Best Aftermarket UCAs? (1 Viewer)

[SEAWOLF]

My 200 is on BP51 with SPC UCAs…I’ve had to replace the ball joints once already and yes, you guessed it…another failure.

Looking to move away from SPC ASAP and wondering if there is a preferred option? Or perhaps another manufacturer to avoid? I really need to get my rig dialed in before the snow flies!

I’m leaning towards a set of Dobinson’s because they use a Japanese 555 joint, any reason I shouldn’t just pull the trigger today?

Related; I noticed a great video on YouTube that @OTRAMM just posted a few days ago. I was going to take it to a shop but this has me confident I can handle it myself. Thanks for making it! OTRAMM Video UCA Swap

Photo for attention:

 

[linuxgod]

Slee just replaced my upper ball joints as well. First SPC set went 70k before clunking but were probably shot before that. This set went half that though I think play was small because I didn’t heard any clunking yet.

The next time mine go I will likely try Dobinson’s UCAs with 555s. OME UCAs might be a good alternative to SPC though I believe they still require greasing.

I would avoid Ironman (and I think Nitro too) as they had a rash of failing joints that were recalled. I would also avoid anything with a heim joint

 

[sedole]

I've been happy with me OME UCAs so far. Just as silent as oem. I've had them for 30k miles with no issues so far. I do grease them at every other tire rotation though. ~10k miles. Doesn't add much time at all since I've already got the wheels off.

 

[bloc]

My OME UCAs specifically didn't need grease, and were silent the whole time I had them on the truck.

Not sure if the newer ones require it due to some change though.

Edit: I was thinking of the bushings. Been long enough I forgot the joints were greaseable.

 

[linuxgod]

I've read the OME and Dobinson's BJs are both estimated to go 80-100k, vs about 35k for SPC. I am kind of curious what real world durability folks have seen. I'm on my 3rd set of BJs for my SPCs in 100k miles, which is roughly Mini Cooper levels of durability

I will say at 100k I'm still on the original SPC bushings and they're pretty quiet and seem to be holding up strong

 

[UPR LC]

I have OME UCAs and they are greasable, but don't need grease any more than a typical ball joint. No leaks from the boots.

I usually give them a couple pumps of grease once a year when I remember.

I did not install their fancy caps which require removing the grease zirk. I just keep the zirk installed and I put a small plastic cap over the zirk to keep grime off of it. Works great.

No complaints.

 

[04UZJ100]

Total Chaos.

 

[linuxgod]

Total Chaos.

When they make a non-heim joint version I’m in