No music. No goofy opening. No one with a camera close up on their faces yelling at us. Simply to the point with useful information. I wish everyone else would do this...
Every time you do a video I learn more. Once again, clear, utter lack of nomenclature and incredibly informative. thank you for making these. I love learning this stuff and you present really well.
I wish I could like these videos more than once. Honestly, the best videos on the internet I've found for understanding the equipment I want to put on my Taco. I'll definitely be by the shop whenever I'm in Boulder.
I came to learn about upper control arms and got more than I bargained for. Superior job explaining btw. love the presentation with visuals and all. You explain things very well.
I hope people realize the value of your videos Ben! I tell everyone that asks me about my suspension setup to buy from filthy motorsports. I wish i knew about your page before i ordered my setup with another company. God bless you and your peers !
Great video breaking the differences down. To me it seems you are being very impartial and that kind of straightforward breakdown is very much appreciated when trying to make product decisions. Definitely subscribing for hopefully more good content like this.
Wow! I'm getting a lift done and replacing my UCAs. Very informative vid and now you provided such great information that I at least know how to shop for parts better and to be able to find a shop that is knowledgable on how to align my truck with the new UCAs.
Thumbs up again for the re-upload. Very informative and interesting even for someone who doesn't have a truck that uses UCAs. The section about ball joints is quite interesting!
Awesome video. Many people need to watch it before deciding about uca. I really like how you went deep into the ball joints. Made me figure few things out and that was great comparing.
Watched this video soon after the shop I go to recommended SPC UCA’s for my 2013 4Runner Trail. Even when others are going with Total Chaos, etc, he recommended SPC’s for durability and less maintenance.
@Filthy Motorsports 3 Questions caused by your great/extremely educational video; Scenario: Have a 2017 Tacoma OR DCLB. Have an OME BP-51 kit (front and rears) preparing to install soon and am staying as close to no lift as possible for now (maybe go up 3/4-1"). I'm not increasing tire size (265/70/16) yet, may one day go to 265/75/16. Prepping truck for comfortable daily driving (bad back) and weekend getaways with a slide in four wheel pop up camper (arrives in June). Also doing air bags in rear to balance camper load as needed. I'm not blazing off road but I do hit old dirt and rock roads for camping and at a good pace. I'm looking for quality/reliability/ease of service and most importantly, dialed in alignment. So here's my dilemma's/3 questions: #1- I was going to go w/OME's uca's but now I'm not sure if I should consider the SPC's or the Icon Delta uca's. What are your thoughts between the 3 uca's given my scenario? #2-Since I'm more daily driver than weekend warrior and have air bags, I'm beginning to lean towards Icon RXT leafs instead of the OME's, because RXT's appear to be more progressive. Suggestion? #3-Front bump stops. For progressive reasons and lower height I'm leaning towards Wheelers Off Road stops instead of Timbren. Suggestion?
So I was on Amazon trying to buy uca ball joint and lower ball joints for my 4runner, but moog problem solver was getting bad reviews, like they fail prematurely or what not. Even some RUclips vid out there. So I opted for OEM for that reason. But those SPC uca look real nice.
🙏🏽Thank you Ben for doing this subject on Ball joints. I typically stick OEM on 1stgen Tundra 4wd AC. I am looking too get a new set of UC's & I want the best design along with a very durable Balljoint system.
Great video well explained like always... I would like to see a comparison between MAZZULA/ CAMBURG/BAJAKITS/DIRTKING UPPER CONTROL ARMS billet and boxed..and if you recomend those for daily driven or race purposes or weekend warrior..thanks in advance...
Wow awesome videos thanks a lot. Just stumbled upon them looking at your website. I was getting ready to pull the trigger on the delta joint upper arms for my 98 tacoma TRD 4x4 V6 but now thinking twice and looking at the SPC's
AWESOME video, Sir. I was debating the ICON Delta vs the SPCs and JBAs on a 5th gen T4R, but this settles it SPC it is! I look forward to watching more of your videos!
I was debating with SPC or Camburg for my 2016 4Runner. I’m lifting mine to 2.5” and 1.5” spacer. I guess I might just go SPC it’s cheaper and for its purpose. My 4R is my daily and never Offroad it yet. No plan so far.
Another big question I would love to see answered is, and maybe it would have to be vehicle specific, but at a 2-in front level on a truck...is a aftermarket UCA required to not have alignment issues or interference with the strut/spring? Getting Bilstein 6112 for the front of my F150, or that's the plan anyways.
