When to replace front end parts? Why price disparity among brands?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Primered_69 · 12-20-2004, 07:58 PM

I am redoing a frame that will replace my rusted out one. How do I know what should be replaced and one can wait awhile?

Is there a real difference in parts companies that sell them because there is a great disparity between the cheap stuff and MOOG/ trw. What makes them better? Are they "reboxed" or "generic" places that have MOOG/ TRW under there brand name?

I am trying to decide wheter to do it now with some good some generic, wait until I can do it all, or just leave the stock system like it is for now.

Any advice.

cableguy0 · 12-20-2004, 08:03 PM

personally i use nothing but moog there stuff seems to hold up better and is usually improved over the factory stuff so it lasts longer. moog sells a lot of reboxed stuff i just cant think of any of the brands off hand. just remember suspension isnt exactly a good place to price shop. if a ball joint or tie rod breaks you can be assured you will crash and hopefully you wont be going too fast at the time it happens

HeavyD · 12-20-2004, 08:03 PM

When it comes to parts that could impact safety, I always buy good parts. Maybe the cheaper stuff is Ok, but they have a short warranty and I was advised to stay away from them. If you are on a tight budget, I personally would spend the extra cash on steering parts and maybe cheap out on other stuff like buying used fenders instead of repops, etc...

Tx Firefighter · 12-20-2004, 10:45 PM

Michael, buy Moog. No question about it.

I put suspension parts on for 12 years and hands down, the Moog brand is tops. They actually address poorly designed OEM parts with their better designs called "Problem Solver".

For instance, late model GM idler arms wear out all the time. Moog Problem Solver units are about twice as massive and don't wear out like the original.

Do it once, do it right, and spend a little more up front. Yours, your wife's and your daughter's lives are worth it.

If the price is scaring you, shop at Summit racing. They sell Moog and free shipping on them too.

Moog parts have the name stamped into them. Look closely and you'll see it. There's no doubt about them being the real McCoy.

Ball joints usually need changing as well as idler arms, tie rod ends, and maybe pitman arms.

Frankly, control arm bushings can be a little worn and you won't notice it too much. Even worn, they don't usually affect alignment too terribly much and they're not too much of a safety factor, like ball joints can be.

Primered_69 · 12-21-2004, 12:00 AM

Thanks for all the responses that is what I wanted to know. I think I could do the ball joints, idler arms, tie rods and leave the control arm bushings for a little while. I don't want to be cheap I just wanted to know why the difference...not just that it's made in the USA. I want to know that I am getting more for my money and not just buying a name of manufacturing location.

Some people say don't buy the cheap stuff but thanks for telling me why the name brand is more expensive.

firemanchuck · 12-21-2004, 12:39 AM

That was some really good info Tx Firefighter. You definetly made my mind up on front end parts. Thanks

Piper71c10 · 12-21-2004, 12:43 AM

Most of the good parts stores carry Moog under their brand names... All you gotta do is ask. I work at a carquest (very part time), and all of out good suspension stuff is Moog. Your partspro will usually have a list behind the counter of who makes their stuff. If they don't know, find a better parts house.

Piper

Alex Hayley · 12-21-2004, 12:59 AM

Are the rebranded Moog parts the same as the Moog brand parts?

Tx Firefighter · 12-21-2004, 08:26 AM

I always installed the name brand Moog stuff in the blue and yellow box.

Here's a picture of a ball joint....

If you're shopping for generic Moog stuff, notice the name stamped into the body of the part in the picture. Do the reboxed stuff have the stamp on them?

Look at it this way, the stock stuff lasted 30 plus years in some cases, and the Moog stuff is even better than stock was, so this is likely to be the last suspension part ever installed on your truck

Piper71c10 · 12-21-2004, 11:23 AM

The answer is yes, the moog stuff is the same, even has the same stamping.

piper

Sonny · 12-22-2004, 09:16 PM

If you are replacing everything, I recommend that you use the 72 steering components, they are beefier (bigger dia shaft). My 68 has 72 steering components on it. I didn't notice it until the other day when I went to replace the tie rods on my truck and they were too small(the 68 parts). The book I was looking at showed the 71-72 using the larger components. I didn't look too long and hard to see what else was different, I was in a hurry and was just trying to match up what was on my truck and get out of there.

