Please somebody give me the BEEF on suspension products, Moog, TRW, ValueCraft, WTF!!

[OilPatch197]

Valucraft/Tie Rod End Part Number: VES2912R

Price: $19.99

Or a

Duralast/Tie Rod End Part Number: ES2912

Price: $31.99

That is 18 dollars worth of difference!

Now call me crazy, but what is the difference? I've heard Duralast Ball joints are actually Moog parts in a duralast box, for 1/5 the price, then others claim they might be Moog, but did not pass the tolerances/ Quality control tests, so were not heat treated, and even though they might look exactly the same, and be stamped with MOOG and Moog's part numbers, they are an inferior product?

Assuming costs are cut, whether that is in metal quality or in heat treating in ball joints or quality of the rubber boot, the result is the same. Less price, Less quality. I of course cannot prove this, but it just goes against the golden rule. You hopefully get what you pay for. I just cannot see a 20 $ ball joint having the same quality of a 32$ one.

Anyone understand what I'm sayin?

I see the lower priced one meeting safety standards, while the more expensive ones exceed them. The parts has to meet OEM and/or Federal safety standards. Is there enough difference (if such exists) in the other ball joints to justify the cost?

 

[trail B2]

I go through the same thing for myself.I start picturing a minimum wage employee changing boxes and I realize that a lot of people spend more to make themselves feel better.What there actually doing is giving money away to some one who hasn't earned it.If I'm at a parts house I asked to see them both to see if there is a difference.I also ask myself if I'm asking for more than stock like huge tires but I have a hard time assuming the expensive one is better and not a worse deal.

 

[straycat]

I really like Moog over anything else. I did my upper and lower ball joints
with Zerk fittings so you can grease them. They last longer. I did new tie rods as well and they are still like new after three years. No squeaks!!!!

Like the cow said.....'MOOG'

 

[gribly]

Yes, the more expensive parts are really that much better. Cheaper ball joints have cheaper boots - these are damn important to the life of the joint. They also use better materials and are generally machined better and the joint will not wear as fast. With a job that balljoints, you are being counter-productive by putting in cheap parts, you will just have to pull it all back apart again to fix it. I'm also one of those guys that changes out wear items that must be removed in order to get to another assembly. For example, when I did my moog balljoints, I also put in National wheel bearings and spindle bearings. I inspected everything else.

 

[4x4junkie]

I had little luck with Moog ball joints on my D35, however their tie rod ends and stuff seem to fare better. For ball joints I've had far better luck with Spicer Professional Grade joints (now sold under the Raybestos name as Professional Grade).

As for Valuecraft, I think I've yet to ever hear one single positive comment about them.

 

[nitrofan1]

In the parts world it's 100% true you get what you pay for. In 25 years I have seen just about every brand on the market. You can get quality without going for the best BUT the reason (MOOG) and other top lines cost so much is they are worth it. You want a $10 ball joint you are going to get $10 worth of quality. Quality costs money. We sell MOOG, TRW and OE Brand. If you lay the 3 parts out you can see the difference. Ask reputable shops what they use. Do they want to repeat the job or fix it once and move on the the next job?

 

[Ranger44]

MooG or Spicer (Raybestos). Nothing else. IMO.