SPC Upper Control Arms / Watch This Before Buying For Your Toyota

The truth about SPC Upper Control Arms- our long term use experience. Both our 5th Gen Toyota 4Runner and FJ Cruiser have had SPC upper control arms on them for many years. In this video I tell you the truth about how they've been performing after all these years, and miles.
Many people have had bad experiences with the ball joints and bushings that are provided with the arms. Watch this video before buying them. It may change your mind.

[@otgoffroad9594]

I’ve used JBA UCAs on both my FJ and my 1st Gen Sequoia with zero issues. I’ve got about 25k miles on the ones on the FJ and they’re still going strong. JBA’s customer service is awesome and I’ve never had any issues in performance or durability with them.

[@c.t.2573]

I'm a weekend warrior with JBA UCAs. I installed them, did the Alpine Loop in the San Juans, and put about 20k on them since. With regular grease scheduling every 5k miles they've held up great!

[@TheDesertRat31]

Nice I've been looking at JBAs.

[@pbaldwin18]

I’m in total agreement. I’ve been underwhelmed by the performance of my SPC ball joints. The rate failure is unacceptable given the nearly $700 price tag. My 2nd set are on their way out and I’m looking exclusively at competitors.

[@Spiritualego]

Same here mine lasted 2 yrs

[@Jay-fq8uz]

Are you guys wheeling hard?

[@theflea52]

Just got 40k on my grease able SPC UCA’s and haven’t had any problems. I grease them every 5k miles, usually 10 pumps will do. Went up to 35s in January and have wheeled it pretty hard. I was rear ended and had my local shop check out all my suspension components and the UCA’s along with the toytec suspension system was still in really good shape.

[@looseaxles]

We also made the switch from SPC to JBA. What a change. So many issues with the SPC’s over the years and the customer service was a little bit shocking. Great video!

[@jdm8577]

2 words total chaos. Their customer service is exceptional. I had over 50,000 miles on my total chaos uniballs and when I replaced them they were still tight with no play and very little corrosion from Illinois salty roads. I did clean mine religiously especially in the winter and every couple of weeks sprayed them with a dry ptfe (teflon) spray. I had Fabtech uppers and total chaos lowers on my 5th gen 4Runner. I liked the total chaos enough that I bought a new set of uppers.

[@jfriday1ify]

Dobinson's Billet arms - set to 2 degrees and adjustable camber.

[@BReVidy]

Would you do a video on how to grease UCAs n other zerk fittings underneath the 4runner? I've found some other videos, but some steps weren't clear to me as I'm not very mechanically inclined (I even have to research how to change my own tire 😅). I just feel your channel gives the best instructions for someone like me.

[@natebeam2240]

JBA Offroad makes great UCA's. I've had two sets. One on my jeep liberty and the other on my 4Runner. Put a lot of miles on my first set of bal joints with the old boot design, put a lot more on the new joints with the updated boot and zero issues. Love the Red and the bushings never squeak and are serviceable as well as the ball joint. Small business, American made, personally stood behind by the owner, and very competitively priced as well.

[@WanderlostOverland]

Good to know!

[@TroyJennHorse]

I recommend the JBA, because that's what I bought and I want your review on them. I hoping to get mine put on in 2 weeks. The customer service has been outstanding so far.

[@HuskyFamilyAdventure]

JBA 100%. I've been a long time follower of the channel and you guys are the reason my wife and I love the FJ and 4runner! JBA is heavy duty and have an easy setup, reliable. They are highly recommended 👌

[@fuzzion78]

just a little pointer, poly bushings are spec to be used with special grease, great vid as always :)

[@nismo370z4]

Well done. Hope mine last, I was concerned when I bought them but I wanted the adjustability. 🤞

[@lucasr5675]

Accutune...I think is worth a shot. I think spc is ok for highway driving but once you get into offroading then they do as well. Good video as usual!

[@LekoOffRoad]

Agree with you completely! On my 4runner they lasted ~20k (km) greased every 5k (km) and they failed on both sides. SPC refused warranty. bought new set - same, greaseable. this time after 30k (km) lest side is already bone. Beside that ball joint keeps slipping, no matter how tight is was, so I have to do alignment every 3 months. Looking for different UCAs at the moment.

[@AB1029.]

I put JBA’s on my FJ and have no complaints. Approximately 15k miles so far. Customer service is great. I get a text notification from JBA ever so often reminding it’s time to lube the UCA’s. I thought that was a nice touch.

