Slee SPC uppers suck a big one

[yeti in ga]

I have a pair of TC UCA sitting in the garage now for 2 + years in the box... shouldn't of had that last beer when metal tech had a sale...

 

[abuck99]

To the OP-

Do you have the updated redesigned SPC ball joints? These now feature a zerk fitting, the collars were apparently made taller and there was some additional range of articulation added to the joint- wondering if these are failing as quickly as the old ones?

I found the updated replacement SPC ball joints for sale on Amazon a few months ago- But havent seen these shipping on the control arms yet- maybe old inventory still in the pipeline ?

 

[maxse01]

are uca's really necessary? Maybe ill just return the uca's and run oem. Too many people having too many problems...

I was told for proper alignment, yes they're needed. But apparently others didn't get them and don't have any issues. Maybe I wasted the $500.

 

[savirc]

I was told for proper alignment, yes they're needed. But apparently others didn't get them and don't have any issues. Maybe I wasted the $500.

I had this debate last year, kept the oem 2" lift and icons later zero issues. I don't even have a diff drop, truck drives excellent. There is a slight pitch toe in the front barely noticeable, but that is it. No boot issues, no drive or pull issues nothing. Glad I didn't get them, used the money for other things, I like to get big bang for my bucks this didn't seem to give a big bang at all.

 

[maxse01]

I had this debate last year, kept the oem 2" lift and icons later zero issues. I don't even have a diff drop, truck drives excellent. There is a slight pitch toe in the front barely noticeable, but that is it. No boot issues, no drive or pull issues nothing. Glad I didn't get them, used the money for other things, I like to get big bang for my bucks this didn't seem to give a big bang at all.

Well hopefully they pay off down the road somehow. Good to know though, thanks.

 

[fjfowdie]

I vote nitro, plus if you run 2.5 shocks you have to run after market, I picked these UCA's because of the serviceability.

 

[jLB]

RE: Lift with OEM UCAs

I guess my son's vehicle is an outlier. When we purchased it, the PO had installed an OME kit (21-1/2" front [hub to fender], 22-3/8" rear [hub to fender]) on it, and the OEM UCAs. Maybe we had a little different perspective with another "stock" 100 series in the driveway to compare it to, but it was nearly undrivable at speed due to lack of caster. Maybe the Nitros are better and more durable, but my son's truck needed some sort of caster correction beyond what was possible using the OEM UCAs and factory adjustments. We haven't run into issues with the ball joints on the SPC UCAs (yet), and if we do we'll probably look into the Nitro UCAs, but there's no way we're going back to OEM UCAs.

 

[erfworm]

FWIW, I had my SPC balljoints fail after 6 months. Called SPC and they told me they had a bad batch. They sent the new ones to the alignment shop and after confirming the batch number refunded me about 75% of the cost. Should they have refunded all of it? Probably, but they are aware of the issue and trying to do something about it. If more of us with failures would let them know then maybe a complete recall would be in order. The newer models are the ones with zerks on them. Been a month and a half so we'll see.
More of the issue to me is that the establishment that sold them to me told me it was something I had to take up with the manufacturer. This was the same response I got after I bought my lift kit from them only to find one set of shock bushings missing. (box had been opened at some point) Kind of sucks to drop that kind of coin on products and have the retailer basically tell you to go pound salt and deal with it yourself.

 

[Mauiyotanokaoi]

Nitrous are the way to go. People who are saying to stay OWM are either not aware of the issues of doing that or are not reading this whole thread. I wheel my truck at least once a week. I understand that parts will wear out, but nothing should wear out that fast!

 

[Mauiyotanokaoi]

Mine 2nd set were supposedly the 'good' batch but that proved to be not true... And no they do not have a zerk on them.

 

[Bloomer]

J/C....what are the symptoms of SPC UCA failing other than unusual tire wear? I've had mine for about a year (~7500 highway miles and very, very light Offroad use). Haven't noticed unusual tire wear so wondering if I need to be checking something else? No grease fittings so suspect I don't have the new design.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

J/C....what are the symptoms of SPC UCA failing other than unusual tire wear? I've had mine for about a year (~7500 highway miles and very, very light Offroad use). Haven't noticed unusual tire wear so wondering if I need to be checking something else? No grease fittings so suspect I don't have the new design.