What about lower a arms? SPC as well ? I’m gathering parts for my 07 frontier 4x Rural Colorado has rough roads and extreme weather......this will be my 3rd time replacing front end . moog was okay but got eaten up within 2 to 3 years
I like the the adjustability of the ball joint but I have concerns about squeaking upper control arm bushings. I don't see any zerk fittings to keep them lubed. I had a bad experience with polyurethane bushings making noise in the past.
There are no Zerk fittings on the SPCs, however, the trick with polyurethane is to go heavy with some synthetic lube (Super Lube in a gray tube) during the installation and then they stay quiet.
Watching your video; give me a better idea what could be the problem with my front passenger's tire what looks closer to the fender compare to driver side. Will check my lower control arm and hope that I can move the tire forward and fix the problem. Thanks...
Now it makes sense why some auto shops won’t work on individual suspension pieces on lifted vehicles. I bought and personally installed those $40 upper control arms ($40 for the pair!) on my 07 4Runner Sport with about a 2.5 inch spacer lift. The handling improved quite a bit at least in reducing some steering wander, but a thousand or two miles later and the steering is loose feeling again. It’s like the feeling of crossing another boats’ wake when it’s nearly parallel so it has kind of a roll sensation that may take some extra work to climb out from the low point between wake crests. The UPA I pulled out prior were nearly the same as the replacement, but typically/approximately how much lift can those cheapies handle or were you saying that lifting results in zero changes to the actual travel of the arms? Thanks for the great videos
Thank you for sharing! On a 4runner, an OEM style UCA is typically good for about 1.5" of lift. Aftermarket UCAs will work up to 3" of lift, although we don't recommend more than 2.5"
Very informative video specially the cut section part. Thank you for such a nice video lecture. One thing I wanted to know about maximum angular travel allowed by Moog ball joint
Thank you. Even though there are many out there that want to have that race look, it seems to come at a steep price point! This video clip answers so many questions and in detail. This education is awesome!
How do you feel about JBA Upper Control Arms ? I want SPC but I worry about people not knowing how to work on them and the expense....JBA is $150 cheaper. I only have a 3" lift with 32" tires and do light to moderate off roading. No extreme crazy stuff. I trust your opinion a ton after this break down. Thanks
Finally! After reading through so many forums and articles where it seems like its just preference on getting control arms with a 3" leveling kit on a 15 silverado. Good to hear real information and why you should replace them.
Amazing video thanks. 25:56 Why would someone choose a delta joint. What are those unique features? Seems like the Moog is the same yet has a better price and is more durable.
Thank you! There is not much to be said about LCAs, they rarely every need to be replaced outside of a long travel suspension system. Do you have any specific questions about LCAs?
Regarding the open uniball and packing it with sticky grease to keep dirt out. I would not think that would be a wise thing to do as anything with sticky grease will act as a dirt magnet and cause premature wear instead of preventing it from going into it unless it's just sitting still all day long. With any movement the ball will pull that grease and dirt into the joint. Just my perspective and opinion on that. I'm sure others will have their own.
Great question. In this application the dirt would only be sticking to the outside of the grease so on a Uniball it would never make it through to the bearing internals that would be full immersed in grease.
Great breakdown on the types of joints. Giving the actual Rockwell C numbers on the hardness test would be beneficial to some. Simply comparing hardness of the ball without the race it sits in doesn't mean much, it's the system. There are instances where I may use parts into the HRc 60 range for one application and only in the 40s for another depending on the ductility required for that joint at my day job. I assume the test were done with one of the file kits? Or do you have a bench top indenter type machine?
The hardness of the balls in these applications isn't critical considering the ball joints are (should be) well lubricated at all times and, as such, wear on the ball joints isn't a common issue and thus should not be a significant deciding factor when selecting UCAs. Great question!
Good video. Very informative. I have a 2017 4runner and doing a Dobinsons lift kit and planning on putting 285s tires. I was not planning on replacing the upper control arm until now. Watching the video is making wonder if I should go ahead and upgrade the stock arm. Is the stock arm strong enough. I am not going to rock climbing or race a baha dessert. Just need the lift for flood zones and crossing creates when going to the mountains. Thank you for your time
Can you replace a uniball with a ball joint on a UCA? I have Tuff Country UCA's and have no need for the articulation of a Uniball nor the hassle of replacing a Uniball.
Great videos Ben. Thank you for sharing your attention to detail and providing the visuals with your cut aways. One suggestion though, and it’s only because you asked. Please, please try to drop the power-block cadence. Yours isn’t horribly bad but it would be such a huge improvement to your presentation. Everything else is so on point.
How many deg of movement does each joint allow? Do deg of movement matter in typical applications? Does deg of movement matter in a Toyota LT application? What are the hardness ratings? If you would like to include this I work in a lab capable of these hardness measurements. Thanks!
