September 1, 2022.
Note: There is an important update below.
It was more than three years and 120K miles ago that I installed SPC UCAs on the Tacoma. Shortly after installation, SPC came out with an improved design that was a single forged piece of material, with an entirely new type of joint. That joint - which they call the "X-Axis" joint - was essentially a sealed spherical bearing that replaces the polyurethane bushings where the UCA is mounted to the frame.
And so, when I took the truck in for an alignment and the alignment tech (a good one, which can be hard to find) mentioned that my UCA bushings were in need of replacement, I had some thinking to do.
My options - as I saw them - were really twofold:
- Replace the existing polyurethane bushings with more of the same. This is easy and straightforward, since SPC sells the bushings SPC 25466 Bushing Kit separately for around $50.
- Replace the existing poly bushings with new SPC X-Axis joints, though I had no idea of the cost. (see below)
To find out more about option 2, I emailed SPC at 10:11pm on a Thursday evening to enquire about purchasing the X-Axis joints:
Hi there,
I'm interested in replacing the specride bushings in my SPC UCAs with the x-axis joints. I've got a 2000 Tacoma, running 25460 UCAs from2018 and am wondering which x-axis joints I'd purchase for my application.
Thanks!
Dan
It took less than 13 hours for Esteban from SPC to get back to me, which I thought was pretty darn cool. He let me know that while they could sell me some X-Axis joints, the more cost-effective route would be to get into their UCA swap program. As you can imagine, that entails me forking over several hundred dollars - essentially purchasing a set of the new forged (stronger) UCAs with X-Axis joints already pressed in. Then, after I replaced the arms, I'd send back my original SPC UCAs and SPC would refund most - but not all - of the money I'd sent them for the new arms. In the end, this option would cost about $250, but would also refresh my upper ball joints at the same time.
Now, my upper ball joints were just fine - so I didn't really need a refresh on them - and spending 5x as much for X-Axis joints compared to poly bushings seemed like a lot, but after a few more back-and-forth emails with Esteban, I learned that the X-Axis joints were lifetime joint that required no maintenance, not even greasing! With all the maintenance I have to do to the truck, I felt like not having to worry about maintenance of this part forever was worth every penny.
Update October 17, 2022 (six weeks after install)
I originally posted this "upgrade" to the Tacoma about 5 weeks after installing the new SPC UCAs on my truck. When I did, the feedback was swift - many people with the new X-Axis based UCAs were having lots of trouble with them, and the X-Axis joints were lasting shorter periods of time than the previous SpecRide Polyurethane bushings had lasted me.
Here is a bit of the feedback I received (note, each comment links to the original for more context/replies):
The overwhelming negativity of the feedback concerned me, so I started up an email thread with SPC.
Hi,
So, I recently posted about my (great) experience installing the new SPC UCAs with the X-Axis joints (that you helped me with): Replacing my SPC Upper Control Arms …with SPC UCAs
As part of that, I shared the experience on my various channels, and I’ve gotten some “interesting” responses that worry me a bit. Lots of folks are saying that they’ve gone through the X-Axis joints much more quickly than the Poly bushings that I was previously running (where I got 120K miles on a lot of dirt). That surprised/worried me, because I was under the impression that these were no-maintenance, lifetime joints per our previous conversation.
Cheers,
Dan
The response I got was not ideal (Note: I've removed names of SPC employees, as I understand that they are just doing their job.)
Dan,
Sorry for the misunderstanding about the warranty on bushings or ball joints. They are 3 years or 36k. Are you having issues with them already?
-SPC
Shocked, I sent a follow-up email - what would be the first of many - and finally had a phone call with SPC, where I shared that:
Hi,
Wow, I’m very disappointed to hear that the service life on these is 36K miles, given that I got 120K miles out of the poly bushings. Add to the fact that the poly bushings are replaceable for $50, and the X-Axis require an entirely new UCA purchase, and I feel like I’ve been swindled a bit here.
