what's the best choice for lower control arms?

[xz96]

the last post's kinda long so i'm starting a new thread, i found a mechanic who will do the labor for $100 (both lower control arms)

what's the best choice for lower control arms?
I drive 99%highway..
1999 ford explorer 2dr 2wd
I'm on budget so I just need something that's good quality and as cheap as possible..

I checked rockauto, and there are control arms from $30 to $250 for one control arm.. brands includes:

ULTRAPOWER,DORMAN,RAYBESTOS,MEVOTECH,MOOG,ACDELCO,MOTORCRAFT,MAGNETI MARELLI..

And DURALAST from autozone($111 each) and MASTERPRO from oreilly($111 each)

I've never heard any of these brand before

i did some google research and found good/bad reviews for every brand..
so which one should i get for my truck?

what's the difference between expensive ones and cheap ones? ex. moog has three different products:$30, $70 and $150 ones..all of them include balljoints and bushings.How long will the $30 one last? is it going to be a very bad quality one?

this is the whole list from rockauto:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,c...+for+Suspension+Control+Arm+Bushing+Raybestos

thanks!

 

[swshawaii]

Excellent thread.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297369

You going through with this? :scratch:

I'm on budget and trying to save every penny. I've never done any car repair before...I just learned how to change tires and how to check engine oils.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=411446

 

[mez4406]

You can get motorcraft for 108 I would vote for that one.

 

[jremington59]

I had good luck with Raybestos ball joints.

I'd be more concerned with someone offering to do all that for a hundred bucks. Make sure he owns a torque wrench, lol.

 

[swshawaii]

I'd be more concerned with someone offering to do all that for a hundred bucks. Make sure he owns a torque wrench, lol.

Agree, I missed that. Replace both LCA's for $100? If it sounds too good to be true...

 

[xz96]

I had good luck with Raybestos ball joints.

I'd be more concerned with someone offering to do all that for a hundred bucks. Make sure he owns a torque wrench, lol.

how many hours does it usually take to get the job done?

 

[xz96]

Excellent thread.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297369

You going through with this? :scratch:

yeah

 

[OffTrac]

I had good luck with Raybestos ball joints.

I'd be more concerned with someone offering to do all that for a hundred bucks. Make sure he owns a torque wrench, lol.

2nd Raybestos.

Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Forum Runner

 

[Turdle]

Excellent thread.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297369

You going through with this? :scratch:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297369&highlight=torsion+bar+hole&page=5

Pay close attention to pages 4-7 concerning [MENTION=119708]ahodges[/MENTION] trouble with Raybestos control arms.

I vote Motorcraft.

 

[xz96]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297369&highlight=torsion+bar+hole&page=5

Pay close attention to pages 4-7 concerning [MENTION=119708]ahodges[/MENTION] trouble with Raybestos control arms.

I vote Motorcraft.

thanks for the info! i was just gonna order raybestos LCA from rockauto
motorcraft ones should be the same to the original one right? since they are owned by ford

 

[xz96]

is there anything else i should get except the control arm itself?

 

[ahodges]

The LCA's from Motorcraft are OEM for our trucks. They come with new bushings and ball joints installed.
It's funny this got brought up again right now. I just dug those Raybestos LCA's out of my attic and took the bushings and ball joints out for future use. I since put the LCA's on my scrap pile. The lower ball joints fit my ranger as well, which is where they will be getting installed. I haven't confirmed the bushings yet.

 

[OffTrac]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297369&highlight=torsion+bar+hole&page=5

Pay close attention to pages 4-7 concerning [MENTION=119708]ahodges[/MENTION] trouble with Raybestos control arms.

I vote Motorcraft.

Ooh, forgot about that. I used Raybestos UCAs and they've been good. Glad that was caught in time.

Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Forum Runner

 

[bluestream1]

Your OEM set of LCA lasted 16 years. How long do you plan to keep the truck? If you will have it another 16 years, then I vote Motorcraft as well

 

[xz96]

Your OEM set of LCA lasted 16 years. How long do you plan to keep the truck? If you will have it another 16 years, then I vote Motorcraft as well

3-4years at least... which one do you think i should buy?

 

[bluestream1]

3-4years at least... which one do you think i should buy?

Your post said you need lower control arms, that Rockauto link is for Upper control arms. Oops never mind, had to scroll down farther

 

[xz96]

Your post said you need lower control arms, that Rockauto link is for Upper control arms

oh,i think they put lower and upper control arms in the same list

 

[xz96]

Your post said you need lower control arms, that Rockauto link is for Upper control arms. Oops never mind, had to scroll down farther

i did some research and found duralast,Raybestos had some bad reviews, moogs are just as expensive as motorcraft..there are some cheap ones ($30-$40bucks), but i don't know if they are worth it..

 

[bluestream1]

I would go with thew $75 Moog ones. Or move up to the Raybestos for a few more dollars

 

[swshawaii]

I would go with thew $75 Moog ones. Or move up to the Raybestos for a few more dollars

Not sure if Raybestos has addressed their fitment issue.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3001907&postcount=110

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3002770&postcount=117