Who makes decent ball joints and suspension/steering components these days?

[SID297]

Apparently Moog components are pale shadows of their former selves. A family member recently got less than 6 months out of a set of their lower control arms (with ball joint) for a Ford Focus. They failed and chewed through 2 brand new tires in a less than 2,000 miles. That's absurd. Who makes quality aftermarket replacement components average DD cars these days?

 

[SVTdreamin04]

I would like to know too. MOOG was the go to for aftermarket parts years back but not anymore.

When I had my 2012 3/4 ton, it was hard to believe there were only two manufacturers of ball joints anyone ever suggested using that were any good. The set I put in costed 800 dollars!


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[hotcobra03]

JTC2385 - TRW Automotive Aftermarket Parts

wonder how these would be for ours

 

[Blkkbgt]

Agreed, moog is 100% garbage. I'll run autozone stuff before that junk.

Lately I've been buying AC Delco when/if I can and haven't had an issue yet. I however prefer OEM whenever possible especially when it comes to CV shafts.

 

[supercharged91m]

Curious to hear what's the go 2 part know for the panther platform since moog is going down the tubes..

 

[screamngdave]

There's a company called MevoTech that I have used several times here lately and I've had pretty good luck with. They have 2 lines of product, the cheaper one is basically equivalent to Autozone/Advance house stuff, and then the have a heavier duty line which is the line that I've used and seems to hold up pretty good at a reasonable cost. Another go to would be NAPA's heavy duty house brand.

D

 

[SID297]

There's a company called MevoTech that I have used several times here lately and I've had pretty good luck with. They have 2 lines of product, the cheaper one is basically equivalent to Autozone/Advance house stuff, and then the have a heavier duty line which is the line that I've used and seems to hold up pretty good at a reasonable cost. Another go to would be NAPA's heavy duty house brand.

D

I used to use the Napa HD line of stuff on my XJ, and it did well. That was over a decade ago though, so I don't know if things had changed.

 

[screamngdave]

They've gotten better and their main goal was to compete with and be better than MOOG, which isn't that hard these days considering MOOG isn't anywhere near as good as it used to be.

 

[Crimson2v]

Good quality and aftermarket parts should not be in the same sentence. I don’t see how these companies get away with the crap products they sell to the public. I try to go OEM whenever I can.

 

[Corbic]

AC Delco is solid and my go-to these days.
Pro Forged
Tenneco

 

[RedVenom48]

I recently overhauled the Dana 50 in my Excursion. Timkin front 4wd hubs and the rest was Spicer. Ball joints, out driveshaft stubs, seals etc. All still good to go. US, Canada and Mexico manufacturing.

If you can find it made by dana/spicer, I can recommend it.

 

[Corbic]

Good quality and aftermarket parts should not be in the same sentence. I don’t see how these companies get away with the crap products they sell to the public. I try to go OEM whenever I can.

Define "OEM".

Dealer and Manufacturer brands don't "make" parts. Lots of money can be saved by doing some research and buying the part directly from the supplier.

Example: Toyota center carrier bearing is made by Dana and costs ~$200-300 from a dealer. You can cross reference and get the Dana part for $65.

Some idiots will actually buy "Toyota OEM O2 Sensor" on Amazon and they bitch they got a knock off because the part is stamped "DENSO" (DENSO does the majority of Toyota Electronic and cooling systems)

Aftermarket will also improve parts. Great examples are German vehicles with plastic water pump impellers that explode. Sachs, who makes the OEM pump also sells replacement pumps with metal impellers to fix the issue. (OEM fix is just replace your pump every 5 years).

Dorman fixed that notorious 4.6 Manifold water leak.

Plenty of other examples where the aftermarket redesigned a part to make it easier to install, service, etc.

It's all about doing research AND NOT BUYING STORE BRANDS. Autozone's, etc. parts are actually inferior to no-name eBay parts.

 

[SID297]

I recently overhauled the Dana 50 in my Excursion. Timkin front 4wd hubs and the rest was Spicer. Ball joints, out driveshaft stubs, seals etc. All still good to go. US, Canada and Mexico manufacturing.

If you can find it made by dana/spicer, I can recommend it.

Dana/Spicer is a good choice if they happen to sell what you need.

 

[AustinSN]

Define "OEM".

Dealer and Manufacturer brands don't "make" parts. Lots of money can be saved by doing some research and buying the part directly from the supplier.

Example: Toyota center carrier bearing is made by Dana and costs ~$200-300 from a dealer. You can cross reference and get the Dana part for $65.