In fact, at 36K miles, these arms will last me only a single year - I put 40K miles/year on my Tacoma - which is ridiculous. I think I’d like to go back to the original arms (or, a poly version of the arms) and get my $250 for the X-axis arms refunded.
Can you help me make that happen?
Thanks,
Dan
The answer - perhaps to be expected - was that there was no way to "go back" since my original arms had been thrown away on receipt, and SPC only makes the new-style UCAs now. Not only that, but they are completely discontinuing the SpecRide bushings, so whatever is left in stock... is it.
Through all of this, they did say that they want to stand behind the new X-Axis joints, and that I should keep an eye on them over the next few years. If there's a problem, they (say they) will swap them out under warranty. That's a good thing (assuming it is true), but of course, part of the reason I made this switch in the first place was so that I'd have less maintenance over time. It appears that in reality, I'll have more.
I can't say that I'm happy with how this all worked out. Personally, I think I'd have preferred to buy a few of the (now discontinued) SpecRide bushing sets to keep on hand, replacing them as necessary over the next 5-10 years, rather than gambling on the longevity of the X-Axis joints. But, given that that is no longer an option, I'm going to be keeping a close eye on these, to ensure that if they fail, I'm able to catch it early and (hopefully) get them warrantied out.
The new SPC UCAs arrived, and they were pretty.
A close up of one side (outside) of the X-Axis joint.
A close up of the other side (inside) of the X-Axis joint.
With the new arms in hand and a desire to recoup some of the cost after I sent my original UCAs back, I knew my usual modus operandi of waiting 6-9 months to install anything wasn't going to work. And, with nice weather, I got to work swapping out the parts.
I should note that I show several of the steps below, but that if you really want to do this yourself, it would be better to use the Step-by-Step Install of SPC Upper Control Arms on a Toyota Tacoma guide.
First, the wheel and tire have to come off.
Initially, I'd thought that I would first remove the coilover just to make things easier, but looking through the instructions that came with the new arms, and carefully inspecting the situation by eye, it looked like I could do the entire job without pulling the shock. So, rather than go to all that trouble, I got started by removing a few bits from the engine compartment so I could access - and remove - the long UCA bolts.
Out comes the air box on the passenger side.
It's also necessary to remove these two 10mm nuts to get the ABS sensor out of the way so the bolt can pass through the space it occupies.
On the driver side, the battery has to come out.
So does the driver side ABS sensor and a 10mm bolt that holds the wiring harness.
With the engine compartment cleared out, it was time to disconnect the control arms themselves by removing the long bolt securing them to the frame, and then separating the ball joint from the spindle. Both of these operations went much more smoothly than when I'd replaced my original UCAs, because the SPC parts are manufactured to be serviced without the use of presses and pullers. It was great!
A couple of 19mm tools to loosen the long UCA bolt.
A big, 32mm socket is used to loosen the adjustment nut on the top of the SPC ball joint.
Removal of the cotter pin, and then a 22mm socket easily removes the castle nut from the upper ball joint, which can then be tapped out of the spindle.
Finally, the long bolts can be pulled out, releasing the UCA.
With the old parts out, I definitely noticed a bit of wear in the original polyurethane UCA bushings - several of the metal sleeves slipped right out! They had lasted 120K miles though, which seems like a reasonable lifespan - in line with components like the timing belt and water pump. At any rate, before installation of the new arms, I figured it was time for a little comparison.
Old 25460 arm on the left; new on the right. Note the difference in construction, where the old arm was tubular and welded at the upper ball joint; the new arm is completely forged.
Polyurethane bushings require greasing, but the new X-Axis joint requires no maintenance, forever.
Installation of the new UCAs was essentially the reverse of removal, and a simple matter in all regards except for getting the long UCA bolt seated - that is an operation that requires the help of a friendly companion. Luckily, @mrs.turbodb was around for a few minutes of assistance.
First, slide the new retainer into the spindle. Note: if you are simply moving from older-to-newer SPC UCAs, you don't need to replace this part, but I did anyway.
