Upper Control Arm Replacment and Ball Joint Questions (BP51 Install Maint)

[thirdparty]

This truck sees frequent use on ranch roads and some mud and is used for towing small trailers to medium sized tractors. I installed the OME BP51s with SPC UCAs when the truck had about 60k miles, and I've got about 70k miles on these components (130k miles total). The BP51s seem to be doing well and are not an issue.

FIrst Issue:

I'm on my first set of SPC Upper Control Arms and the upper ball is trashed and needs to be replaced. The top two options are the newer upgraded SPC UCA with a different style ball or the OME Upper Control Arm. I know the OME is more expensive, but where is the value? Are the new(ish) upgraded SPC UCAs better and more reliable? I'm willing to pay more for OME, but don't know enough about suspension geometry or reliability to gauge this question.

Second Issue:

When I do the UCA, I want to make a big effort to fix/maintain other front suspension components. The stock LCA seems fine, but I'd rather replace the ball joint and any other bushings while I have it all apart. What else is needed or recommended?

I can see that the sway bar link connector has a worn/torn bushing, that will be replaced.

1. LCA Ball Joint with stock ball joint? What about the other bushings? Is it just easier to buy the LCA assembly if cost is not too great relative to changing ball joint and bushings?
2. What about steering rack bushing components? What is replaceable?
3. Sway bar bushing replacements?

Thanks for the help.

 

[bloc]

A large selling point for the ARB UCA's to me was their bushing design. I'm not sure if other manufacturers are catching up in this area but when they came out the ARBs were the only ones without poly bushings that needed greasing to stay quiet. Also the upper balljoint is greaseable so it should last longer than brands without that feature.

For the lowers, just wait for a parts sale at serra or another dealer in that region and do the whole arms. These are very large units and getting the bushings and BJ out aren't worth the effort. There aren't good shoulders to press against for the bushings, and they are huge.

To my knowledge steering rack bushings aren't available from the factory. I have seen reports of aftermarket options but people don't seem to have a lot of problems with the originals. I'm at 240k and mine seem to be doing fine. Changing these would require removing the rack which is a substantial job.. you can get away without lifting the engine but you IIRC will need to remove the oil filter/aux cooler stand from the front of the timing cover to make room to slide the rack out.

Sway bar bushings would be relatively easy to do with all the other work. Mine weren't trashed but would justify changing when I swapped them around 200k. Also consider front sway bar end links.. they aren't cheap.. but you'll probably notice the rubber bushings at the bottom of the links will be very cracked.