On any aftermarket UCAs, the ball joints offer way more misalignment than the suspension could ever use so it's not a factor in this comparison. As for hardness we do have the numbers but decided not to go into that in this video. Thanks for the offer!
Could you maybe just give us a quick explanation of the difference between the Icon tubular UCA w/ delta joint vs the Icon billet UCA? They are vastly different prices. Does the billet offer something much better?
Thanks for the info. Now i am curious about the spc's. Might switch out the fabtech uniballs. Although i just found the replacement spherical bearings for $50 ea. The first set lasted me about two years. I'm in Massachusetts with alot of salt and calcium in the winter. And i go wheeling in the spring, summer and fall, lots of mud.
I have a 2006 Nissan Frontier. I am going to put on a 3 inch strut spacer and 3 inch shackle on it. I'm installing some 285/75/r16 tires on. What upper control arms do you recommend for my truck with the lift kit and larger tires? Thank you.
I have a 6inch lift on my taco and was wondering what kind of control arms I should get because I want to put a 1inch spacer but the stock control arms are maxed out at 6inchs what should I get??????
That depends on the lift kit, some are designed to work best with OEM geometry UCAs and others benefit from aftermarket UCAs. In any case, the only UCAs we recommend for lifted trucks are these adjustable SPC UCA: www.filthymotorsports.com/SPC_UCAs_p/spc-uca.htm
Is it ok to add SPC upper control arms to an otherwise stock 5th gen 4Runner? Maybe I’m operating under a false assumption that I learned from Icon’s website, but I thought you need “extended travel coilovers” when you install UCAs with extended travel joints, or risk damaging something. Maybe that was with their spherical bearings? BTW, I know it there’s no performance benefit of adding an SPC UCA to a stock truck, but there are a couple good reasons why someone would (ie replacing damaged/boring stock UCAs while planning/saving for a future/expensive coilover upgrade)
Aftermarket UCAs are not needed until the front end is lifted more than 1.5" over stock height. They can certainly still be used but the benefits would be minimal. The coilovers are the "limiting straps" on these vehicles so using an upper control arm that allows for more travel doesn't change anything - but would allow for a slightly longer (extended travel) coilover.
Great video thank you! Been trying to decide what uca to put on 21 Colorado 4x4 with Eibach adjust coil over 2.5” lift front 1” rear . Def want polyurethane bush & beefy ball joint. Mavotechs any good ?
so glad to find your channel, very well explained! Can I ask a question, product-specific. I installed the Old man emu BP51 front coil over on the 4runner but kept the factory UCA. The reason being 1. I won't install larger tires and 2. I wanted to do minimal lifting (less than 2"). The BP51 has ride height adjustment which I did, to the lowest lift, but it somehow still gave me a 3" lift! Now I face an issue, the remote reservoir hose is trightly jammed under the UCA. What aftermarket UCA allows wider arch/more clearance? Or, if my current situation is a real concern? Will the downward movement of the factory UCA damage the hose?
You just saved me a bunch of money and time by not going with the icon uniball uca...I ain’t. Got no time and money to be swapping the uniball every 3 oil changes! Spc it is even though I don’t like the way they look...
Great question, I use Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease for everything (but just about any full synthetic grease is a great choice). Greasing the UCAs (and joints) is really easy to do every oil change if you keep it with your oil change gear but even every other or every 3 oil changes is plenty. Cheers!
@@Filthymotorsports A related grease questions; as I watch the removal and installation of bolts and nuts in videos for suspension components I notice that the threads and tapers of the hardware doesn't have antisieze or grease applied either from the factory or when the new parts are installed. Is there a reason the hardware is installed dry in these locations? Wouldn't use of a lube in these places make subsequent removals less dependant on large hammers? As long as the hardware is torqued to specs retention shouldn't be an issue.
I'd need to know more. Many lift kits are engineered to only work with factory UCAs so adding a pair with extra caster may cause an alignment issue. It's best to check with the lift kit manufacturer or your alignment shop.
Great explanation! I am getting the SPC UCA for my 2018 4Runner and having it installed by Toyota. What kind of maintenance is needed for the SPC UCA or are they low maintenance control arms?
I have a 2002 Toyota tundra. Bilstein 5100s on highest notch. 285/70/17 tires on 9" wide wheels with -12 offset. Everything else stock. I ordered Camburg UCAs yesterday with uniball ball joints. Will I get any rubbing of the tire on the UCAs? The stock UCA is about 1" from the inside of the tire. Just want to make sure I shouldn't cancel my order.