[@UintaDave]

I run SPC on my FJ Cruiser and over 30k miles they’ve been problem-free. I have the OME arms on my 5th gen 4Runner and I plan on buying a set to replace the SPC.

[@jdown86]

Dobinson makes some adjustable billet UCA but they are a bit pricey.

[@lanix17]

I have had a squeak in my SPC UCAs since they day i installed them. It is not all the time, but i hear it when im going slowly over a speed bump or a small bump while turning. I will add some grease as you mentioned to the arms’ attachment points the next time i tear all that apart.

[@RPAENGCDA]

Mine went at 47,000 miles, 2023 and I greased them but thought I used the wrong grease. Installed 2018. Cost $140 for replacements and had to hunt around. Was surprise to see the replacement parts were from PRC. If I can I never buy bearings from the PRC.

[@destinationjourney_overland]

My SPC bushings on the upper control arms lasted 10k before I had to get them warrantied because of excess play and I just had to warranty out my ball joints after 15k. I have not had great luck with these.

[@wunderbread_t4r]

Definitely some inconsistencies with SPC's on the FJ/4R's - My first set wore out and had massive play in about 3k miles. My second set also wore out in about 5kish miles. And my third set is still going strong 15k miles later. No clue. Once these inevitably wear out, I'm going to replace with dobinsons/Apache arms since they use universal ball joints.

[@Crittercatching2733]

I have the spc uppers on a 2015 tacoma and i hunt hounds so its getting mild abuse on them. I wore out my upper ball joints with 95% highway use and mild use in the woods within about 5k miles on them. I replaced them both and i pump 1 pump of grease per side after the weekend is over and so far ive got around 12k on them with no issues.

[@redwhitenshoe]

Im about to install a new set of Apache Offroad UCA. Replaced the first SPC Uca at 20k and no second at 35k, both had tons of play at bushings.

[@brettbenoit454]

Happy with my JBA Uppers on my 2007 FJ Cruiser. I carry a spare Balljoint just in case

[@otgoffroad9594]

Same here! JBA has been awesome.

[@JaredBusch]

I switched out from SPC, not because of the ball joints, which never failed me, but because of the the X-Axis bushings , 40,000 KM's (24,000 miles) and they were shot. CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK. Took em apart, realized to replace them, you have to drill the bloody things out, they can't just be pressed out apparently. Once I got one out after about 30 minutes, I started tearing the bushing apart and was laughing at all the plastic used inside, plus just an overall crappy design, doomed to fail early. Went with Dobinsons in the end.

[@mlenart000]

On my 4runner my ball joints lasted 15k miles and my bushing lasted 20k miles. I got replacements for both but I will see how long they last. I bought spares just in case but if they wear out soon I will probably change them out.

[@gxor4x4]

I switched away from them on my 5th gen 4runner. I went through 3 SPC Balljoints in 1 year. I always greased them every 5k miles. They had no issues giving us replacements but it was just painful to keep doing. Having gone through 3 of them in less than 15k miles was annoying to say the least. When I talked to their engineers they thought the PNW winter temps and wheeling were impacting things, which isn't a great answer.

[@AggiePhil]

How did your worn out balljoints manifest? Wondering how that is diagnosed. I just installed SPC UCAs in my Tundra.

[@OmidRC8]

Been running SPCs as well for around 10k miles and mine are trashed. I don’t think I’ll go back to them again. Leaning towards JBAs

[@chrisgrignon6726]

I had a similar experience with my SPC ball joints on an 18 4Runner. First set were totally destroyed in under 15000 miles. I bought another set because I needed them quickly and within 4000 miles, they are already sloppy. I have greased them every thousand miles this time. I’m stuck with a set of arms that have been on the vehicle less then a year and are unusable in my opinion, yet they won’t refund. I’ve gone back to the stock arms and ball joints for now. They had 60,000 miles on them and are in excellent shape.

[@michaelrueckert8507]

I have had SPCs on my 97 for almost 5 years and have put 40k miles on them. Never greased the ball joints and they still have no play in them. The bushings got dry and the metal sleeves rusted though so I regreased those. I keep thinking I need to grease the ball joints but I forget to. Lol

[@jefferiesable]

I also am having problems with spc and I'm looking into Dirt King uca with balljoint I also have Dirt King lca

[@andrewm.4168]

My buddy had the ball joints on the SPC fail within a year.

