Anyone with experience with the new SPC UCA ball joint?

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mark71

mark71

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Time to replace my SPC UCA ball joints, again. Can’t make them quiet with a bit of grease anymore and they are getting loose.

Wondering if I should try their new design or bite the bullet and get something else. It’s easier to just replace the ball joint, but if I have to do this a third time, I’ll have spent enough money and time to have just replaced them.
 
How many miles?

Over my first set at 75k but they were overdue. I’m at 35k now, still going. The bushings on my arms seem fine and that’s usually the deciding factor as to when to replacer them and not just the ball joint.

That said I saw firsthand an SPC arm break at the weld to the frame recently, so I’m pretty inclined to dump them after seeing that.
 
I replaced mine a couple years ago, looks like they changed them since then.
 
linuxgod said:
That said I saw firsthand an SPC arm break at the weld to the frame recently, so I’m pretty inclined to dump them after seeing that.
Click to expand...
FWIW the SPC UCAs for the GX460 are single castings, I don't think there are any welds.
 
linuxgod said:
How many miles?

Over my first set at 75k but they were overdue. I’m at 35k now, still going. The bushings on my arms seem fine and that’s usually the deciding factor as to when to replacer them and not just the ball joint.

That said I saw firsthand an SPC arm break at the weld to the frame recently, so I’m pretty inclined to dump them after seeing that.
Click to expand...
Yeah, wish I could remember the mileage when I replaced them. Guessing around 40k ago.

Do your new ones have the grease nipple, or are they the “maintenance free” ones?
 
Mine have the nipple but they are 3-4 years old
 
My new design one’s just arrived yesterday to replace my current ones with the zerks. 40k miles on them and I figured I might as well switch them out when I have new shocks installed in a few weeks. They look great and well built and I’m happy with the maintenance free aspect.

I was ready to switch from SPC all together until I had a lengthy conversation with Filthy Motorsports for my new Kings. They recommended SPC UCA and, in their experience, the few failures that they have seen have been from over greasing which caused issues with the internal wear compensation spring. Apparently, the move to the non zerk ball joints is partly due to this and failures haven’t happened since for the Filthy clients.

My squeaks come from the control arm bushings instead of the ball joints, I’d be happy with a zerk there instead.
 
Artie said:
My new design one’s just arrived yesterday to replace my current ones with the zerks. 40k miles on them and I figured I might as well switch them out when I have new shocks installed in a few weeks. They look great and well built and I’m happy with the maintenance free aspect.

I was ready to switch from SPC all together until I had a lengthy conversation with Filthy Motorsports for my new Kings. They recommended SPC UCA and, in their experience, the few failures that they have seen have been from over greasing which caused issues with the internal wear compensation spring. Apparently, the move to the non zerk ball joints is partly due to this and failures haven’t happened since for the Filthy clients.

My squeaks come from the control arm bushings instead of the ball joints, I’d be happy with a zerk there instead.
Click to expand...
That’s pretty positive feedback on the new joints, thanks.

And I’ve experienced the bushing squeak also, but usually a quick blast of silicon spray and they quiet right down.
 
I’m on the newest version and they seem better than prior two generations I’ve had. Call SPC and explain your issue with the current version and they may just offer you a warranty exchange…
 
mark71 said:
That’s pretty positive feedback on the new joints, thanks.

And I’ve experienced the bushing squeak also, but usually a quick blast of silicon spray and they quiet right down.
Click to expand...
I do the same, a squirt every now and again.
 
BigSwede said:
FWIW the SPC UCAs for the GX460 are single castings, I don't think there are any welds.
Click to expand...
I didn’t think there were any welds either but the one i saw break clearly had 4 tack welds and SPC had failed to properly weld the seam. I’m shocked it had lasted ~5 years. But having watched a front wheel collapse from that break, and then with the fairly recent ball joint recall their QC just seems awful.
 
I really want to like and use SPC products. Neat products with sealed joints and such go against the grain of open and exposed spherical bearings that seem to still be the norm. IMO, it’s ridiculous to use unsealed race parts on a daily driver, never mind an off road vehicle. However, through both direct use and a seemingly uncountable amount of short life and failure stories, I haven’t considered their products for many years. Too make this all worse, the same old story continues and the outcome never seems to get a significantly better end result. How many times do they get to attempt to update and redesign before everyone just gives up on them? Have they improved and I’m missing it? I vote move on.
 
linuxgod said:
I didn’t think there were any welds either but the one i saw break clearly had 4 tack welds and SPC had failed to properly weld the seam. I’m shocked it had lasted ~5 years. But having watched a front wheel collapse from that break, and then with the fairly recent ball joint recall their QC just seems awful.
Click to expand...
I wish I had taken pictures of that blown up UCA. I agree the “pealed” bushing casing looked like it had only been tack welded to the UCA. I’ve inspected mine to make sure the welds go all the way around and don’t see any cracks.

@Oakleyguy, was there a 360 deg weld beacon the arm tube? Like this:

IMG_0003.webp
 
Last edited:
bjowett said:
I really want to like and use SPC products. Neat products with sealed joints and such go against the grain of open and exposed spherical bearings that seem to still be the norm. IMO, it’s ridiculous to use unsealed race parts on a daily driver, never mind an off road vehicle. However, through both direct use and a seemingly uncountable amount of short life and failure stories, I haven’t considered their products for many years. Too make this all worse, the same old story continues and the outcome never seems to get a significantly better end result. How many times do they get to attempt to update and redesign before everyone just gives up on them? Have they improved and I’m missing it? I vote move on.
Click to expand...
I’d love a solid per capita issue per owner. They have to have tons of these in use that go issue free for the duration of ownership.

Like you said, a good non race style option with the adjustability they offer just isn’t out there. I’ll trick out a lot of stuff on my truck but some things just don’t need all the awesome sauce and control arms are one of those things, for most people.
 
I’ve not had issues with the ball joints on mine, but my SPC UCA’s are maybe 5-6 yrs old. My issues is the control arm bushings. They wear so quickly, and must be re-greased far too frequently, at least for my application. If I had to choose on a location for a grease zerk, I’d keep the ball joints non-serviceable, and go with greaseable arm bushings. Pulling these UCA’s off for servicing is a PITA.
 
Climbingnut said:
I’ve not had issues with the ball joints on mine, but my SPC UCA’s are maybe 5-6 yrs old. My issues is the control arm bushings. They wear so quickly, and must be re-greased far too frequently, at least for my application. If I had to choose on a location for a grease zerk, I’d keep the ball joints non-serviceable, and go with greaseable arm bushings. Pulling these UCA’s off for servicing is a PITA.
Click to expand...
Same issue here but I’ve managed to get it to quiet down with a small amount of this sprayed where the UCA bushing is slightly exposed.

IMG_4582.webp
 
kcjaz said:
I wish I had taken pictures of that blown up UCA. I agree the “pealed” bushing casing looked like it had only been tack welded to the UCA. I’ve inspected mine to make sure the welds go all the way around and don’t see any cracks.

@Oakleyguy, was there a 360 deg weld beacon the arm tube? Like this:

View attachment 3963959
Click to expand...
IMG_6882.webp

Not the best photo but the one I had handy on my iPhone. Gabe got a better shot with the Nikon but I haven’t published it yet.

The red line is my ratchet strap, being used to help pull the arm back towards the mount, as it had flipped forward
IMG_6884.webp
 
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