I heard of this channel from a guy at the ski hill. I have a Titan swapped 2005 Xterra Off Road and needed more caster and camer to get it in spec. I bought the SPC adjustable control arm 10 mins before watching this video and now I'm 100% confident i made the right decision. I have to get my vehicle aligned at Advanced Suspension Design because most "reputable" alignment shops dont understand what a Titan Swap is. I had to find the one guy in town that said "i don't what the badge on the vehicle says, i care about the angles" Would it be wise to get the Camber bolt kit as well?
I have a 2001 4x4 TRD Tacoma V6, I went four wheeling for the first time and did fine some rock and gravel roads, I felt some jarring in the steering wheel. So I’m thinking I will need to up grade my stock truck. Where do I start?
Filthy Motorsports I plan on getting a cab mount chop and getting fenders cut back professionally . Plus I’m regearing to a 5.29 Plus i have a 3 inch lift
Awesome video. Quick question - on your website it says the SPC upper control arms will add about 3/4” of travel on a 4Runner. Is that 3/4” suspension travel or wheel travel? And is that down/droop travel? Thanks!
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
No music. No goofy opening. No one with a camera close up on their faces yelling at us. Simply to the point with useful information. I wish everyone else would do this...
We are so glad to hear that, thank you for the feedback!
Every time you do a video I learn more. Once again, clear, utter lack of nomenclature and incredibly informative. thank you for making these. I love learning this stuff and you present really well.
Thanks for the feedback, I'm so glad to hear it!
What is the maximum angular travel of Moog ball joint
I wish I could like these videos more than once. Honestly, the best videos on the internet I've found for understanding the equipment I want to put on my Taco. I'll definitely be by the shop whenever I'm in Boulder.
I'm so glad to hear it, thank you!
This is an incredible presentation. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
I came to learn about upper control arms and got more than I bargained for. Superior job explaining btw. love the presentation with visuals and all. You explain things very well.
Sol glad to hear that, thank you!
I hope people realize the value of your videos Ben! I tell everyone that asks me about my suspension setup to buy from filthy motorsports. I wish i knew about your page before i ordered my setup with another company. God bless you and your peers !
I'm so happy to hear that, thank you!
This is the best explanation of upper control arms! I was an idiot before and now I am an educated consumer. Brilliant
You're an outstanding presenter. Please keep up the good work. I'm loving the education.
Thank you, much appreciated!
Great video breaking the differences down. To me it seems you are being very impartial and that kind of straightforward breakdown is very much appreciated when trying to make product decisions. Definitely subscribing for hopefully more good content like this.
Nicely done Ben.
Thanks!
Best deep dive into ball joints I've seen!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Wow! I'm getting a lift done and replacing my UCAs. Very informative vid and now you provided such great information that I at least know how to shop for parts better and to be able to find a shop that is knowledgable on how to align my truck with the new UCAs.
Glad it was helpful!
Thumbs up again for the re-upload. Very informative and interesting even for someone who doesn't have a truck that uses UCAs. The section about ball joints is quite interesting!
Thanks! So glad to hear it!
Best explanation I have found on YT about UCA
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this. First time upgrading my upper control arms. This showed me so much. Great video
Glad it helped, thank you for letting us know!
Awesome video. Many people need to watch it before deciding about uca. I really like how you went deep into the ball joints. Made me figure few things out and that was great comparing.
Glad you liked it!
Watched this video soon after the shop I go to recommended SPC UCA’s for my 2013 4Runner Trail. Even when others are going with Total Chaos, etc, he recommended SPC’s for durability and less maintenance.
Thanks for sharing, we hear that a lot from our customers!
@Filthy Motorsports
3 Questions caused by your great/extremely educational video; Scenario: Have a 2017 Tacoma OR DCLB. Have an OME BP-51 kit (front and rears) preparing to install soon and am staying as close to no lift as possible for now (maybe go up 3/4-1"). I'm not increasing tire size (265/70/16) yet, may one day go to 265/75/16. Prepping truck for comfortable daily driving (bad back) and weekend getaways with a slide in four wheel pop up camper (arrives in June). Also doing air bags in rear to balance camper load as needed. I'm not blazing off road but I do hit old dirt and rock roads for camping and at a good pace. I'm looking for quality/reliability/ease of service and most importantly, dialed in alignment. So here's my dilemma's/3 questions: #1- I was going to go w/OME's uca's but now I'm not sure if I should consider the SPC's or the Icon Delta uca's. What are your thoughts between the 3 uca's given my scenario? #2-Since I'm more daily driver than weekend warrior and have air bags, I'm beginning to lean towards Icon RXT leafs instead of the OME's, because RXT's appear to be more progressive. Suggestion? #3-Front bump stops. For progressive reasons and lower height I'm leaning towards Wheelers Off Road stops instead of Timbren. Suggestion?
