UCA Bad ball joints after 20k

Of other note that some people having problems may not know, SPC told me to NEVER use a pressure washer or even a water hose with a pressure nozzle to clean debris from the ball joints and bushing areas as that further induces contaminants into the areas you are trying to keep out. They suggested wiping the areas clean with a rag to remove dirt and debris first. I completely understand that and never thought about it. But also as a side note, when your driving 65 mph and 70 mph on the interstate on a rainy day, the underside of your truck gets cleaned pretty good from your tires slinging water all in the fender wells and on your ball joints and bushings.

My experience is that for me, and I’m probably that 1% that puts my truck where it’s not intended all day every day, they just do not hold up long enough. Are they junk? For me, they are not worth the money you pay for them. Just think of the cost of added front end alignments and tires chewed up in a years time (I put about 50,000+ miles a year). That’s been 2-3 ball joints and a a couple sets of bushings a year with 2 sets of tires. That’s about $3,700 a year I’ve experienced to maintain the SPC upper control arm versus about 1/2 that cost with maybe going to a sealed joint. Will a sealed system cost more for me to use than a normal driver, it probably will. Sometimes a simpler mechanical system is better. It all comes to justifying the added benefits versus the negative results of use and the negative far outweighs the positives for me on the SPC upper control arms. But I’m that guy that puts a lot of miles on them and 50% of the miles are off road in mud and water. Do I abuse them, no. Do I service them with grease, yes daily, but not to the standards that they suggest. I’m not sure that I have the time or that it is realistically possible for me to do that to those standards. But that’s on me. Is it a great product? It is for the right application I’m sure, it just hasn’t proved right for my application.

 

As a final note, some may not know as I did not myself, you will have some movement with these ball joints from top to bottom. It is the design of the ball joint that is “pressure loaded” spring clip for a lack of better terms. When I replaced my first set, I noticed it and thought I had other problems. What you shouldn’t have is side to side movement. Just thought I would through that out there for those worried about it. Also, if I remember, their warranty is only 12 months with receipt and “professionally installed”. So take that how you will. I’ve had to purchase all my replacement ball joints and bushings. The last set of ball joints I found at O’Reilly’s for $160 a pair and the bushings run about $200 parts to replace them all and about 3-4 hours. You have to cut them out with a sawzaw and press in new ones.

 

So for play mine is side to side not up and down, SPC said the same as you a little up and down is normal. Warranty is 3 years per SPC and since I bought mine at ToyTec 2 years ago they said to contact them directly which I did, they're sending me an email so i'm assuming I'm getting a free set of ball joints, I'll update once I get the email. If I don't get warrantied I have already found them in stock at AutoZone for $121 shipped.

Since I was on with ToyTec I asked them about these and they said they haven't had many ball joint failures. They did say you need to grease them way more than SPC documents to clear out any foreign debrit as they're designed that way with holes in the boots to shed. So as many of you said sounds like these need a grease monthly or more with a lot of offroading.

 

If you guys have a single extra SPC balljoint and willing to sell, let me know!

 

Crazy lol I've done balljoints 3x in the last year with 45k miles of abusing it every weekend. Never have touched the bushings. Never have paid for an alignment, as I just eyeball/tape measure and my tires (Kenda Rts) are still going strong with 45k of eyeball alignment on them. Couple times knocking the alignment totally out of wack (knocking the uca bj in, bending spindles).
So all in all, I'm in ~$450 with using Spc's for the year.

 

I̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶T̶4̶R̶ ̶u̶p̶p̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶j̶o̶i̶n̶t̶s̶ ̶f̶i̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶S̶P̶C̶ ̶a̶r̶m̶s̶.̶

Mine have slight play after 6000 miles so I pushed more grease the rough to see if that works.

 

I have a couple laying around that are slightly worn out if you need one as a spare

 

This is NOT true. SPC 4runner balljoints are not the same as the Tacomas. The taper on the BJ shaft is different and wont seat correctly on the top of the steering knuckle/spindle.

...ask me how I know.

 

Thanks for the offer. Im looking for a single new one if everyone has a warranty replacement that is unused.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sold-bnib-tacoma-spc-ubjs-25001-100-va-sold.731473/


I̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶T̶o̶y̶o̶t̶a̶ ̶T̶4̶R̶ ̶B̶J̶ ̶f̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶S̶P̶C̶ ̶a̶r̶m̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶T̶a̶c̶o̶m̶a̶.̶

 

Whomever told you is incorrect.

If you read and examine the FS link you provided.
1. The OP has a T4R
2. He obtained a set of SPC ucas for a 2nd/3rd Gen Tacoma.
3. He removed those Taco BJs and "swapped for t4r BJs.."
4. Now he is selling/sold those 2nd/3rd gen Taco BJs

Spc balljoints are the same between 2nd and 3rd gen tacomas. They are not the same for 4Runners.

Research some more if you dont believe. There's photos showing the difference in the thickness of the taper. But the difference will keep the UCA from sitting correctly to the knuckle.

If you think I am wrong because you got spc T4R balljoints to fit on your Tacoma.... you may want to re-examine the cause of the looseness/play that you mentioned.

 

Never pressure wash them. Mine would fill with water. Grease them every 5k miles. As with almost any aftermarket UCA expect to replace those ball joints every 30-50k miles depending on how hard they are pushed. If you want Toyota longevity stick to OEM parts.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I missed a lot of that!

 

No worries...this was a lesson that I learned the hard way. I just want to help people not make the same mistake due to misinformation.

 

I need to replace my ball joints on my spc arms again after 1.5 and regular greasing with moly grease. I'm gonna swap them for a sealed ball joint uppers.

 

Just got tires and Allignment, drivers side ball joint already has lots of movement. 4 months on it, 2 shots of grease every day. I think I’m going a different route. These things just don’t hold up.

 

This is the right way to check for wear, up and down play is not wear as there is an anti wear spring that can be compressed if a lot of force is used. I doubt the alignment techs that say these things are bad are doing this.
https://www.spcalignment.com/partFAQ/25001_FAQ.pdf

 

I have movement up and down, and in and out. It’s wear, not just the preload spring.

 

What kind of noise do these make when they start to fail?

I have a weird noise from the front end on sharp bumps off road, very hard to duplicate on road unless I pull into my driveway at 20mph. Sounds like a bushing/mount is loose.

 

Mine never made any sound. They are enclosed with a boot and grease. They will just get loose. Now the old bushings they can squeek when they dry out.