Some idiots will actually buy "Toyota OEM O2 Sensor" on Amazon and they bitch they got a knock off because the part is stamped "DENSO" (DENSO does the majority of Toyota Electronic and cooling systems)

Aftermarket will also improve parts. Great examples are German vehicles with plastic water pump impellers that explode. Sachs, who makes the OEM pump also sells replacement pumps with metal impellers to fix the issue. (OEM fix is just replace your pump every 5 years).

Dorman fixed that notorious 4.6 Manifold water leak.

Plenty of other examples where the aftermarket redesigned a part to make it easier to install, service, etc.

It's all about doing research AND NOT BUYING STORE BRANDS. Autozone's, etc. parts are actually inferior to no-name eBay parts.

I agree with this.

You were a fool back in the day if you put a set of OEM ball joints under a 7.3 when grease-able MOOGs were available for the same price.

Sucks their quality is shit now, I'll keep an eye on this thread.

 

[GTSpartan]

I must have ended up with a good set of Moog ball joints somehow in one of my Ram HD's. >100K miles on them, and no slop. We keep them greased appropriately.

The shop I purchased them from told me there were 2 versions of Moog parts available...the good stuff and not so good stuff. Have not tried to confirm or deny that claim, but found it interesting.

Doesn't sound like I'll be buying those again though.

 

[IronSnake]

I used to use the Napa HD line of stuff on my XJ, and it did well. That was over a decade ago though, so I don't know if things had changed.

Federal Mogul sold Moog to Tenneco. Which is essentially a Dorman sized automotive company. It was recently sold, YET AGAIN, and I forget who owns Moog now

Tenneco went to Moog's suppliers and demanded a cost reduction. That didn't happen. So they ended up switching main manufacturers and went to I believe India for a majority of their product. Moog's quality has taken a major dump since then.

Napa originally purchased brown box Dana product for their private label. Dana Aftermarket was eventually purchased by Moog, but in order to keep the Napa business, Moog had to maintain the Dana program and suppliers. That program is rather exclusive to Napa nowadays.

Mevotech, and my company, make chassis/suspension parts with the original suppliers/manufacturers of Dana and Moog. You honestly won't get much closer to the quality we are all used to if you buy Napa brown box, Mevotech (normally in O'Reillys), or our product line when it debuts next year.

 

[IronSnake]

I must have ended up with a good set of Moog ball joints somehow in one of my Ram HD's. >100K miles on them, and no slop. We keep them greased appropriately.

The shop I purchased them from told me there were 2 versions of Moog parts available...the good stuff and not so good stuff. Have not tried to confirm or deny that claim, but found it interesting.

Doesn't sound like I'll be buying those again though.

You're correct. But a lot of that is old stock and most likely going away. Your two grades of Moog is a temporary program since it was sold off again

 

[SID297]

Federal Mogul sold Moog to Tenneco. Which is essentially a Dorman sized automotive company. It was recently sold, YET AGAIN, and I forget who owns Moog now

Tenneco went to Moog's suppliers and demanded a cost reduction. That didn't happen. So they ended up switching main manufacturers and went to I believe India for a majority of their product. Moog's quality has taken a major dump since then.

Napa originally purchased brown box Dana product for their private label. Dana Aftermarket was eventually purchased by Moog, but in order to keep the Napa business, Moog had to maintain the Dana program and suppliers. That program is rather exclusive to Napa nowadays.

Mevotech, and my company, make chassis/suspension parts with the original suppliers/manufacturers of Dana and Moog. You honestly won't get much closer to the quality we are all used to if you buy Napa brown box, Mevotech (normally in O'Reillys), or our product line when it debuts next year.

What is your company?

 

[Crimson2v]

Define "OEM".

Dealer and Manufacturer brands don't "make" parts. Lots of money can be saved by doing some research and buying the part directly from the supplier.

Example: Toyota center carrier bearing is made by Dana and costs ~$200-300 from a dealer. You can cross reference and get the Dana part for $65.

Some idiots will actually buy "Toyota OEM O2 Sensor" on Amazon and they bitch they got a knock off because the part is stamped "DENSO" (DENSO does the majority of Toyota Electronic and cooling systems)

Aftermarket will also improve parts. Great examples are German vehicles with plastic water pump impellers that explode. Sachs, who makes the OEM pump also sells replacement pumps with metal impellers to fix the issue. (OEM fix is just replace your pump every 5 years).

Dorman fixed that notorious 4.6 Manifold water leak.

Plenty of other examples where the aftermarket redesigned a part to make it easier to install, service, etc.

It's all about doing research AND NOT BUYING STORE BRANDS. Autozone's, etc. parts are actually inferior to no-name eBay parts.

I know the vehicle manufacturer does not produce all the parts that go into a vehicle. Timing belt/water pump kits for Toyotas I buy Aisin.

 

[RedVenom48]

What is your company?

Fearless leader asking the real questions here.