Best information I've seen. Excellent online learning and support.
Very detailed and clear explanation. Learnt so much from you Ben. Awaiting for future videos. Keep up the great work. Cheers
Thank you, so glad to hear it!
"learnt" 😂
So I was on Amazon trying to buy uca ball joint and lower ball joints for my 4runner, but moog problem solver was getting bad reviews, like they fail prematurely or what not. Even some RUclips vid out there. So I opted for OEM for that reason. But those SPC uca look real nice.
🙏🏽Thank you Ben for doing this subject on Ball joints. I typically stick OEM on 1stgen Tundra 4wd AC. I am looking too get a new set of UC's & I want the best design along with a very durable Balljoint system.
Great video well explained like always...
I would like to see a comparison between MAZZULA/ CAMBURG/BAJAKITS/DIRTKING UPPER CONTROL ARMS billet and boxed..and if you recomend those for daily driven or race purposes or weekend warrior..thanks in advance...
This was the best explanation of ball joints and value I have seen great job
Thank you, Tony!
Fantastic video. Very well done. This really helped me understand the differences between the UCA’s and made my next decision easy. Thank you.
Great to hear!
Wow awesome videos thanks a lot. Just stumbled upon them looking at your website. I was getting ready to pull the trigger on the delta joint upper arms for my 98 tacoma TRD 4x4 V6 but now thinking twice and looking at the SPC's
So glad to hear it! They are both excellent options!!
AWESOME video, Sir. I was debating the ICON Delta vs the SPCs and JBAs on a 5th gen T4R, but this settles it SPC it is! I look forward to watching more of your videos!
I'm so glad to hear that, thank you!
I was debating with SPC or Camburg for my 2016 4Runner. I’m lifting mine to 2.5” and 1.5” spacer. I guess I might just go SPC it’s cheaper and for its purpose. My 4R is my daily and never Offroad it yet. No plan so far.
Another quality video! Definitely interested in the SPC UCA for my full setup.
Very well presented! Nothing I didn’t already know, but clear and concise. Job well done.
Excellent video. Very thorough and precise. Great channel.
Much appreciated!
Another big question I would love to see answered is, and maybe it would have to be vehicle specific, but at a 2-in front level on a truck...is a aftermarket UCA required to not have alignment issues or interference with the strut/spring? Getting Bilstein 6112 for the front of my F150, or that's the plan anyways.
Thanks for the question, yes, aftermarket UCAs would be highly recommended above 1.5" of lift for a proper alignment.
insane value in this video. curious if there is any updates you think could be added in past 5 years?
What about lower a arms? SPC as well ?
I’m gathering parts for my 07 frontier 4x
Rural Colorado has rough roads and extreme weather......this will be my 3rd time replacing front end .
moog was okay but got eaten up within 2 to 3 years
I’d love for you to compare some JBA control arms in with these too. Another option worth a look. And cheaper than the spc.
JBAs are great, they use the Moog ball joints :)
What about their delta joints? Still Moog ???
I like the the adjustability of the ball joint but I have concerns about squeaking upper control arm bushings. I don't see any zerk fittings to keep them lubed. I had a bad experience with polyurethane bushings making noise in the past.
There are no Zerk fittings on the SPCs, however, the trick with polyurethane is to go heavy with some synthetic lube (Super Lube in a gray tube) during the installation and then they stay quiet.
Am I not seeing one in the above video?
@@Filthymotorsports
Great video Thank you. What kind of RC truck is that. In the beginning of video.
Wish I could remember as we get that question a lot. We bought used ones on eBay.
The plastic in the SPC may be so dirt will dig into the softer plastic vs scratching on the ball. Path of least resistance possibly?
Very interesting! I like it.
Watching your video; give me a better idea what could be the problem with my front passenger's tire what looks closer to the fender compare to driver side.
Will check my lower control arm and hope that I can move the tire forward and fix the problem.
Thanks...
Could be an alignment issue or some vehicles are in-fact built with one front tire slightly forward of the other by design.
Outstanding video. Very informative and well done. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Now it makes sense why some auto shops won’t work on individual suspension pieces on lifted vehicles. I bought and personally installed those $40 upper control arms ($40 for the pair!) on my 07 4Runner Sport with about a 2.5 inch spacer lift. The handling improved quite a bit at least in reducing some steering wander, but a thousand or two miles later and the steering is loose feeling again. It’s like the feeling of crossing another boats’ wake when it’s nearly parallel so it has kind of a roll sensation that may take some extra work to climb out from the low point between wake crests. The UPA I pulled out prior were nearly the same as the replacement, but typically/approximately how much lift can those cheapies handle or were you saying that lifting results in zero changes to the actual travel of the arms? Thanks for the great videos
Thank you for sharing! On a 4runner, an OEM style UCA is typically good for about 1.5" of lift. Aftermarket UCAs will work up to 3" of lift, although we don't recommend more than 2.5"
Very informative video specially the cut section part. Thank you for such a nice video lecture. One thing I wanted to know about maximum angular travel allowed by Moog ball joint
I was about to buy race UCAs for the FJ. Looks like SPC is the way to go for my application. Great video!
