SC2JZ300

iTrader: (8)

Starting this thread to inform and hopefully prevent any failures/accidents with the following aftermarket Upper Control Arm.

This unit came with my car when I had purchased it. So not sure if it is name brand or ebay items... Either way learn from my neg experience and DO NOT PURCHASE this unit.

I was heading to work, on a beautiful day, doing about 70mph with little traffic. All of sudden I hear a loud popping sound, and the steering wheel jerking to the left... Metal grinding noises... Very sudden lost of control of the car... Luckily I was able to pull over without incident. Stepped out of the car to find this....



Towed the car home, and lifted the car up to inspect the damage.







After pulling both parts and replacing with the UCA w/ MKIV Supra UCA she was up in running in a few hours



If anyone can help identify these units, it would be very benefical to members and hopefully avoid any and all failures.



Only markings found on the units....

BiGEZ

iTrader: (24)

I know that must have scared the crap of you when it happened, you are lucky there was no more damage. Glad you got her running again.
I do not recognized the old uca unit.

3L4jzz31

iTrader: (2)

I'm 99.9% sure that's a TC sportline UCA unless it's an exact copy down to the color.

LEXXIUM

iTrader: (1)

It does look like a poor engineering on the balljoint part, should have been a closed unit that most of the offroad guys use...
Glad you got her back on the road

1997Soarer

iTrader: (1)

Agreed.

Another TCSportline failure

kez

iTrader: (4)

Damn shame glad you and the sc are good

SC2JZ300

iTrader: (8)

With a little research it seems this unit is indeed a TCSportline UCA. Doesnt even really seem like the company is in business ATM either. Anywho, avoid this item guys and stick to the OEM or units that utilizes a balljoint unit.

Albatross

iTrader: (1)

if you have parts like that on your car take care to inspect them regularly and lube them with drylube at least once a year.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Thank you for this heads up, SC2JZ300. I'm glad to hear you didn't get into an accident from this failure and that your car was repaired back to normal.

It sure looks like a crappy balljoint design to me.

There is only one aftermarket front UCA I know of that looks like it might be quality compared to OEM and that is the Dorman SC/MKIV UCA. It's a copy of (or remanufactured version of) the OEM UCA with supposedly new factory style ball joints. I have no experience with them but they look far closer to OEM than the ebay control arms shown above.


Dorman # 520-443 (left) and # 520-444 (right)

http://www.dormanproducts.com/p-2213...ion&origin=YMM

http://www.dormanproducts.com/p-1179...ion&origin=YMM

gtsfire

iTrader: (4)

I have the Dorman UCAs on my SC. They are pretty much identical to OEM. I've had no issues with them and they didn't cost over $400 a piece like oems.

bigwhite

Cant we use a Supra UCA as a cheaper, quality replacement?

gtsfire

iTrader: (4)

Sure. Go ahead and look up how much one is and then let us know your thoughts.

jayydm

Wow glad no serious damage occured and you could get it up and running within a few hours.

1sWt2GS

iTrader: (6)

Im surprised you were going that fast when it happened. Most UCA failures on the forums happen at relatively low MPH.