Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
Not So Fast!
I spoke too soon.
Over the last week I had my 4Runner in for an alignment for some suspension changes I made. I received an unwelcome surprise when my alignment guy informed me that the bushings on my Light Racing Upper Control Arms were "shot". After grabbing the tires at 10 & 2 o'clock there was noticeable movement and a 'knock' in the upper A-arm bushings. The tech called Light Racing and learned that there has been updates to these arms/ new bushings. Light Racing/Specialty Products didn't want to elaborate on the changes, but they immediately admitted knowing of the issue and were willing to help take care of it. The A-arms had only been on for about 1-year & 15,000-miles.
This was discovered on a Wednesday. I became involved, called their customer service department, and on Thursday they overnighted a complete set of new A-arms/ball-joints to the shop for installation on Friday. They did require a $200.00 core charge until they received the old parts, but sent a call-tag to pick them up. AND... they already had a policy in place as to how much labor they would cover to R&R the parts (as long as a shop was doing it, do it yourself = no money). For alignment and R&R they would pay a maximum of $200.00.
The flat rate labor at my front-end shop to R&R the A-arms was $300.00. I was already doing an alignment so the defective parts only cost me about $100.00 and a little inconvenience. If I wasn't already planning on doing an alignment, then they would have cost me about $200.00 and only covered half, not two thirds of my labor charges.
It would be great if Light Racing covered the full cost, but I have to give credit to Light Racing/SPC for their excellent customer service and attitude. Not many companies are going to replace parts so quickly, even if they know and admit there is/was a problem. I'm sure many of you have called about problematic parts and got the dumb denial and a general lack of concern from the counterman.
Free parts or not, I don't want to replace my A-arms once a year because they didn't get it right the first, or now second time. If these Light Racing arms continue to be a problem I may be forced to spend more money and try a set of Total Chaos Uni-Ball A-arms. But Light Racing is light years ahead of the other manufacturers mentioned earlier in this thread that are/were selling upper A-arms and ball joints with the incorrect taper for the steering uprights (spindle) and telling people it's fine.
The Light Racing stock-style adjustable ball-joints are silent and I really like the concept. A stock-type upper ball-joint that is as flexible as a Uni-Ball, sealed from the environment similar to the OEM parts, almost unlimited caster & camber adjustments, there is lots to like if the parts hold up and you can find the right guy to install and understand the multi-position upper ball-joints.
I will also give Light Racing a partial pass in that I don't remember if the guy who did the initial install (I was there/helped) of their A-arms put the vehicle's weight on the arms before tightening the through bolts. This is stressed in the instructions (at least the ones I just read) and is supposed to avoid undue stress on the bushings. I will also state that my 4Runner is very heavy, and the front suspension was really not up to all the armor and the front end has been bottomed out more than a few times.
For now I’m still a Light Racing fan... we’ll see is this second set of A-arms lasts a while.
I spoke too soon.
Over the last week I had my 4Runner in for an alignment for some suspension changes I made. I received an unwelcome surprise when my alignment guy informed me that the bushings on my Light Racing Upper Control Arms were "shot". After grabbing the tires at 10 & 2 o'clock there was noticeable movement and a 'knock' in the upper A-arm bushings. The tech called Light Racing and learned that there has been updates to these arms/ new bushings. Light Racing/Specialty Products didn't want to elaborate on the changes, but they immediately admitted knowing of the issue and were willing to help take care of it. The A-arms had only been on for about 1-year & 15,000-miles.
This was discovered on a Wednesday. I became involved, called their customer service department, and on Thursday they overnighted a complete set of new A-arms/ball-joints to the shop for installation on Friday. They did require a $200.00 core charge until they received the old parts, but sent a call-tag to pick them up. AND... they already had a policy in place as to how much labor they would cover to R&R the parts (as long as a shop was doing it, do it yourself = no money). For alignment and R&R they would pay a maximum of $200.00.
The flat rate labor at my front-end shop to R&R the A-arms was $300.00. I was already doing an alignment so the defective parts only cost me about $100.00 and a little inconvenience. If I wasn't already planning on doing an alignment, then they would have cost me about $200.00 and only covered half, not two thirds of my labor charges.
It would be great if Light Racing covered the full cost, but I have to give credit to Light Racing/SPC for their excellent customer service and attitude. Not many companies are going to replace parts so quickly, even if they know and admit there is/was a problem. I'm sure many of you have called about problematic parts and got the dumb denial and a general lack of concern from the counterman.
Free parts or not, I don't want to replace my A-arms once a year because they didn't get it right the first, or now second time. If these Light Racing arms continue to be a problem I may be forced to spend more money and try a set of Total Chaos Uni-Ball A-arms. But Light Racing is light years ahead of the other manufacturers mentioned earlier in this thread that are/were selling upper A-arms and ball joints with the incorrect taper for the steering uprights (spindle) and telling people it's fine.
The Light Racing stock-style adjustable ball-joints are silent and I really like the concept. A stock-type upper ball-joint that is as flexible as a Uni-Ball, sealed from the environment similar to the OEM parts, almost unlimited caster & camber adjustments, there is lots to like if the parts hold up and you can find the right guy to install and understand the multi-position upper ball-joints.
I will also give Light Racing a partial pass in that I don't remember if the guy who did the initial install (I was there/helped) of their A-arms put the vehicle's weight on the arms before tightening the through bolts. This is stressed in the instructions (at least the ones I just read) and is supposed to avoid undue stress on the bushings. I will also state that my 4Runner is very heavy, and the front suspension was really not up to all the armor and the front end has been bottomed out more than a few times.
For now I’m still a Light Racing fan... we’ll see is this second set of A-arms lasts a while.
