Just removed my lower ball joints (purchased directly from VB&P) they were less than a year old and they feel awful, like the ***** are pitted. The ones that I took out have USA stamped on the casting, but they're not Moog and they're not Dana. So I'm not sure what they are, but they're junk for sure. One month after they were installed a high performance alignment shop (West End Alignment, CA) showed me the play in these. If you have/ recognize these ball joints, pull them out and send them back to VB&P for some Danas.

Danas are on the left (from DC member), VB&P crap is on the right. Forgive the quality of the pic, it was a still shot taken from a video camera.


But here's where I get confused, rosslato posted this pic. And he claims that the Danas are the ones in the middle, which look like the crap ones that I pulled out. Is he wrong or what?


Also, a rep from VB&P promised me that she would send me replacements the very next business day after hearing about the bad ball joints, she didn't nor did she answer her e-mails for a month. A DC member had to track her down for me, and if it wasn't for him having a spare set, I would have had my car up on jacks for 2 weeks while I waited to play mail tag. She said that she would need to have the bad ones in hand before sending me replacements.

I'm not buying from VB&P again. There are plenty of other vendors who don't sell crap and give their customers the dignity of a response after a promise was made.

 

I had the same problem. My joints where shoot after a few months.
I replaced them with Moog. I will not by from them either!
Dave

 

There was a long thread about this within the last month or so. I don't think VB&P ever responded to the Forum or to any of their concerned customers. Makes you wonder......

 

Makes you wonder? Sounds pretty conclusive to me...

 

Moog can't be translated into chinese

 

 

I agree with you guys except for one point. China can make whatever quality we want; great, good or bad, just like here in the states. They make what we tell them to make. It is important to know this so we don't rely on a false sense of security that China cannot make a quality product like in America. They can, and at least for now, cheaper too.

The problem is usually one of two things

Chinese companies are notoriously short sighted. They only look forward a couple of years so they try to make all they can fast. This is due to their communist government. The companies think that at any moment the Chinese government will take away their company or change the laws drastically so that they cannot make any money.

American companies that don't know how to source or manage a manufacturing transition to China correctly. Usually management greatly underestimates and or is not committed to the task.

 

In the previous thread someone talked about this with VBP and basically the answer was that they knew about it, but wouldn't take care of it. So that tells you enough of their policy and concern.

I vowed not to purchase any product that a manufacturer, company will not back up.

 

I bought Moog right from the start in a kit from Zips, and I pieced the rest together from Moog here in town. Been over a year and am very happy.

 

I don't get it with VBP. This problem has been going on too long. Just my 2 cents.

 

Wether China or where, it matters NOT, for instance, long time ago on the net was talked about bogus GM oil filters and AC spark plugs....had been going on for some time, parts didn't look quite perfect in their markings, but so close no one noticed, untill they failed way prematurely...or didn't work from the git go...

this was all over the old UUnet groups like Alt.autos.corvette it is relatively simple for most any 3rd world country to tool up some plant and run a batch of bogus parts, any damn fool can print a box, but the cardboard usually gives it away...differant wood/plants going in, differant product appearance on the way out, surely everyone notices import packaging is differant stock appearance than American made stuff....

so someone lets in a conex box full of crap, and it's in the chain through some crooked distributor who don't care....all they see is a load of cheep ball joints bought less than 1/2 price, and some liar saying it's a misquote, or over ship, surplus, something about 1/2 way beleiveable.....

course this crap happening the other way around is also possible.....instigator being the distributor themselves.....doubtful even a dealer large as VBP would have enough pull to get parts tooled up and made ANYWHERE....methinks they got stuck long with other sources...like AUTO ZONE where my lower BJs came from, and their free replacements would not even fit the lower frame....got my refund on original purchase and bought from NAPA, which supplied great looking fully finished joints that fit perfect and are on the car now....

they came out of a NAPA box, so the maker is unknown, but the cardboard appeared like any other American made box/cardboard stock....so who knows, really....but it's a clue....

 

I called VBP when all this was being discussed on the forum in December/January because I was considering buying rear end suspension parts from them--had already bought shocks, front coil springs, and timken bearings from them. I talked to Patti for at least 30 minutes and told her the comments about the owner never being there and not responding to the comments on the forum. She said there was nothing she could do but pass along the info. I told her that VBP was getting killed on the forum and they needed to respond immediately. As you can see nothing has changed or happened. I ended up purchasing my parts and having the rear end work (TA's, struts) done by someone else.

 

I basically agree with this except that VP&P could do it. It only takes a couple of people in the know. They just don't know how and probably shouldn't get into the mfg. side of the ball joint business. Too complictaed. Bottom line is because of reasons you stated and others, this is going to be a problem for years and years. As long as we the mostly unknowledgeable or uncaring consumer will be attracted to cheaper prices. Thats the way the world works. But usually, eventually, quality will win out regardless of where that quality comes from.

 

Got my Moog ball joints from an AutoZone here in town. Took them 2 days to get them shipped in from another store, but no complaints here.

 

i went to a lot of trouble seeking out an AC Delco oil pressure sensor since my "new" one lasted 3000 miles. The "bad" one had no marks on it; ordered online, but don't remember brand but price was high. Found new AC Delco sensor at NAPA. When i opened the AC Delco box, inside was a unit stamped "Made in Taiwan". I installed it . . . what else to do????

my lower joints look like the one in the center; so far so good . . . keeping an eye on it though . . .

 

I got ones that were bad straight out of the box from VB&P a few years ago. They sent me new ones so I figured it was just a fluke. Sounds like more than that and makes me nervous about the replacements I received...

 

If I was a vendor having QC issues, I doubt I would respond in a public forum either. I've seen threads turn into kangaroo courtrooms in in the blink of an eye.

 

Just don't confuse "MOOG" with NINGBO "MOGB" BEARING CO.,LTD...

 

I called VBP a couple weeks ago inquiring about exchanging/upgrading from Dana ball joints to Moog ball joints. I bought them during their 30th anniversay sale. They are still new. The rep asked me for my email address so she can send me a quote. As of today, I'm still waiting for the email.
She also told me that a few people from the forum is suppose to send back their defective ball joints and she hadn't received any of them. Kinda contradicts the previous thread which said they weren't interested in getting the defective ball joints back. Makes you wonder. I tend to believe the many people that have posted especially that VBP has not tried to respond to either of the threads.

 

Think you have to "sort" through and separate the "me too" guys from the ones who had legitiment issues,as well...