Hi all. It's terrible, but seems like the only time I end up on here is when I need help. Got to find time to just plain chat. Here is my question--since my front end on my Maverick is totally worn out, is there a kit available that would have all the parts I need? I want to replace the worn out idler arm, tie rod ends, ball joints, radius bushings, and whatever else wears out under there. It handles bad, and I know everything is worn out. Column is fine. No appreciable wear straight ahead or when turning, so at least that is okay. I put a lot of miles on this car long before it was repainted. Want to start driving it more, so need to put all the above parts in. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated. All have a great day, even if it is Monday. Jack
Plenty of discount kits around -- ebay, etc. Based on advice here, I'm not buying one of those. Been looking for a kit with Moog parts but haven't found one.
Don't go to a shop, they will use the cheapest parts possible and charge the premium price plus some. Moog makes everything you need and available at O'Reilly's for cheaper than Napa typically. atleast get Moog control arms/Ball joints and you can get cheaper stuff for the rest, where its not as hard to change out when they wear out.
It's not fair for you to say that, you are calling every shop in the world crooks! the shop i work at uses only the best parts so there is not come backs, and we are always swamped because we are one of the more affordable shops i our city!
MOOG, and National Parts Depot has good stock and pricing. It's all the same as a 68-73 Mustang, other than the strut rod bushings. They do sell the cheaper stuff too.
The shop I work at...We use Moog exclusively for suspension parts and TRW in a pinch if we have to. Customers bring cheap parts and we tell them why we dont use cheapies.Then we install good stuff or we refuse to warrantee the parts they bring us IF we install em. WE dont rake customers over the coals either. We have the best shop rates for 3 counties around us to boot... Our shop is pretty durn buisey too. As for the original question...PST (Performance Suspension Technologies) Makes a good kit if you want to get it all in one shot. Otherwise, shop the Moog parts locally and go that route. You cant go wrong.
Well since neither of you guys who work at shops are any where near California you can't really help him. You have to admit the odds of him picking a local shop that uses quality parts and fair labor are pretty slim. You may be the exception but not the rule. I sell parts to commercial accounts and 9 out of 10 times they will want the cheapest version when there is an option. We have had to get cheaper product lines in the stores to compete with other retailers/wholesalers who sell the cheap house brand or generic stuff. You only see what your shop does, I see what hundreds of shops do. My advice is solid unless he can confirm through word of mouth and previous customers that a shop is as good as the ones you guys work for.
Just curious, is there "actually" a known problem with ebay and parts store control arms or does everyone just dog them out because there are made in China? I just can't see parts suppliers selling them if they were a hazard??
When I first rebuilt my suspension I used the cheaper stuff. Some Mcquay Norris, cheap autozone brand, some no name stuff from PST. Ball joints wore out in a year or so, tie rods got sloppy, wouldn't hold an alignment. I think I rebuilt the front suspension twice in my early maverick years before using Moog parts where I could and haven't had a problem since.