Excellent presentation.I learn a lot.THX you..keep up the good work
Thank you!
Thank you. Even though there are many out there that want to have that race look, it seems to come at a steep price point! This video clip answers so many questions and in detail. This education is awesome!
So glad to hear it, thank you!
How do you feel about JBA Upper Control Arms ? I want SPC but I worry about people not knowing how to work on them and the expense....JBA is $150 cheaper. I only have a 3" lift with 32" tires and do light to moderate off roading. No extreme crazy stuff. I trust your opinion a ton after this break down. Thanks
JBA makes very good upper control arms!
@@Filthymotorsports Thank you , I went ahead and got them. People in my area dont understand SPC UCA's it seems.
Awesome explanation, super stoked to see more content. Staying tuned!
Cheers!
Nice class FOR FREE, lots of learning my man, thanks for sharing
You are very welcome, thanks for watching!
Finally! After reading through so many forums and articles where it seems like its just preference on getting control arms with a 3" leveling kit on a 15 silverado. Good to hear real information and why you should replace them.
Amazing video thanks. 25:56 Why would someone choose a delta joint. What are those unique features? Seems like the Moog is the same yet has a better price and is more durable.
Pretty much. The main benefit of the Delta joint is that it replaces the spherical bearings on some older Icon upper control arms.
@@Filthymotorsports Thanks for the quick reply. Also how do you know when your bearing needs replacing?
Super educational! Thanks for taking the time to do all the cutting, etc.
I'm so glad to hear that, thank you!
Best ever video explaining this! Thanks
Oh wow, thank you!!
Very informative. When are you going to do a similar full video on lower control arms?
Thank you! There is not much to be said about LCAs, they rarely every need to be replaced outside of a long travel suspension system. Do you have any specific questions about LCAs?
Regarding the open uniball and packing it with sticky grease to keep dirt out. I would not think that would be a wise thing to do as anything with sticky grease will act as a dirt magnet and cause premature wear instead of preventing it from going into it unless it's just sitting still all day long. With any movement the ball will pull that grease and dirt into the joint. Just my perspective and opinion on that. I'm sure others will have their own.
Great question. In this application the dirt would only be sticking to the outside of the grease so on a Uniball it would never make it through to the bearing internals that would be full immersed in grease.
Thanks Ben for such a great video. I changed where I am getting my SPC control arm aligned at.
Cheers!
This video is so detailed and awesome!
Thanks so much!
You definitely explained the uniball well.....thanks
Thank you for watching!
Thank you for the info! Very knowledgeable and user friendly. Appreciate you!
Great breakdown on the types of joints. Giving the actual Rockwell C numbers on the hardness test would be beneficial to some. Simply comparing hardness of the ball without the race it sits in doesn't mean much, it's the system. There are instances where I may use parts into the HRc 60 range for one application and only in the 40s for another depending on the ductility required for that joint at my day job. I assume the test were done with one of the file kits? Or do you have a bench top indenter type machine?
The hardness of the balls in these applications isn't critical considering the ball joints are (should be) well lubricated at all times and, as such, wear on the ball joints isn't a common issue and thus should not be a significant deciding factor when selecting UCAs. Great question!
Good video. Very informative. I have a 2017 4runner and doing a Dobinsons lift kit and planning on putting 285s tires. I was not planning on replacing the upper control arm until now. Watching the video is making wonder if I should go ahead and upgrade the stock arm. Is the stock arm strong enough. I am not going to rock climbing or race a baha dessert. Just need the lift for flood zones and crossing creates when going to the mountains. Thank you for your time
4years later is the moog upper control arm still safe to buy for durability?
Yes, absolutely.
Can you replace a uniball with a ball joint on a UCA? I have Tuff Country UCA's and have no need for the articulation of a Uniball nor the hassle of replacing a Uniball.
The Icon Delta Joint was originally developed for that purpose, primarily for Icon Uniball arms but I think they have models for other UCAs.
Great videos Ben. Thank you for sharing your attention to detail and providing the visuals with your cut aways. One suggestion though, and it’s only because you asked. Please, please try to drop the power-block cadence. Yours isn’t horribly bad but it would be such a huge improvement to your presentation. Everything else is so on point.