[@jefferylorance7988]

My son has the JBA ( Tacoma) less ten 30,000 + miles we need to replace the bushings…just got the replacement parts - only JBA carries them. JBA mention it supposed to last 10 years! I have the SPC on my Tacoma …less then 5,000 miles ..seems OK… Great info… I hope SPC will find better ball joints ! I like the idea of non-grease..

[@WanderlostOverland]

We've talked to them about their issues. They said they're in the process of making big changes.

[@stevemartinez4180]

Great,, thank you,,, ,,

[@roadrunneradventuresmx3053]

Hey bud great video! We have a FJ we got used that came with SPC uppers and honestly had the car about a year and about to put the 3rd set of ball joints it’s been frustrating so we’ve decided that WHEN they fail we are going to be going in the direction of a lot of JD Fab stuff on our rig! Check em out

[@dlc3938]

Did you grease them with SPC's recommended grease? Lithium-based #2 grease with 3% or greater Molybdenum Disulfide (Moly). I use Valvoline Moly-Fortified Gray Full Synthetic Grease goin on 30k now no issues.

[@XzadforSpacefox]

Ever gotten a rolling squeak right rear on the 4runner? I get it after a few stops. Thinking it may be a caliper failing or something.

[@Petroncell]

I have buy 2 brand new spc ball joints, but it came with some slots in rubber cover ? Is it normal?

[@Reverend1776]

I have 40k on my Icon with the Delta Joints. I grease them every oil change and run a +4 caster with absolutely no issues. Just another option for those inquiring.

[@nathanrotar5012]

I feel like I can't find a reputable shop to set up the alignment correctly on the spc.

[@95tman]

I too have been having issues with my SPC UCAs on my tacoma. SPC has agreed to warranty but im not sure what to replace with leaning towards dirt king at the moment but not totally sure what the best direction to go is if anyone has experience with alternate arms please comment and let me know!

[@alexalanis4830]

No issues with my JBA UCAs. Greased every 5000 miles.

[@van_mod1]

Tinkerer’s Adventure recommends Ironman with Accutune 2nd. SPC is 3rd. Ironman has rubber OEM-style bushings. Those poly bushings will eventually loosen around the internal metal sleeves plus require maintenance. Ironman is set and forget.

[@WanderlostOverland]

Thanks for the info!

[@project_poor_runner]

I’m on two years so far with my SPC’s. The only negative I’ve experienced with them is the boots love to seep grease out from the bottom over time, and need to be greased & wiped down every 5k miles.

[@johndiaz7240]

We have 50k on a set on our FJ , no problem they are non grease able

[@jefferiesable]

Well my 6-month-old SPC ball joints passenger side of my 2010 4Runner has some serious play, SPC has sent me replacement ball joint non- greasable which are basically the same ball joints with no grease nipple just a plugged top. I will be going to dirt King upper control arms but I'm wondering what you guys did with your Forerunner?

[@WanderlostOverland]

So far we're riding on SPC replacement ball joints. When they go bad we'll likely go with Dirt King uppers also.

[@rafaelalicea5572]

@wanderlostoverland What UCAs did you wind up going with?

[@WanderlostOverland]

Still with the SPC, until they wear out.

[@SuperStubug]

he's reviewing a adjustable ball joint uca. everyone suggesting jba, aren't adjustable ball joints

[@symonconrad]

Destroyed a set of ball joints back in 2020 after 1 week in Colorado. Not cool. Not a fan of warranty being a selling point as I’d rather not have to use a warranty so fast. Ditched the SPC’s and went to OME.

[@bluecruiser2019]

Old Man Emu. Have them on my LC200 and love them. Getting ready to put them on my wife’s t4r Pro😀

[@andywenner4807]

How about ironman 4x4? I like that they are very corrosion resistant.

[@RockLander818]

The question is with all these bad UCAs….. what welding project can me make out of these. Lol I know two shops that have a STACK of SPC UCAs lol like a good size pile of them. Hahaha

[@timdavenport2943]

Dobinson because they only use factory OEM ball joints.

[@fuzzion78]

made in Japan Taiwan?

[@bubbasdually]

Get APACHE UCAS!!

[@MichaelKeelphotography]

Fk SPC, they've screwed me twice on ball joints and bushings WITHIN THREE YEARS. I just purchased JBA high caster etc. and I'm installing this Tuesday. Wasted so much money with SPC.

[@jefferiesable]

Mada in China

[@fuzzion78]

if the ball joint is a moog problem solver, they are inconsistent. same result as you and your viewersm they go when they want, probably tolerance is not taken seriously by maker, sell more. sad my bilsten uca for fj 08 have moog bjs