Front end kits good or bad?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 340
Likes: 4
Front end kits good or bad?
Hi, I bought one of those all in one front end kits- ball joints, A-arm bushings, some tie rods etc..... from one of the vendors for $150. Are these China made, Japan made,American made, are they garbage and will i regret not going delco or Moog down the road? Thoughts,Prayers.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,381
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
When it comes to front end parts these days, there are two, and only two, options. Either top quality, something that I'd put on my car, Moog parts, or the other "stuff".....
Do the boxes your parts came in say Moog on them? Not to be an azzhat, but if not, I wouldn't waste my time installing them. Sorry.....
Do the boxes your parts came in say Moog on them? Not to be an azzhat, but if not, I wouldn't waste my time installing them. Sorry.....
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 20
From: Central Michigan
Having an issue with one of those all-in-one kits I purchased back around 2002 or so....during the cruise to Southern Cal I noticed a "clunk" coming from somewhere on the pass side of the car, and traced the noise to a bad upper ball joint. By the time I pulled into my driveway it sounded like someone was beating on the control arm with a hammer when I made the turn....
That night I ordered up all Moog ball joints, tie rod ends, and idler arm. Package arrived the other day, and all the boxes say "made in USA"
so now it looks like I'm gonna be busy this weekend
That night I ordered up all Moog ball joints, tie rod ends, and idler arm. Package arrived the other day, and all the boxes say "made in USA"
so now it looks like I'm gonna be busy this weekend
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 9
From: South Bend IN
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I just bought some from Corvette Stainless Steel Brakes but haven't put them on yet. They are made in the USA though...I made sure.
http://www.cssbinc.com/1963-82remanu...1-1-3-1-1.aspx
http://www.cssbinc.com/1963-82remanu...1-1-3-1-1.aspx
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Eugene OR
I bought and installed the full poly set from Eckler's four or five years ago. Never had a problem. No squeaks, no premature breakdown, no problems whatsoever. It reeeeeeealy tightened up my front-end.
I doubt, however, (due to the price I paid) that my set was manufactured in the U.S.
On the other hand, I just went to the Moog website and looked up some ball joints... Not one word about being made in the U.S.A. I truly believe that Moog makes a superior product, but I would think that if they were selling American-made parts in the U.S. market, I'd see flags and "Made in USA" somewhere on the site.
My $.02
I doubt, however, (due to the price I paid) that my set was manufactured in the U.S.
On the other hand, I just went to the Moog website and looked up some ball joints... Not one word about being made in the U.S.A. I truly believe that Moog makes a superior product, but I would think that if they were selling American-made parts in the U.S. market, I'd see flags and "Made in USA" somewhere on the site.
My $.02
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 14
From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
Just did my front end. Got the parts from VBP. The lower ball joints looked good. Spicer maybe. Not sure about the tie rod ends. But the uppers ball joints were questionable although they take way less of a beating than the bottom's. I used a higher grade bolts for the uppers vs what they supplied me. All greased up and the ride seems good. Moog, I hear are high $$$, but probably a high quality part.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,381
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
I bought and installed the full poly set from Eckler's four or five years ago. Never had a problem. No squeaks, no premature breakdown, no problems whatsoever. It reeeeeeealy tightened up my front-end.
I doubt, however, (due to the price I paid) that my set was manufactured in the U.S.
On the other hand, I just went to the Moog website and looked up some ball joints... Not one word about being made in the U.S.A. I truly believe that Moog makes a superior product, but I would think that if they were selling American-made parts in the U.S. market, I'd see flags and "Made in USA" somewhere on the site.
My $.02
I doubt, however, (due to the price I paid) that my set was manufactured in the U.S.
On the other hand, I just went to the Moog website and looked up some ball joints... Not one word about being made in the U.S.A. I truly believe that Moog makes a superior product, but I would think that if they were selling American-made parts in the U.S. market, I'd see flags and "Made in USA" somewhere on the site.
My $.02
Let me elaborate a tad. I readily admit that I'm not a certifiable "expert" on front end parts, but like many people here, I've been working on my own cars for over 40 years. Because of this, I spent a lot of time in parts stores, talking to the people that sell the parts, and attend the seminars put on by the manufacturers. Recently, I retired from full time work, and now work part time in one of the "big box" auto parts chain stores.
From what I saw in the past, there were 3 grades of front end parts on sale. The Moog parts were always the top shelf brand, and depending who was the dominant corporate name at the time, TRW, Spicer, and McQuay-Norris were the "second tier" lines. Anything other than that was questionable.
Today, especially after spending some time in the store, I see Moog, with nothing in the "second tier" level, and then the junk.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
ISO certification means something and meeting the criteria is not as simple as providing the certification team with good food, good drink and a "good time". My low budget front end kit is labeled as ISO certified, and I only bought it because it carries that cert. I don't think it will be junk, even though I'm certain it was not made here.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
We're lucky Moog is still around. They get undercut so bad from the gypo outfits, it's a testament to their quality that they can still stay in business. IMO, it is absolutely goofy 
to buy anything but the best quality parts when it comes to structural/strength/working type parts. They are usually a PITA and time-consuming to change. Why not put the 'good' stuff in and keep the car happy for another 30 years?
to buy anything but the best quality parts when it comes to structural/strength/working type parts. They are usually a PITA and time-consuming to change. Why not put the 'good' stuff in and keep the car happy for another 30 years?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,381
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
ISO certification means something and meeting the criteria is not as simple as providing the certification team with good food, good drink and a "good time". My low budget front end kit is labeled as ISO certified, and I only bought it because it carries that cert. I don't think it will be junk, even though I'm certain it was not made here.
Having said that, a 1st tier company will state that they manufacture their tie rod ends from "top shelf" quality steel, and measure their parts to a 0.002" tolerance. The ISO people come in, observe their operations, and see that they indeed do this, and they get "ISO Certified".
The 3rd world company making "el cheapo" tie rod ends, states in their procedure that they use 2nd rate steel, that's been re-cycled 4 times previously, and measure their parts to 0.006" tolerances. As long as they truly follow their procedures, as crappy as they may be, they too, can be ISO certified.
The only thing ISO says, is that you have specific procedures written, and you follow them to the letter. ISO certification does NOT mean you make a superior product.