MOOG Parts VS NAPA Parts

[ClaytonBigsby]

I went to a local retailer today (Baxter) and spent $420 on tie rod ends, upper/lower ball joints, U Joints, and a box full of bushings; insisting on the best. I got all MOOG parts and they look built to last. Then I went to NAPA to get the draglink Baxter didn't carry, and the guy told me NAPA's economy line is the same as MOOG. It's the second Sat of the month sale and I got all of the same parts + the draglink for $240!!!!! So:

NAPA Crappa, or better than MOOG?


Also, with 300k miles, should the pitman arm be toast, or they built to last?

 

[shane96ranger]

Napa's house brands are all outsourced. Some of their suspension parts are indeed made by Moog. I've found Napa to be better than Autozone and O'Reilly at selecting who they have make their stuff. I like that they can tell you who makes the parts. I bought tie rods for my Explorer and they were made by Spicer, but in a Napa box.

Sent while I should be doing something else

 

[kryptonitecb]

Friends have told me Napa has better parts but I haven't confirmed this personally. I usually get Moog parts myself without issues.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[ClaytonBigsby]

I bought all the parts from each store to compare and some where exactly the same. I picked the Moog Tie rod ends ($20 more), but NAPA's ball joints ($115 less). U joints were the exact same packaging, $26 more at Baxter. Thanks for the replies.


Sent in the middle of a shoot out.

 

[--weezl--]

i should just throw this out there... moog is no longer moog, iirc, federal mougal sold moog to a chinese manufacture about 6 months ago or so, so the moog brand name is now being put on cheap chinese parts...

the "new" moog parts, were previously branded under the name "national" now i am unaware if this is all parts, or some parts, but i know this is what i found out when i looked into getting moog wheel bearings

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Most all of the chain stores have their store parts made by someone else. I've seen Autozone "Duralast" branded boxes that when you dump the part out, it has MOOG or SPICER stamped on it. Most of the time they don't have anything like that on it though. I will usually get Autozone parts just because their "lifetime warranty" actually means lifetime to them - as long as you own the vehicle.

Right now I'm not all that happy with Moog though. About a year ago I purchased a new set of heavy duty coil springs for my F-150. I didn't plow with it and I didn't abuse them, but they're sitting pretty much at the same point now as the worn-out springs I replaced..... or about 3" lower than they're supposed to sit....

 

[86isuzu]

I work at NAPA. Moog is now made by Federal-Mogoul, which is our "cheap" house brand. It's not necessarily a bad product though. Dana makes our better stuff.

 

[shane96ranger]

A lot of people (including guys on TRS) are now suggesting the Raybestos Professional Grade over Moog.

Sent while I should be doing something else

 

[v-8power]

Dana makes our better stuff.

I work for Dana and find this hard to believe. Anymore, Dana quality is CRAP.


Dana makes a lot of stuff outside the United States now. They ship the parts to Marion from Mexico, we repack them into Marion boxes.

 

[--weezl--]

I work at NAPA. Moog is now made by Federal-Mogoul, which is our "cheap" house brand.

i am also about 99% sure that moog has ALWAYS been made by federal-mogul, up until the last year or two

 

[4x4junkie]

I work at NAPA. Moog is now made by Federal-Mogoul, which is our "cheap" house brand. It's not necessarily a bad product though. Dana makes our better stuff.

I know Moog has been under the Federal-Mogul umbrella for some time now (8-10 years at least, probably much longer). My luck with them has been variable... Their tie rod ends seem OK, but their ball joints lasted a mere 5000 miles or so on my D35 before becoming sloppy (all bought around mid-'04). Spicers on the other hand (which I bought under the Raybestos Pro Grade label around '09) are up to at least 15K now and still good & tight.

 

[shane96ranger]

federal mougal sold moog to a chinese manufacture about 6 months ago or so, so the moog brand name is now being put on cheap chinese parts...

I wonder why Federal Mogul still lists Moog in their brands?

http://www.federalmogul.com/en/BrandSelector?brand=Moog

 

[--weezl--]

i worded that poorly... i'm not sure to what extent, but from what i understand, the majority of moog parts are being made overseas by other companies, and only a small handful are still "moog" parts

 

[armadillon]

i worded that poorly... i'm not sure to what extent, but from what i understand, the majority of moog parts are being made overseas by other companies, and only a small handful are still "moog" parts

Do you have any references for that? I'm not trying to be an a-hole, I just want to read up on that.

 

[shane96ranger]

Do you have any references for that? I'm not trying to be an a-hole, I just want to read up on that.

I would too. I've poked around the internet a bit about it, and all I can really see is individuals in forums talking about it.

I'm really trying to buy as little as possible that is Chinese made.