Ball joint recommendations ? Please

[67c10rustbuket]

Here's the specs first:

1967 C10 Short box (was og 283 3ott, now '97 vortec 5.7/4L60E)
stock suspension (control arms etc unmolested)
Soon to be 3.5/5 static drop.

I already have some 2.5 drop spindles from Brothers that are Western chassis for the 73+ HD 1.25 " rotors, I understand I need the ball joints and outer tie rods for the spindle year so any recommendations for a ball joint other than MOOG ? After some research they seem to be the best but $200 for 4 ball joints is stretching my wallet at the moment.

Anyone using joints from Auto Zone, Oreilley, Brothers, Etc ? looking for a good quality without breaking the bank. Or do you recommend sucking it up and just going with MOOG?

Which brings me to a little complaint: why does everyone have to brand their ball joints? why can't they just state the brand like years ago? Obviously Auto Zone and Brothers aren't manufacturing the ball joints in the back of the store and I want to know who is the real Manufacturer when comparing prices.

Thanks for your help/advice !

[71STPSDE]

On Rock Auto website they are 110 for all four. I still think Moog is the best. Try Rock Auto and see what you think. They have other brands and they have the best prices.

[cableguy0]

You will regret anything else especially in 6 months when your doing the job over again. We use only Moog at work. Anything else and we get burned badly on warranty work. Ball joints are pretty important and its definately not a place to try and save a few dollars. If a ball joint comes apart at a minimum you will need some body and suspension work at worst you crash the truck and hurt someone else. As stated rockauto has real good prices.

[mbgmike]

Just for info all ball joints and tie rod ends have to meet federal standards.you may know that already. I always believe in buying the best in suspension parts. A good friend of mine killed a family using low price suspension parts.
As far as Rock Auto they are a decent company. I have bought from them at times. We can generally match or beat there prices. We have much better policies then they do towards customers. They are just a large no name machine. I always reccomend that you buy stuff like this locally instead of online. If you want cheap go with rockauto.

you can always use ac delco ones here are equivilent part numbers for a variety
ALLSAFE 5001024AS
AUTOSPECIALTY 0286003
AUTOSPECIALTY 0286003E
BARCAP A1176
BEST VAL-U 5001024B
BRAVO 31036
CARQUEST RK6136
CONI-SEAL XK6136
DAYTON PARTS (TRW 305120
DAYTON PARTS (TRW 305137
ELGIN 1269K
FALCON STEERING SYSTEMS K6136
FEDERATED 5001024F
MASTERRIDE 10269
MCQUAY NORRIS FA1509
MCQUAY NORRIS FA903
MCQUAY NORRIS FA903E
MCQUAY NORRIS FA903FT
MCQUAY NORRIS FA903GL
MEVOTECH INC. MK6136
MIDAS BJ1023
MOOG K6136
NAPA 10269
NAPA 2601127
RAYBESTOS CHASSIS 5001024
RAYBESTOS CHASSIS 5001024B
RAYBESTOS CHASSIS K6136
STEMPF AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES ST697
TRW 10269
UNIMOTIVE BJ1269
WESTERN AUTO 8061368

[67c10rustbuket]

Thanks for the quick and very good responses. I have never bought from Rock auto before and last I looked I think they had one but not the other or one oversized one not, anyway I was concerned buying from them but I can give it a shot and see how it goes now that they have both available. Or mbgmike if you can meet their price I would rather deal with a known vendor here than a drop ship no name company. Is there a link to your store here or how can I deal with your company??

K6117T and K6136 are available (1975 C10 was vehicle I searched), I don't know what "problem solver" means. Is that not oversized? I read the info/description and didn't see anything about oversize. I am assuming that I will not need oversize since my original ball joints are still riveted in. Thats my past experience anyway. Going on a 3rd set or more I have had to use oversize ones. That was after using Autozone joints on a bagged S10 and they didn't last too long but I did abuse the suspension regularly.

THANK YOU!!

[cableguy0]

Moogs problem solver joints are basically just an improved design over stock. Typically you will find them for applications that are know for eating ball joints. The problems solver is the better joint but has nothing to do with oversize.

[asolde]

I just got done doing my front suspension/tie rods/idler link/pitman arm/ etc. I bought all my parts from LMC and most if not all my parts come from different countrys. This was my first time doing this job and if I had it to do over I would try to stay with american made parts. Spend as much as you can afford. Ball joints are a job you only want to do once.

[oldspowered67C10]

I think the "problem solver" in this application has taller knurling than the OE spec since the ball joint coming loose in the control arm after replacement is the problem with these trucks.
Anyways, Ive also had good luck with McQuay-Norris stuff in the past although Ive never used them in this application. Ive only had problems with Moog stuff in a couple of applications so its usually a good recommendation but as long as you stay away from the really cheap stuff you should be OK.

[El Campo]

I just looked on Amazon (where I always historically get my MOOG stuff) and you can get the uppers for 38 buck each, and the lowers for 31 dollars each. And this is free shipping and no tax!!!! That is what I would do if I didn't want to deal with a vendor on the site. Everything that I have ever gotten from MOOG says "The problem solvers" on the box. I always assumed it was a slogan of theirs.

[67c10rustbuket]

Thanks again guys, a LOT of good information. I will be going with the Moog brand for sure. I sent Mike's Bump and Grind an email to see if they can get them for me at Rock autos price and if not I will go with either Rock or Amazon.

Campo- What up buddy? I said I would rather deal with a site vendor you had me thinking I made another noob typo , Thanks for the tip, I had no idea that amazon stocked ball joints, guess they sell more than books nowdays.

[El Campo]

Haha yea I figured you did, sorry for the confusion. I didn't want to step on anyones toes. Yea its amazing what they sell. I am going to be buying some stuff from Mike myself, unfortunately for me I have to pay tax since his shop is only like 20 miles from me. I like Rock Auto too, I just bought an alternator off of there for my Powerstroke that was Motorcraft exactly like the one from my local Ford stealership for 150 dollars less!!!!!

[67c10rustbuket]

Well Mike's Bump and Grind got me some MOOG ball joints and matched the Rock Auto price. Sweet deal. Now for some cross shafts and tie rods good grief this old stuff is spendy! Email on the way Mike.