Replacing Front End Parts. Which brand and model to buy? Help

[TwitchZ28]

Hey guys,

So I am getting ready to replace my idler arm, pitman arm, and both ball joints before getting an alignment.

I don't want to cheap out and buy parts, but in this case it's not as simple as just buying delco parts.

In looking on rock auto, even delco has multiple tiers of these parts so I am not sure which one to buy. I want to do this right.

Idler arm:

$55 Moog Super Duty: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=203034&cc=1031230
$61 Moog Heavy Duty: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=202986&cc=1031230
$62 Delco Standard Duty: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=355488&cc=1031230
$76 Delco Heavy Duty: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=355485&cc=1031230

$25 Delco Heavy Duty(Under rock auto economy section): http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=3576831&cc=1031230

I've got a regular cab F44 heavy duty chassis 2wd. Does this mean I need the heavy duty version? What would you buy?

Pitman Arm:

$12 Delco Advantage(Economy section): http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=3576513&cc=1031230
$32 Moog: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=202953&cc=1031230
$38 Delco: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=355406&cc=1031230

Ball Joints:

$13 Delco Advantage Lower: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=3576354&cc=1031230
$13 Delco Advantage Upper: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=3577191&cc=1031230
$23 Moog Upper: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=202936&cc=1031230
$28 Delco Professional Upper: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=355539&cc=1031230
$30 Moog Lower: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=202937&cc=1031230
$37 Delco Professional Lower: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=355692&cc=1031230


Basicall I don't know that much about this stuff and am not sure how to select the best parts for the money. I am sure not all the ball joints are bad, but I know i have a bad upper on the driver side and if I am going to get all the apart and spent the money on an alignment (and tires soon) I would prefer to just replace them all with quality new stuff that's not 23 years old as long as I can afford it. Are the cheaper options decent here or total crap?

 

[Cadon69]

When it comes to those kind of parts I only buy Moog. I usually got to rock auto for part numbers then buy them from Amazon for half the price for the exact same part numbers.


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[TwitchZ28]

When it comes to those kind of parts I only buy Moog. I usually got to rock auto for part numbers then buy them from Amazon for half the price for the exact same part numbers.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

You're the second person that has recommended moog over factory. Can you explain why please?

-Thanks

 

[Cadon69]

You're the second person that has recommended moog over factory. Can you explain why please?

-Thanks

It's been my experience that moog is top notch in this realm. Plus they have a lifetime warranty. Also my Dad has been a mechanic for the last 40 years and he told me always buy moog when it comes to steering parts. Pretty much for the same reasons.


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[Ruger_556]

I would buy oem... Reverse engineering doesn't work as well as some would like to think.

 

[skylark]

We bought all the top end Moog for the dually and we aren't disappointed in the least.

 

[SkyHighColorado]

Moog, allow me to show you why since I have lots of Moog parts waiting to be installed (damn snow)

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See the dome under the grease nipple? Under it is a pressure spring washer thing that applies over 100lbs to the ball preventing slop as it wears down.

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See the notches that expose the ball? They prevent the ball stud from bashing the sides on lifted and lowered applications. I have a ball joint around here somewhere that has that damage. See the grooves on the ball? They are grease channels that allow for better flushing of contaminates.

A lot of different Moog parts have different problem solving features, but most have the pressure washer dome.

I'll post a pic of my damaged ball joint when I find it. Hope this helps.

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See the damage on the left side where the ball stud hit the side? Won't happen with Moog.

 

[Ruger_556]

100 lb spring won't keep any suspension component from moving...

 

[SkyHighColorado]

Yes it will. I'm telling you Moog is legit. I learned about that pressure ring in a video about how Moog is manufactured they only said over 100 lbs, its probably more.

 

[Ruger_556]

That's like pushing on the side of a tire to stop a tie rod end from clunking... It isn't going to work