So I've done some extensive research, and everybody is universally saying to stay away... but hear me out.
I'm trying to get 5-8 more years out of my '93 beater altima, 185K highway miles. The left side OEM control arm bushing is completely gone, and squeaking like a rat high on cheese wiz. I just re-upped on new tires, so decided to go for another 5-8 years instead of selling vehicle. Now I need to invest in the front suspension. I already ordered the Chinese O.E. brand parts from ebay from seller worldsuspension, so I'm stuck with them. Most of the people complaining with problems have trucks and other heavy vehicles.
I've heard a lot of negativity, but am interested in if anybody has had any success stories. I know the steel is a lower grade, but it just needs to make it another 5-8 years. I've also got the ball joint, sway bar bushing and outer tie rod as well as some new bellows boots (all O.E. brand except the boots). I don't need the tie rods, but the bellows boots are looking like they are about to open up, so I figured to do the tie rods/boots at the same time
So here are some questions:
* Can I swap out the chinese ball joint for a moog (is that even possible on the chinese control arm?)
* If I stick with the Chinese ball joint, is it really as much as a risk on an altima versus a truck? Will I really only get a year out of it, as reported in older threads?
* Can I put only one new control arm at a time, or do they have to be done in pairs? (especially considering the part of the right side is still the original OEM part with a replacment ball joint.
* Do the concerns about the chinese parts also extend to the sway link and outer tie rods?
I'm trying to get 5-8 more years out of my '93 beater altima, 185K highway miles. The left side OEM control arm bushing is completely gone, and squeaking like a rat high on cheese wiz. I just re-upped on new tires, so decided to go for another 5-8 years instead of selling vehicle. Now I need to invest in the front suspension. I already ordered the Chinese O.E. brand parts from ebay from seller worldsuspension, so I'm stuck with them. Most of the people complaining with problems have trucks and other heavy vehicles.
I've heard a lot of negativity, but am interested in if anybody has had any success stories. I know the steel is a lower grade, but it just needs to make it another 5-8 years. I've also got the ball joint, sway bar bushing and outer tie rod as well as some new bellows boots (all O.E. brand except the boots). I don't need the tie rods, but the bellows boots are looking like they are about to open up, so I figured to do the tie rods/boots at the same time
So here are some questions:
* Can I swap out the chinese ball joint for a moog (is that even possible on the chinese control arm?)
* If I stick with the Chinese ball joint, is it really as much as a risk on an altima versus a truck? Will I really only get a year out of it, as reported in older threads?
* Can I put only one new control arm at a time, or do they have to be done in pairs? (especially considering the part of the right side is still the original OEM part with a replacment ball joint.
* Do the concerns about the chinese parts also extend to the sway link and outer tie rods?
