New Member Rockauto Mevotech front end kit

[Leeroy38]

Hi everyone. Been a long time lurker and finally joined. I have a 97 Explorer 5.0 AWD. I was wanting to replace the front end, ball joints, control arms, etc. I have looked on Rockauto and seen two front end kits from Moog and Mevotech. Just wondering if Mevotech has good products or should I just go with Moog. Sorry if there's a similar post out there. Thanks

 

[drdoom]

I put some Mevotech upper ball joints on my '05 and they are real nice. They even make an extreme duty line which I would have bought had i known. That's all I really know about them.

 

[Leeroy38]

Good to hear thanks

 

[rathrbcruisin]

i recently did the inner and outer control arms, upper control arms and lower ball joints on my 98. everything i used was mevotech except for the lower ball joints which was moog. I got the supreme duty mevotech. they seemed of good quality. I haven't had any trouble with them. they even have the same part numbers as moog if i recall. Not sure what that means, if anything.

 

[chefduane]

A little over a year ago I did a pretty complete front end job.. front sway bar bushings, end links w/ Energy Suspension mod, inner and outer tie rods, UCA/ball joints L+R, and front hubs (4x4). I had my shop do the rack and pinion assy as I have read and heard it is a REAL PITA. I used pretty much all Moog parts for the front end except the end link bushings. I also put Monroe Sensa-Tracs all the way round with coil overs on the rear. Everything is fine so far, pretty happy. About 15K miles. Nice tight front end, tracks straight and rides nice. Biggest difference was the Energy Suspension bushings on the end links. There is a write up on the Forum about it. VERY worthwhile and easy. Much less plunge on stops and much less roll on turns. I also did a 4 wheel brake job with new rotors and pads - all Wagner. Used Rock Auto for all the parts. "All the parts your car will ever need!" So far, so good.

 

[koda2000]

A little over a year ago I did a pretty complete front end job.. front sway bar bushings, end links w/ Energy Suspension mod, inner and outer tie rods, UCA/ball joints L+R, and front hubs (4x4). I had my shop do the rack and pinion assy as I have read and heard it is a REAL PITA. I used pretty much all Moog parts for the front end except the end link bushings. I also put Monroe Sensa-Tracs all the way round with coil overs on the rear. Everything is fine so far, pretty happy. About 15K miles. Nice tight front end, tracks straight and rides nice. Biggest difference was the Energy Suspension bushings on the end links. There is a write up on the Forum about it. VERY worthwhile and easy. Much less plunge on stops and much less roll on turns. I also did a 4 wheel brake job with new rotors and pads - all Wagner. Used Rock Auto for all the parts. "All the parts your car will ever need!" So far, so good.

Duane, I agree with everything you said accept the statement about "less plunge on stop" after installing the modified sway bar end links. Maybe you're referring to everything involved with your front end rebuild, if so ignore the following comment, or consider it clarification...

The end-links have nothing to do with front end plunge/dip on stopping. The sway bar is really a torsion bar that resits twisting when you go around a corner. It does this because the bar is attached to the frame and the ends are attached to the lower control arms. When cornering one wheel is being pushed up the other is being pulled down because they are connected by the sway bar. Only the front end suspension's torsion bars (or coil springs on some vehicles) and shocks absorbers limit the amount of "plunge" you experience. To improve sway/lean on corners, you can also consider installing thicker diameter sway bars front and rear.

 

[chefduane]

Yes, It's probably a combination everything changed on the front end. I thought about going to a beefier sway bar but decided against if considering the type of driving I do. Mostly pavement and nothing really that required an upgrade on the bar. I should also note that I did end links and sway bar bushings on the rear also. I'm sure that had something to do with it.

 

[Leeroy38]

Thanks everyone for their replies I'm going to order the Mevotech package. Im going to do the sway bars and put some KYB shocks on it

 

[swshawaii]

Good to see both RA kits contain their upper tier parts. Generally "service grade" or "economy" parts are nowhere near the build quality and often use weaker stamped control arms with non replaceable ball joints. Like most aftermarket parts, especially brakes and suspension, you really get what you pay for. Don't be confused by identical part numbers used by different manufacturers, they are not the same.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...0l+v8,1119697,suspension,suspension+kit,10922

Appears Mevotech "Supreme" also uses polyurethane sway bar bushings. Appears end links are not poly. Check the very popular Moog K700542. (Two needed)
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1284568&cc=1119697
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=4202718&cc=1119697

ES is another sway bar bushing and end link option sold as a kit. Measure sway bar diameter with a crescent wrench to confirm size. (36mm)
http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/4.5152

"How To" threads for 1995-2001 Explorers - Stickys compiled

 

[geosnooker2000]

Why does the MEVOTCH right upper control arm look like this ^ When it should look like this for alignments:

 

[geosnooker2000]

I will wait for a reply until I know what to order. I need to do all ball joints and tie-rods. Gonna go ahead and do sway-arm bushings while I'm at it.

 

[swshawaii]

^ ^ Same with Moog and others. Benefit of the OEM passenger side two-piece design is added caster adjustment. One piece advantages are new bushings and strength. However, camber kits are almost always required for proper alignment when using the one-piece UCA's. Search "one piece vs. two piece" UCA, there are many threads.

http://www.moogparts.com/pdf/did-you-know/english/DYK10_106_En.pdf

 

[rathrbcruisin]

I called the alignment shop before I bought mine, I went with the one piece, they said they rarely adjust that anyway. I have not noticed anything different with the one piece compared to stock . I wanted the new bushings and, to me, one piece is stronger than two.