Install the snap ring using the ever-useful Stanley Lock Ring Pliers.
Ensure that as you get the long UCA bolt threaded entirely through the UCA - with the help of a companion - the offset washers hold the outside of the washer away from the new X-Axis joint. Torque to 85 ft-lbs.
Secure the upper ball joint loosely into the UCA with the 32mm nut, using the supplied instructions to adjust the ball joint to the desired caster setting.
Insert the post of the upper ball joint into the spindle and secure it with the castle nut and cotter pin. Torque to 45 ft-lbs.
At this point, I only had a couple things to do before reassembling the engine compartment, putting the tire back on, and standing back to admire my work. Specifically, I needed to grease the upper ball joint with SPC-approved grease, and I needed to adjust the ball joint so that it was centered in the slot on the UCA before torquing the 32mm nut to 150 ft-lbs. Easy peasy.
In all, the entire process took about 2 hours - mostly because I spent a bunch of time photographing everything, and wondering if I was going to have to remove my coilover at the beginning.
With the whole thing done, and the original arms on their way back to SPC, I took the Tacoma in for an alignment and was somewhat disappointed with how things turned out. I'd hoped for a good 1.5° of caster on both sides, but given my caster adjustment on the SPC ball joints, I got significantly less than that on the driver side. The solution is obvious of course - I'll change the position of the ball joints to add more caster - but that will have to wait for my next alignment.
Not a great alignment, but a lot better than when I took it in.
For now, it's time to get back on the trail with my never-to-be-serviced-again control arms!
September 2024: Well, it took almost exactly two years for my never-to-be-serviced-again, "lifetime joint" upper control arms to wear out. Thankfully, SPC stood behind their warranty and have swapped them out for the next revision of the UCAs, with even better (sealed) X-Axis joints. I'm not installing them though.
In this Series
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Looks like the ABC active control suspension on my Mercedes SL. Where's the reservoir for the hydraulic fluid LOL.
Sometimes playing the long game pays off. Replacing something that is "LIFETIME" is sometimes less expensive than having to fix it every so often or every few years. Learned that over the decades with vehicles that I've had. Interesting job. Thanks for sharing.
Hopefully your new control arms with the XAxis joint last longer than mine! My first ones lasted two years, second ones lasted not even a full year and this time have much more play than the first time I noticed the play. The driver side ones are substantially worse then the passenger side. Going to be switching my UCAs away from SPC for this reason.
It's definitely a concern for me, and I'll be keeping a close eye on these. Thanks for weighing in with your experience! ?
Knowing what you know today, what UCA would you go with? I am still running the oem UCA but am looking to upgrade to ADS coilovers and new UCA. Your thoughts and experience would be helpful. Thanks.
Hey Fletch,
This is a tough question for me. Conceptually, I still really like the design of the SPCs. The adjustable ball joint at the top - allowing for easy adjustment of caster and camber - is a really nice feature compared to other uniball-style UCAs out there.
While I'm not thrilled with the new X-Axis joint (or the way in which it was "sold" to me), the reality is that I don't really know how it is going to hold up yet. It could be fine.
Anyway, I think if I were starting from scratch, knowing what I know now about the X-Axis joints, and knowing how I use my Tacoma, I'd consider things in this order:
You'll note that I don't have any of the uniball LCAs listed there as options (well, except the Long Travel stuff, which is all uniball). The reason for that is maintenance. Uniballs need replacing every 30-60K miles, which is the same replacement window as the X-Axis joints in the SPCs. Since I was looking for a lower maintenance option, neither would give that. So, I might as well stick with the new SPCs, which still offer adjustability of the upper ball joint. And, even sticking with the new SPCs, I can always press out the X-Axis joints and replace them with custom poly bushings if necessary. Not ideal, but possible.
Anyway, hope that answers your question!
Very helpful. Thank you.
what are your thoughts on aftermarket stock length lowers such as those from solomotorsports? they have castor correction built into the lower arm and use the factory ball joint?