Thank you for the feedback!
Great stuff guys! Learned a lot while folding laundry 😆
Glad to hear we made your chores more enjoyable!
Great video. Whats your opinion on an extended shank ball joint? Say 25mm. Will throw off the camber?
Do any aftermarket UCA companies use Moog Problem Solver ball joints as their standard equipment?
So far the best videos I’ve seen. I love the very well detailed explanation. God bless you.
How many deg of movement does each joint allow? Do deg of movement matter in typical applications? Does deg of movement matter in a Toyota LT application? What are the hardness ratings? If you would like to include this I work in a lab capable of these hardness measurements. Thanks!
On any aftermarket UCAs, the ball joints offer way more misalignment than the suspension could ever use so it's not a factor in this comparison. As for hardness we do have the numbers but decided not to go into that in this video. Thanks for the offer!
This stuff should be thought in high school to everyone By this guy.
Haha!
Could you maybe just give us a quick explanation of the difference between the Icon tubular UCA w/ delta joint vs the Icon billet UCA? They are vastly different prices. Does the billet offer something much better?
The billet arms look cooler.
Thanks for the info. Now i am curious about the spc's. Might switch out the fabtech uniballs. Although i just found the replacement spherical bearings for $50 ea. The first set lasted me about two years. I'm in Massachusetts with alot of salt and calcium in the winter. And i go wheeling in the spring, summer and fall, lots of mud.
Just purchased fox 2.5 coil overs need to buy UCA which would you recommend vehicle use mainly for daily driving thank you 4 runner.
SPC UCAs for sure: www.filthymotorsports.com/SPC_UCAs_p/spc-uca.htm
I have a 2006 Nissan Frontier. I am going to put on a 3 inch strut spacer and 3 inch shackle on it. I'm installing some 285/75/r16 tires on. What upper control arms do you recommend for my truck with the lift kit and larger tires? Thank you.
SPC for sure: www.filthymotorsports.com/SPC_UCAs_p/spc-uca.htm
@@Filthymotorsports ty👍
Any suggestions or ideas for the 2001 ford super duty 7.3, upper Control arm replacement
Lol. Those trucks don't have UCAs.
Excellent video! keep up the good work.
I have a 6inch lift on my taco and was wondering what kind of control arms I should get because I want to put a 1inch spacer but the stock control arms are maxed out at 6inchs what should I get??????
That depends on the lift kit, some are designed to work best with OEM geometry UCAs and others benefit from aftermarket UCAs. In any case, the only UCAs we recommend for lifted trucks are these adjustable SPC UCA: www.filthymotorsports.com/SPC_UCAs_p/spc-uca.htm
if I add a 1" extended ball joint to an aftermarket UCA how much inches in lift allowance will it give me?
My Icons UCA on my F150 squeak even after greasing them. Do I just go with another brand that’s not ooly ?
We would need to know more information. None of these upper control arms should squeak when installed correctly and lubricated properly.
Is it ok to add SPC upper control arms to an otherwise stock 5th gen 4Runner? Maybe I’m operating under a false assumption that I learned from Icon’s website, but I thought you need “extended travel coilovers” when you install UCAs with extended travel joints, or risk damaging something. Maybe that was with their spherical bearings?
BTW, I know it there’s no performance benefit of adding an SPC UCA to a stock truck, but there are a couple good reasons why someone would (ie replacing damaged/boring stock UCAs while planning/saving for a future/expensive coilover upgrade)
Aftermarket UCAs are not needed until the front end is lifted more than 1.5" over stock height. They can certainly still be used but the benefits would be minimal. The coilovers are the "limiting straps" on these vehicles so using an upper control arm that allows for more travel doesn't change anything - but would allow for a slightly longer (extended travel) coilover.
Great video thank you! Been trying to decide what uca to put on 21 Colorado 4x4 with Eibach adjust coil over 2.5” lift front 1” rear . Def want polyurethane bush & beefy ball joint. Mavotechs any good ?
i want to lift my 1995 dodge dakota 2inch and use after market upper and lower control arms ,can u reckamend any
so glad to find your channel, very well explained! Can I ask a question, product-specific. I installed the Old man emu BP51 front coil over on the 4runner but kept the factory UCA. The reason being 1. I won't install larger tires and 2. I wanted to do minimal lifting (less than 2"). The BP51 has ride height adjustment which I did, to the lowest lift, but it somehow still gave me a 3" lift! Now I face an issue, the remote reservoir hose is trightly jammed under the UCA. What aftermarket UCA allows wider arch/more clearance? Or, if my current situation is a real concern? Will the downward movement of the factory UCA damage the hose?