Good question....
What specific issues are people seeing? Are they things that have been mitigated by the new design?

 

[Mauiyotanokaoi]

J/C....what are the symptoms of SPC UCA failing other than unusual tire wear? I've had mine for about a year (~7500 highway miles and very, very light Offroad use). Haven't noticed unusual tire wear so wondering if I need to be checking something else? No grease fittings so suspect I don't have the new design

The best way I could tell was to jack up the truck, but the weight must still be on the lower arm (I.e. Jack under the arm or safest way is to jack up in middle and lower onto a stand that's under the arm) then have someone yank the tire top and bottom while you place your hand on the joint. The reason I say that U.S. Because visually it's harder to notice but with your hand in it you will feel any slop. Mine also had a slight 'loose' feeling on certain types of bumps in the road... Hope that helps!
Under avg driving conditions maybe the joints last there intended lifespan.. I come from a full on crawling background and only bought a landcruiser as necessity for family. I take the truck to its limits for sure.

 

[erfworm]

For me it was horrific accelerated tire wear. Steering felt vague on the highway too. Became very apparent when the truck was on the alignment rack and there was a good 1/4 of slop at the joints. Have a buddy move the steering wheel back and forth (truck off for more resistance) and get underneath there and look. You can grab the tire at 3 and 9 and wiggle it while looking but much easier to just let the steering wheel do the work while watching.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

For me it was horrific accelerated tire wear. Steering felt vague on the highway too. Became very apparent when the truck was on the alignment rack and there was a good 1/4 of slop at the joints. Have a buddy move the steering wheel back and forth (truck off for more resistance) and get underneath there and look. You can grab the tire at 3 and 9 and wiggle it while looking but much easier to just let the steering wheel do the work while watching.

Was the play only at the ball joint?
Have replacing your ball joints remedied the problem? (you said its only been a month or so since replacement).

 

[SanDiegoCruiser]

I've had my SPC's on for two years now and wheel harder than most with no issues. Maybe I got lucky with a good batch?

 

[Get outside]

FWIW, I had my SPC balljoints fail after 6 months. Called SPC and they told me they had a bad batch. They sent the new ones to the alignment shop and after confirming the batch number refunded me about 75% of the cost. Should they have refunded all of it? Probably, but they are aware of the issue and trying to do something about it. If more of us with failures would let them know then maybe a complete recall would be in order. The newer models are the ones with zerks on them. Been a month and a half so we'll see.
More of the issue to me is that the establishment that sold them to me told me it was something I had to take up with the manufacturer. This was the same response I got after I bought my lift kit from them only to find one set of shock bushings missing. (box had been opened at some point) Kind of sucks to drop that kind of coin on products and have the retailer basically tell you to go pound salt and deal with it yourself.

That kind of position when a problem arises has to be named!!! I'm sorry, NOT REALLY, but whoever that is I don't want to spend my money there!!! What if others are having the same issue and we just haven't heard of it! Not everyone wheeling/building these trucks are here on mud. If you have a name do all of us a huge favor and toss it out here.

 

[adrenalinefjz80]

I vote nitro, plus if you run 2.5 shocks you have to run after market, I picked these UCA's because of the serviceability.

Are your Nitro inner mounting bushings distorted to reach caster spec or are they "straight up" like stock oem?

 

[erfworm]

That kind of position when a problem arises has to be named!!! I'm sorry, NOT REALLY, but whoever that is I don't want to spend my money there!!! What if others are having the same issue and we just haven't heard of it! Not everyone wheeling/building these trucks are here on mud. If you have a name do all of us a huge favor and toss it out here.

Slee Offroad

 

[erfworm]

Was the play only at the ball joint?
Have replacing your ball joints remedied the problem? (you said its only been a month or so since replacement).

The play was only at the balljoint only. So far so good on the replacements. We'll see. Keeping a good eye on them.