So I noticed a clunking in the front end today when I was making sharp turns, particularly left turns. You couldn't really feel much of anything in the wheel, but it could be heard with the windows down. Jacked up the front wheels by the control arms 1 at a time, and the upper ball joints seem to have a little bit of slop in them, not much but it is there. The passenger's side seems to be worse than the driver's side.

So back to the main point, what ball joints are good. I know moogs are good, and are what's on it now from 10 years ago when my dad changed them, but are they worth the $40 each vs $20 for acdelco or something else? I'm also figuring I should replace the lower ball joints too. Thoughts?

 

they are worth the mark up IMO, plus they are greaseable, and should be greased every time you change the oil. thats why the oil changeplcaes are called quick lubes, bc back in the day they also greased everything for ya

 

Yeah, I do keep them greased often. Just did it a couple days ago actually. Luckily my birthday is next week, so I convinced my parents that this will be my birthday present.

 

I'd replace all the whole control arm assemblies. That way you get all new bushings pre-installed too. It's more bucks, but it's not like you do it every year.

 

I changed the upper control arm bushings with polyurethane ones last summer and have new polyurethane lower ones in a box waiting to go in too, otherwise I thought about that. Hell I might finally do the lower control arm bushings while I'm doing the ball joints too.

Theses are the uppers I have on the way: And the lowers: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...212&cc=1354025

 

i got moog lowers waiting on uppers myself, seems to me everyone just trusts moog's alot more so i just went with the flow.

 

Yeah, moog has always been a good name as far as I'm concerned. I've seen some information online that some parts are taiwanese made and branded moog, and that some are still made in the USA. Hopefully the ones I got are American made.

 

I have found quite a few knock offs as well so my advice would be to buy directly from Moog.

 

Hopefully amazon and rock auto wouldn't have fake ones.

 

fwiw mine has had moogs for the last 140k and still going strong.