You just saved me a bunch of money and time by not going with the icon uniball uca...I ain’t. Got no time and money to be swapping the uniball every 3 oil changes!
Spc it is even though I don’t like the way they look...
Thanks for the feedback! And I agreed, the only downside to the SPCs is how they look. But I'll always take function over form!
So what is your opinion on 2004-2020 F150 ICON Billet Aluminum Delta Joint Upper Control Arms 98505DJ
Great video As always Ben
What kind of grease would you recommend and how often to grease the SPCs? I do lots of muddy oilfield road driving.
Great question, I use Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease for everything (but just about any full synthetic grease is a great choice). Greasing the UCAs (and joints) is really easy to do every oil change if you keep it with your oil change gear but even every other or every 3 oil changes is plenty. Cheers!
@@Filthymotorsports A related grease questions; as I watch the removal and installation of bolts and nuts in videos for suspension components I notice that the threads and tapers of the hardware doesn't have antisieze or grease applied either from the factory or when the new parts are installed. Is there a reason the hardware is installed dry in these locations? Wouldn't use of a lube in these places make subsequent removals less dependant on large hammers? As long as the hardware is torqued to specs retention shouldn't be an issue.
I have a 06silverado 1500 with a 6inch liftkit and just got cognito upper control arms will I notice a difference after there installed?
I'd need to know more. Many lift kits are engineered to only work with factory UCAs so adding a pair with extra caster may cause an alignment issue. It's best to check with the lift kit manufacturer or your alignment shop.
What brand with out braking the bank. Alldogs is pretty hi. Suggestions
I notice King offers Camburg UCA in their advanced kits. Other than for racing does Camburg also offer an endurance UCA with Moog ball joints?
Awesome video ! Thank you for passing on your knowledge !
You are very welcome, thank you for watching!
Great explanation! I am getting the SPC UCA for my 2018 4Runner and having it installed by Toyota. What kind of maintenance is needed for the SPC UCA or are they low maintenance control arms?
Just valvoline lithium grease in zerks and your Good
I have a 2002 Toyota tundra. Bilstein 5100s on highest notch. 285/70/17 tires on 9" wide wheels with -12 offset. Everything else stock. I ordered Camburg UCAs yesterday with uniball ball joints. Will I get any rubbing of the tire on the UCAs? The stock UCA is about 1" from the inside of the tire. Just want to make sure I shouldn't cancel my order.
SPC vs. Kryptonite UCAs. Looking to fit 285/75/17 on a 2002 Suburban 1500.
Thank you so much for making these videos. No bro hype with just facts. I love the pros and cons of all the setups. Your the man!!
That is exactly what we were shooting for, so glad to hear it came out that way! Cheers!
I heard of this channel from a guy at the ski hill.
I have a Titan swapped 2005 Xterra Off Road and needed more caster and camer to get it in spec.
I bought the SPC adjustable control arm 10 mins before watching this video and now I'm 100% confident i made the right decision.
I have to get my vehicle aligned at Advanced Suspension Design because most "reputable" alignment shops dont understand what a Titan Swap is.
I had to find the one guy in town that said "i don't what the badge on the vehicle says, i care about the angles"
Would it be wise to get the Camber bolt kit as well?
Great choice on the UCAs. A camber bolt kit should not be needed unless your alignment guy suggests it.
thank you for the education. your presentation is excellent.
I have a 2001 4x4 TRD Tacoma V6, I went four wheeling for the first time and did fine some rock and gravel roads, I felt some jarring in the steering wheel. So I’m thinking I will need to up grade my stock truck. Where do I start?
I would start by checking the ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings.
I now know truck-fu a little better now, thank you so much!
Lol, glad we could help!
Thank you for this! Very clear. Was looking forever for answers i didnt know i needed. Then this. Learning complete! Thanks again!
Haha, so glad to hear it, glad you watched!
Fantastic video and awesome explanation, thank you!
I have 2020 Tacoma and I want to put 35s what’s the best upper control arm to buy. My truck is not a mall crawler it gets used
35s are a tough fit to get right so it depends on if you are fitting them with a lift kit or by cutting the fenders.
Filthy Motorsports I plan on getting a cab mount chop and getting fenders cut back professionally . Plus I’m regearing to a 5.29
Plus i have a 3 inch lift
Awesome video. Quick question - on your website it says the SPC upper control arms will add about 3/4” of travel on a 4Runner. Is that 3/4” suspension travel or wheel travel? And is that down/droop travel? Thanks!
Thanks for the question, on the 4Runner with "extended travel" you get an extra 1/2" to 3/4" droop travel at the tire.