12-20-2004, 07:58 PM	#1
Primered_69 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 1,409	When to replace front end parts? Why price disparity among brands?? I am redoing a frame that will replace my rusted out one. How do I know what should be replaced and one can wait awhile? Is there a real difference in parts companies that sell them because there is a great disparity between the cheap stuff and MOOG/ trw. What makes them better? Are they "reboxed" or "generic" places that have MOOG/ TRW under there brand name? I am trying to decide wheter to do it now with some good some generic, wait until I can do it all, or just leave the stock system like it is for now. Any advice. __________________ 1969 Chevy LWB - with shaved handles; 3 1/2 front/ 5 1/2 rear drop; (waiting to be put back together)

12-20-2004, 08:03 PM	#2
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	personally i use nothing but moog there stuff seems to hold up better and is usually improved over the factory stuff so it lasts longer. moog sells a lot of reboxed stuff i just cant think of any of the brands off hand. just remember suspension isnt exactly a good place to price shop. if a ball joint or tie rod breaks you can be assured you will crash and hopefully you wont be going too fast at the time it happens __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

12-20-2004, 08:03 PM	#3
HeavyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wakaw, Sask, Canada Posts: 3,177	When it comes to parts that could impact safety, I always buy good parts. Maybe the cheaper stuff is Ok, but they have a short warranty and I was advised to stay away from them. If you are on a tight budget, I personally would spend the extra cash on steering parts and maybe cheap out on other stuff like buying used fenders instead of repops, etc... __________________ "You can take the man out of PA, but you can't take PA out of the man"

12-20-2004, 10:45 PM	#4
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Michael, buy Moog. No question about it. I put suspension parts on for 12 years and hands down, the Moog brand is tops. They actually address poorly designed OEM parts with their better designs called "Problem Solver". For instance, late model GM idler arms wear out all the time. Moog Problem Solver units are about twice as massive and don't wear out like the original. Do it once, do it right, and spend a little more up front. Yours, your wife's and your daughter's lives are worth it. If the price is scaring you, shop at Summit racing. They sell Moog and free shipping on them too. Moog parts have the name stamped into them. Look closely and you'll see it. There's no doubt about them being the real McCoy. Ball joints usually need changing as well as idler arms, tie rod ends, and maybe pitman arms. Frankly, control arm bushings can be a little worn and you won't notice it too much. Even worn, they don't usually affect alignment too terribly much and they're not too much of a safety factor, like ball joints can be. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin Last edited by Tx Firefighter; 12-20-2004 at 10:49 PM.

12-21-2004, 12:00 AM	#5
Primered_69 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 1,409	Thanks for all the responses that is what I wanted to know. I think I could do the ball joints, idler arms, tie rods and leave the control arm bushings for a little while. I don't want to be cheap I just wanted to know why the difference...not just that it's made in the USA. I want to know that I am getting more for my money and not just buying a name of manufacturing location. Some people say don't buy the cheap stuff but thanks for telling me why the name brand is more expensive. __________________ 1969 Chevy LWB - with shaved handles; 3 1/2 front/ 5 1/2 rear drop; (waiting to be put back together)

12-21-2004, 12:39 AM	#6
firemanchuck FightingFire Saving Lives Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 65	That was some really good info Tx Firefighter. You definetly made my mind up on front end parts. Thanks

12-21-2004, 12:43 AM	#7
Piper71c10 Unending Project Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sequim, WA Posts: 337	Most of the good parts stores carry Moog under their brand names... All you gotta do is ask. I work at a carquest (very part time), and all of out good suspension stuff is Moog. Your partspro will usually have a list behind the counter of who makes their stuff. If they don't know, find a better parts house. Piper

12-21-2004, 12:59 AM	#8
Alex Hayley Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: NC Posts: 987	Are the rebranded Moog parts the same as the Moog brand parts?

12-21-2004, 08:26 AM	#9
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	I always installed the name brand Moog stuff in the blue and yellow box. Here's a picture of a ball joint.... If you're shopping for generic Moog stuff, notice the name stamped into the body of the part in the picture. Do the reboxed stuff have the stamp on them? Look at it this way, the stock stuff lasted 30 plus years in some cases, and the Moog stuff is even better than stock was, so this is likely to be the last suspension part ever installed on your truck __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

12-21-2004, 11:23 AM	#10
Piper71c10 Unending Project Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sequim, WA Posts: 337	The answer is yes, the moog stuff is the same, even has the same stamping. piper

12-22-2004, 09:16 PM	#11
Sonny Active Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Centerville, GA Posts: 240	If you are replacing everything, I recommend that you use the 72 steering components, they are beefier (bigger dia shaft). My 68 has 72 steering components on it. I didn't notice it until the other day when I went to replace the tie rods on my truck and they were too small(the 68 parts). The book I was looking at showed the 71-72 using the larger components. I didn't look too long and hard to see what else was different, I was in a hurry and was just trying to match up what was on my truck and get out of there.



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