Which brand ball joint to get?

[Kestas]

I'm in the middle of replacing the ball joints in my 01 Sable. I've got everything apart. Now my question is - which is the best ball joint for my car? I don't want to do this job again every 60K.

Here are the higher end choices from Rockauto:

$39 Moog, problem solver #K8687
$44 Raybestos, professional grade #5051243
$47 Motorcraft, #MCS104217

They're all similarly priced. Which has the best chance of lasting the longest?

Reading some archived information, most people swear by Moog. I've been hearing good things about the other brands. But then, I've been hearing a lot of information every which way.

 

[Mud]

Having used them all, IMO Moog and MC would be my primary choices.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

If you live in the rust belt, take a look at the control arms and where they mount to the sub frame ... they have a tendency to rust and pop off.1

 

[Kruse]

I just rebuilt the front end on my Aerostar and the Moog parts were of very good quality and still American made.

 

[72te27]

Raybestos Professional Grade are very high quality, and, I believe, a superior bearing design over the Moog ball joint. No experience with M/C.

 

[Trav]

Since the boot fiasco with Moog last year i have been using Raybestos Pro (Spicer), Deeza, or OEM only.

 

[abycat]

Been pretty disapointed in Moog lately. Wont buy them again.

 

[artificialist]

I would use Raybestos.

I would not use the Motorcraft ball joints because I find that the factory parts don't last.

 

[01rangerxl]

I went with Raybestos pro when I had the ball joints replaced on my truck a couple thousand miles ago. So far I am very satisfied with them. They appear to be very high quality. My part number was made in Taiwan.

 

[ltslimjim]

Nice to know about Raybestos Pro.

 

[daves87rs]

Still like Moog....

 

[Merkava_4]

Raybestos professional grade.

 

[Oldswagon]

I have used both Raybesto Pro (Spicer) and Moog with good luck. Both were made in USA and appeared to be higher quality than OEM. I know sometimes Moog and Raybestos will offer a grease fitting whereas an OEM will not, if that's important to you.

 

[zzyzzx]

It depends on the car. I have used made in USA MOOG products on my Escort that have over 150K miles on them and are still in excellent shape. I have also seen MOOG branded parts made in asia that looked like rebranded stuff just reboxed so that they could offer a full line that I returned (didn't even have grease fittings). That was for a Subaru.

A lot of Deeza parts do have grease fitting and aren't made in Asia, so I would buy them before a Korean made MOOG that didn't have grease fittings.

 

[ltslimjim]

^It seems like some are having complaints over recent MOOG parts?

 

[Kestas]

I ordered the Raybestos professional grade, delivered today. Made in Taiwan.

The mounting surface is ribbed, as opposed to the original ball joint, which is smooth.

 

[Zaedock]

I've always liked/used either Moog or Spicer (in my Jeeps).