LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000) Discussion topics related to the 1990 - 2000 Lexus LS400

Front UCA's Upper Control Arms

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-26-10, 02:30 PM
  #1  
StevieA
Pole Position
Thread Starter
 
StevieA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Front UCA's Upper Control Arms

Need right & left UCA's for my '93 they have play up and down in the ball joint & the pssgr side "knocks" over small bumps.

Now the question - most here know the price of OEM UCA's is unreal - for me to get them (both sides) to my door in Canada with taxes looking at near $1,200 - that's unreal.

So on Ebay the cheapest aftermarket I can find is $130/side USD before tax & shipping.

My local junk dealer where I bought the car has some used off '94 rated "grade A" for $125 CAD each.

Would anyone buy used?

Opinions on the aftermarkets off ebay?

Thanks
Old 10-26-10, 11:48 PM
  #2  
silos5
Driver
iTrader: (3)
 
silos5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tallinn
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

search the topics, theres plenty info about aftermarker UCA. BTW, as I remember, not all of the are good (I guess some have problems with ARNOTT UCAs).
I got mine from UK, because I´m from Europe. But one thing I wouldnt do is buying used UCA!!

good luck!
Old 10-27-10, 01:59 AM
  #3  
Max Power
Registered User
 
Max Power's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I'd buy used control arms, but only if the ball joint is in great great shape and the bushings as well.

If you know enough about those kinds of things, can't hurt to take a look.

Otherwise there are Arnotts. Not the greatest but when the boot goes, send them back. Lifetime warranty.
Old 10-27-10, 03:59 AM
  #4  
StevieA
Pole Position
Thread Starter
 
StevieA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Thanks guys, getting better at using the search engine here, learned some more after posting the above. Going to go with the one's on Ebay from APX. Leary of used called the guy who has them he says if they "look" good they put them for sale. A "little bit" of play in the ball joint is too much for me - just going to quickly lead to more. I find it hard to believe if they're used that they aren't worn some..........
Old 11-07-10, 04:47 PM
  #5  
StevieA
Pole Position
Thread Starter
 
StevieA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Installed the APX UCA's today. $130 each. So far so good, nice fit, front end is tighter & no more knocks
Old 04-12-11, 05:31 PM
  #6  
StevieA
Pole Position
Thread Starter
 
StevieA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Update

Had a couple inquiries lately so here's an update on the APX control arms

All good :-)

Been about 6 mths and 5,000kms so far. We happend to have them off last weekend when installing new shocks and they looked good - tightly seated and no tears in the rubber covers
Old 04-12-11, 06:53 PM
  #7  
reverof
Driver School Candidate
 
reverof's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: AL
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I was one of those inquiries.... I iwll be ordering mine via ebay tonight and look forward to installing them ASAP.

Thanks StevieA!!!
Old 04-12-11, 09:48 PM
  #8  
kuziwk
Driver
 
kuziwk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ca
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

had mine done about 10 000 miles ago, they were from arnotts suspension. looks and feels like OEM but drives tighter . I would suggest buying these because they claim, look and feel like oem and are alot cheaper.
Old 04-13-11, 06:10 PM
  #9  
trukn1
NELOC Mod
 
trukn1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 5,201
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by kuziwk
had mine done about 10 000 miles ago, they were from arnotts suspension. looks and feels like OEM but drives tighter . I would suggest buying these because they claim, look and feel like oem and are alot cheaper.
Be VERY careful of them. SEVERAL of our members have bought from them and are reporting poor long term performance as well as ill placed fitment. Yes they DO fit, but they do NOT fit 100% within spec range. There is a thread about them. Short term,,you can roll with them,,long term,,you will end up buying them again to replace as they wear ALOT faster.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...nott-ucas.html

Last edited by trukn1; 04-13-11 at 06:22 PM.
Old 04-13-11, 07:38 PM
  #10  
lex8000
Driver
 
lex8000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: co
Posts: 60
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Put Arnott UCAs on my 93 today. Clunk is gone. From what I'm reading it may only last a fraction of the originals but I'm ok with that based on the price difference and age of the car.

That linked thread indicates torn boots. I'll have to have them inspected a few months from now and see how they're holding up.

BTW, is there any value in the old Lexus UCAs? The threaded bolts on the ball joints are torn up from being hard to remove and of course they're worn (175k miles).
Old 04-13-11, 09:05 PM
  #11  
kuziwk
Driver
 
kuziwk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ca
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Ouch, can you point me in this thread direction where the arnotts were listed. I guess i should spray some white lithium grease to keep the bushings. How long are we talking here that they are expected to last?
Old 04-13-11, 09:28 PM
  #12  
trukn1
NELOC Mod
 
trukn1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 5,201
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Default

That linked thread indicates torn boots. I'll have to have them inspected a few months from now and see how they're holding up.
Torn bots are the leading cause of bll joint failure,since moisture is alowed to enter into the grease sealed compartment. Sine the uppers are part of the etire control arm, and you will have to replace it with another arm to solve the problem, I am just giving the heads up based on what some others have experienced and documented. Also check post Number 11 in that same thread. Taper on the upper balljoint stud is diferent and causing problems getting the proper torque to tighten.

Ouch, can you point me in this thread direction where the arnotts were listed
The ENTIRE thread that was linked is about the Arnott's.
Old 04-14-11, 06:11 AM
  #13  
lex8000
Driver
 
lex8000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: co
Posts: 60
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by trukn1
Also check post Number 11 in that same thread. Taper on the upper balljoint stud is diferent and causing problems getting the proper torque to tighten.
My mechanic said they were a ***** to put on and mentioned something being slightly different. Maybe that was it.

The rattle was driving me nuts. I hope to get two more years out of this car. If the arms don't get clunky in that time I'll be satisfied.
Old 04-14-11, 08:13 AM
  #14  
trukn1
NELOC Mod
 
trukn1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 5,201
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Default

Trust and believe that I know the pain of having to shell out the dough to replace this highly overngineered part. I hated to do iwhn I had to do so, but that's what hookups were for (goodness I missthem now). Not saying, at all, that the arnotts are junk. Am sure they are ok, and for the purpose needed, when needed as well as the cost of them, they seem to do fine. We, on this forum, do try to warm/inform or members of experiences both good and bad. Just so that YOU, the potential buyer, is armed with the info and cn make/weigh the infomation for yourself. Short term, you should be ok. However, if you start to hear the same telltale again, you will immediatly know where to start looking.

Last edited by trukn1; 04-14-11 at 06:48 PM.
Old 04-14-11, 03:54 PM
  #15  
Rey
Pole Position
 
Rey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ca
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I recently installed APX uca's from ebay as well. Theyre working fine so far. I just need to spray them with some grease cause theyre kinda squeaky. Here are some pics of OEM vs APX.






Quick Reply: Front UCA's Upper Control Arms



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:35 PM.