I know several (three, I think) people who are running the Solo stock-length Lower Control Arms (LCAs) and generally they seem like a great (if expensive) product. As you mention, the castor correction - they move the wheel forward a couple of inches - is great, and definitely gives those folks great caster numbers.
There are only really a couple things to watch out for - from what I've heard.
Oh, and one more thing - you probably know this already, but for anyone else reading - Solo also makes a set of uniball LBJs that you can use with their LCAs, but they aren't cheap (either) and also *require* you to upgrade your spindles to Solo spindles at the same time. ...and at that point, you're into your front end for many thousands of dollars, and I'd (personally) just to a long travel setup for approximately the same cost.
Any experience with Icon delta joint UCAs or JBA UCAs?
Hey Sam, I don't personally have any experience with other UCAs, but perhaps someone who does can weigh in here. I do have buddies with Total Chaos UCAs, which I think have a 1" spherical bearing, and he thinks they are "just fine." Definitely more maintenance on that joint than the ball joint in the SPCs, and some squeaking from the joint as it wears, but otherwise the arms have performed well.
I have 10k on my 2nd set of SPC UCA with X axis. Have audible play in them. Fixing to go change them out with my 3rd set.
I have 6k on the opposite side and aft UCA bushing has play but front still good. I plan to warranty out the one side and when those parts come in, use them on the 6k mi side. I already have a spare set.
Then I’m getting away from these things! Just not how I want to be spending my time!
I ran SPC Adjustable Upper links on my Audi Q5 lowered on Bilstein B8 woith H&R sport springs.
They lasted a whole 12k and the inner bushings are toast and then the ball joints began knocking just before replacing them with better.
Pure garbage - STAY AWAY FROM SPC!!!
I called them and they only offered to replace at a minimal discount of 15% off. This just after the 1 year point. What a joke. They suck!
DON'T RECOMMEND BUYING SPC
Joe,
What did you do to replace the garbage SPC links?
I'm in the same EXACT boat! My SPC upper adjustable control arms lasted for 15k and chewed up my tires. Complete garbage and contacted them for the same crap offer. Don't even offer replaceable Inner bushing or outer ball joints. GARBAGE!!!
FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS BUY SPC!
Thanks for the help!
My Axis drivers side aft bushing is gone after 8,000 km! 3rd gen 4runner.
With no receipt I would have to go thru their $250 exchange program and potentially swap these out constantly, not really what I want to do. Planning on switching to JBA.
Has anyone used JBA, let me know your thoughts
Adam
Bummer to hear that Adam! I got more than 8K out of my set of X-Axis, but I've recently swapped back to the SpecRide variant of the arms,* because I feel like the X-Axis (which are really just some "sealed" spherical bearings) are always going to wear out quickly and are a lot harder (and more expensive) to replace than the poly bushings.
* Note as of Sep 22, 2024: I haven't posted the story about swapping back (and linked here) publicly yet, but thought I'd share it with you since you made this comment.
As far as JBA goes - I don't wheel with anyone who runs them, but I've not heard anything negative about them; essentially, they are like any other uniball UCA - along the lines of Total Chaos, etc. They too require (a different type) of maintenance, in that you have to monitor the poly bushings at the frame and the uniball at the spindle, but you won't have the X-Axis issue, since they use those poly bushings.
(Edit: my bad, they are actually greasable ball joints at the spindle, so a lot like the original SPC design. Seems like a good one to me!)
Thx for the info, ordered the JBA uca's.
Spoke with them on the phone, great people, in fact one of their advisors, Charles has been in the offroad racing industry for decades and worked for SPC in the past. Their uca's have sealed ball joints and poly bushings, both are replaceable for fraction of SPC cost.
Your internet page has ben very helpful, great work.
Ahh, yeah, I didn’t realize they had a UBJ design similar to the SPC arms. Those look really nice and are quite similar to the legacy SPC arms/joints, so I bet you’ll be happy with them.