MasterPro vs MevoTech vs Duralast Inner Tie Rods

[The Critic]

I have a 2003 Altima w/150k here that I believe, needs inner tie rods. When you rock the tire from the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock spots, there is noticeable play and a pop/clunk type noise. A tiny amount of play is coming from the leaking outer tie rod end, but the rest of it seems to be coming from somewhere else - and I presume that it must be the inner tie rod?

The car will only be kept for another six to twelve months, so an inexpensive replacement makes sense. Both the MevoTech and the Duralast options are in the same price range, at approx $25/ea. O'Reilly's MasterPro inner tie rod are shockingly cheap - $13/ea. Any experiences with the any of these 3?

Thanks.

 

[The Critic]

Just a thought.

Duralast is supposed to be AZ's premium-line (made by McQuay-Norris), so I would think that it is intended to be better than a store's economy line. Therefore, Duralast must be better than MasterPro, since MasterPro is marketed as O'Reilly's economy line. Not sure about MevoTech, but since they are their own, I would think that their only line would be their premium line?

 

[eljefino]

How are you aligning this? You can DIY toe you know.

If $79 is being spent on an alignment make the customer pay for decent parts. The "6 to 12 month" thing is often a lie, maybe bold-faced, maybe cognitive dissonance. OTOH this is America and someone would get sued for a completely shoddy part.

Also consider the Raybestos from Rockauto at $11 plus shipping. I've gotten good stuff from them even their "service grade" stuff that's maligned here.

 

[bourne]

We use CQ red tie rods at work all the time, they are rebranded Mevotechs, seems to work fine and good longetivity. Does not come with zerk fittings however. CQ Blue line is rebranded Raybestos.

As far as the whether the play is coming from the inner tie rod or not, have someome shake the wheel left and right while you hold on to the inner (when under the car of course) , if there is movement, thats your culprit.

 

[eljefino]

What's a zerk fitting doing on an inner tie rod?

 

[SteveSRT8]

Our trucks have them. As a matter of fact, counting the Zerks tells you how long they plan to let you keep that vehicle.

less than 5 = throw away car.

more than 20 = KEEPER!

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Our trucks have them. As a matter of fact, counting the Zerks tells you how long they plan to let you keep that vehicle.

less than 5 = throw away car.

more than 20 = KEEPER!


Funny that my MB diesels have zero, yet are keepers the world over.

 

[buck91]

I ford has...13? But the 4x4 universals are original or OEM style.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
How are you aligning this? You can DIY toe you know.

If $79 is being spent on an alignment make the customer pay for decent parts. The "6 to 12 month" thing is often a lie, maybe bold-faced, maybe cognitive dissonance. OTOH this is America and someone would get sued for a completely shoddy part.

Also consider the Raybestos from Rockauto at $11 plus shipping. I've gotten good stuff from them even their "service grade" stuff that's maligned here.


True, he is fully aware of the lifespan of el-cheapo parts despite the warranty. I think he is serious about the 6 mo thing, though. Alignment will be done by a shop - I don't want to have anything to do with that.

Originally Posted By: bourne
We use CQ red tie rods at work all the time, they are rebranded Mevotechs, seems to work fine and good longetivity. Does not come with zerk fittings however. CQ Blue line is rebranded Raybestos.

As far as the whether the play is coming from the inner tie rod or not, have someome shake the wheel left and right while you hold on to the inner (when under the car of course) , if there is movement, thats your culprit.


Thanks. IIRC there was movement from the tie rod itself, but just wanted to confirm with y'all that it is pretty much the only possible culprit.

Did not realize that CQ Red was MevoTech. I wonder what the warranty is on it.

 

[stephen9666]

Duralast or Mevotech are probably better. The value line from places like Advance and O'Reilly are generally really cheaply made.

You may also want to check Napa or Carquest. I recently replaced three tie rods on my brother's Ford Escort. I needed to get one outer locally. I went to look at all the value lines in person. The value line at Carquest and Napa looked significantly better than the ones at Advance and O'Reilly. That was an outer, though.

You may just want to look at them and buy based on COO. If they're all Chinese, buy the one that obviously appears the best quality.

 

[zzyzzx]

I would get Deeza's.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
What's a zerk fitting doing on an inner tie rod?

The Altima better not have one. That would require pulling back the rack bellows to access. Now if it had a steering box, then it should have fittings, however Altimas all have racks.

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Thanks. IIRC there was movement from the tie rod itself, but just wanted to confirm with y'all that it is pretty much the only possible culprit.

Did not realize that CQ Red was MevoTech. I wonder what the warranty is on it.


Did you check the mounting bolts for the rack itself? I know from experience that sometimes the bolts can come loose and display the same movement and noise.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
I would get Deeza's.


This is a good choice, actually, if you can take the time to order online. Deeza can very a lot in price, so if you want the cheapest option possible, Deeza may not be it. But you'll be getting quality parts with Deeza, most likely.

I'm sure you saw this thread, but I was really happy with the Deeza tie rod ends I installed on my brother's focus:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2925508

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
I would get Deeza's.


This is a good choice, actually, if you can take the time to order online. Deeza can very a lot in price, so if you want the cheapest option possible, Deeza may not be it. But you'll be getting quality parts with Deeza, most likely.

I'm sure you saw this thread, but I was really happy with the Deeza tie rod ends I installed on my brother's focus:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2925508

With Deeza sometimes they make a version with or without a grease fitting. You want the version with the grease fitting.

 

[The Critic]

Update - decided to go with the Duralasts. The country of origin is definitely China, per the box. I will post some pictures later today.

 

[eljefino]

Line this up yourself. You know you want to. You'll be vindicated by the before/after sheet the alignment guy will print out.

 

[The Critic]

Update. It looks like the Nissans use a 33.6mm for the original inner tie rods, and none of the rental tool kits have this size (all of them are SAE), so I ended up paying $91 for the Lisle 46800 kit.

I was going to spring for the cheaper Lisle 45750 since it also includes the 33.6mm, but the price difference is about $18, and the 46800 kit includes the 1 3/8" crowfoot that will be needed to install the aftermarket Duralast inner tie rod.

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Line this up yourself. You know you want to. You'll be vindicated by the before/after sheet the alignment guy will print out.

Tempting...

 

[ComfyShorts]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Line this up yourself. You know you want to. You'll be vindicated by the before/after sheet the alignment guy will print out.

Newer Hunter alignment racks take their "before" toe/camber/caster readings before you get to center the steering wheel making initial front toe readings not accurate. Reason behind it is they want adjustments in the rear performed, followed by front camber/caster and only then you are offered to perform the "steer ahead" portion of the alignment in which you hop into the vehicle and center the steering wheel. Only after that part you get the actual front toe angles to be adjusted.

So no reason doing all that extra work setting toe at home. Unless you ask the alignment tech to center the steering wheel and re-save "before" readings.

Just get it close enough and get it aligned!

 

[partspro]

The zerk fitting is on the outer, not the inner. You need to check the rack mounting bolts and bushing. I've sold a lot of Mevotech parts and they hold up pretty well. Moog would be my choice, but they are more expensive.