Use Ebay front end parts?

[Dan Whitaker]

Why? Moog bearings are superior (using patented re-engineered quad-lipped seals) and have the exact same warranty period.

Because Timken has been around since the early 1900's. Timken is the only bearing manufacture allowed to make axle truss bearings for all rail cars. Timken makes the hub bearings for Ford.

Honestly MOOG is not what they once were and their quality is lacking these days.

 

[gmanpaint]

Because Timken has been around since the early 1900's. Timken is the only bearing manufacture allowed to make axle truss bearings for all rial cars. Timken makes the hub bearings for Ford.

Honestly MOOG is not what they once were and their quality is lacking these days.

Amen to that. I broke a couple Moog hubs, and blew up a couple Moog LBJ's in a matter of months. Switched to Prograde parts, and never had another issue.

There are times to be cheap, and this is not one of them. IMO, it's as important as good brakes.

Your pointing a 2.5 ton chunk of steel down a road at high speeds surrounded by others thinking they have control just like you do. In reality, if any of these parts go bad, you have zero control.

It's more than your life on the line when things go south, it's the vehicle next to you, or in front of you that might have kids inside. Search this forum for stories of a wheel coming off due to a small suspension part breaking while driving. Not pretty. :roll:

 

[masospaghetti]

+1 for avoiding cheap eBay parts. You have no idea what quality of product you are getting. Zero accountability for failure.

I've found eBay stuff is, more often than not, the lowest grade product available and often not that cheap for what you get (because eBay fees are expensive).

 

[ponkotsu]

This is interesting:
http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts...&fp=pp&gbm=a&gclid=CMm9l4Ouj7YCFY4WMgodmCwAVw

Same description as Moog, but off-brand and cheap.

Did some research, and these may be exactly same as Moog. Last week I bought some Moog u-joints. 2 identical joints, but one was packed in a generic package. They were absolutely identical. Even had the same forging number and marks. I checked and had I bought the generic brand initially, they were like 30% cheaper.

 

[RomeovilleIL]

Sometimes we need to remember that there are different grades of parts. Cheap front end kits (ebay, amazon, parts house generics) are what is best termed minimum service grade. I can assure you that they will fit and allign just fine. So long as you install and torque everything to spec cruising the side streets and paved highway will be no problem for a purely stock application. At least for a while.

--- HOWEVER ---

Minimum grade does not work for anything else for any length of time, period. Run some heavier AT or MS tires, things wear out quick. Take some bumpy back roads, get even faster wear and tear. Not saying they will grenade the second you leave the smooth asphault, but expect service life to be months not years. It will definitely start getting loose and go downhill from there.

In your profile you have Colorado Springs as home. There are plenty of trails around you that will challenge even the most sturdy rigs. If they are calling your name, get the right parts the first time. Mountain roads are not the place to figure out a part isn't cutting it.

BTW - Even the cheap parts do have warranties so extra $ may not be the issue, especially if you provide the labor. Instead it's all about having a solid running truck as opposed to one in constant need of repair.

 

[ponkotsu]

Did some research, and these may be exactly same as Moog. Last week I bought some Moog u-joints. 2 identical joints, but one was packed in a generic package. They were absolutely identical. Even had the same forging number and marks. I checked and had I bought the generic brand initially, they were like 30% cheaper.

Did some checking. Every picture and description I find on "Parts Master" are identical to Moog. Detail picture of Parts Master ball joint even says "Moog problem solver" on the bottom.

I think I'll order them and see. If the parts don't match the picture, I'll return them and complain.

 

[FIND]

Parts master is an economy grade part produced by moog.... which doesn't really produce high quality parts either anymore.

 

[rickybobby]

Its still a vast improvement over the ebay garbage though. It may be worth checking out the sticky on heavy duty IFS upgrades though.

 

[ponkotsu]

Its still a vast improvement over the ebay garbage though. It may be worth checking out the sticky on heavy duty IFS upgrades though.

Think I'll take the chance. They do have a 2 year guarantee, so not a huge risk. I should buy the best, and I guess I can afford it, but it's really hard to justify putting that much money into a 13 yr old truck. It tends to snowball. If I buy premium suspension parts, next week I'll be throwing in a roller cam. Before you know it, I've got more money into it than just buying a brand new vehicle. The whole point of buying this truck was to save money. (The wife reminds me of that every time I buy something...)