MOOG Problems?

[Tmwoodall]

I know the brand of choice for suspension components is MOOG. I have been reading A LOT about all the different brands, and supposed competitors that are reboxed MOOG. I have decided that saving the $100 bucks buying the O'Reilly house brand that is supposed to be MOOG isn't worth the gamble.

However, another thing I have noticed in lots of threads and online write-ups is that MOOG seems to be outsourcing some of their parts lately. One gentleman even mentioned that ECE is no longer recommending them because of this.

Has anyone had similar experiences, or had a reason to quit pushing MOOG so hard? This is one job I never want to repeat, after spending ~6 hours just removing the ball joints on one side yesterday.

[stich626]

moog is doing what it beeds to do to stay in biz..
no matter what people say.. most go with the cheaper part..
and moog sits on the shelf..
most times the moog part isn't instock around here cause everyone uses the china junk as it's cheaper so the parts house isn't carry'n it..
they can get it. but it'll be a day or too..
moog knows this and is slowly being forced to join them.. and get the price points lower. and thet means offshore

[Classic Heartbeat]

Sad but true. This is happening with a lot of stuff that was once made in the USA. The USA manufacturer can not compete with the imports so to remain in business they import their parts too. WES

[Tmwoodall]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

Sad but true. This is happening with a lot of stuff that was once made in the USA. The USA manufacturer can not compete with the imports so to remain in business they import their parts too. WES

So who should be bought now if MOOG can't be trusted?

[leddzepp]

Partsmaster is sold by Star Auto. Made in USA. It is IDENTICAL to Moog. I compared them side by side. Same thing. 1/3 the cost. Glad I saved some $$$.

[Tmwoodall]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Partsmaster is sold by Star Auto. Made in USA. It is IDENTICAL to Moog. I compared them side by side. Same thing. 1/3 the cost. Glad I saved some $$$.

Same seems to be true of the O'reillys brand. However people are saying that the difference is Pot metal vs. Pure steel.

[leddzepp]

No difference in them. I saw them with my own eyes. If they were pot metal, they wouldn't hold up to the stress of driving

[Classic Heartbeat]

So who should be bought now if MOOG can't be trusted?

Not sure. I think I would stay with Moog, because their parts still have to reach their standards.

Partsmaster is sold by Star Auto. Made in USA.

I don't know the brand but if it is true, I sure would look into these. WES

[Wrenchbender Ret]

I put some pitman arm & idler arms on a early 90's Chev. truck & went with the cheaper "house brand". In a year they were all wallered out worse then the originals. From now on I use the top of the line.

[Lee H]

Originally Posted by Tmwoodall

So who should be bought now if MOOG can't be trusted?

Moog can't be trusted, WOW, that from a few posts on a chat site. Not sure I could make that leap.

[Tmwoodall]

Originally Posted by Lee H

Moog can't be trusted, WOW, that from a few posts on a chat site. Not sure I could make that leap.

IF is the keyword there. I was asking to see if others had a strong rec one way or the other.

It is disheartening to see them go from USA only to overseas, and folks seem to be having trouble with them for the last few months. If a vendor like ECE stops supporting them....

With all of that, I'll still be buying MOOG all the way around. My cart is ready to go at RockAuto.com and will be feeding it cc info shortly.

[69sixpackbee]

Yet another instance of " we did it to ourselves". Sad state of affairs that America has fallen into. No recovery in sight unfortunately.

[OhOneWS6]

You can blame it on Wal-Mart and the Internet. Used to be Americans were about quality. Now most are just concerned with what does it cost. There is a bright side though. There are a few companies that are bringing manufacturing back to the states. Supporting companies like these will make a difference.

David McNeil says it very well in recent ads.
http://www.weathertech.com/UserFiles...id_MacNeil.pdf

Farouk (CHI) vowed to move manufacturing to Houston a couple of years ago. I'm not completely sure but I believe they are manufacturing in Houston at this point. Most guys won't know who they are but your wife/GF will. I know because my wife is a hair dresser.
http://www.spatrends.com/spa-news-article.cfm?rID=370

Oh And I did use Moog parts from ECE on my suspension rebuild last year. I had an issue with one tie rod end. Other than that all was good.

[stich626]

ECE dropping moog don't mean crap..
they might be getting a better deal else where so their margins bigger..

[Tmwoodall]

RockAuto/Moog got my business. I ordered it all this evening.

[k5hart]

Originally Posted by Tmwoodall

RockAuto/Moog got my business. I ordered it all this evening.

Me too!

[lil hoodlum]

it is a shame!!

I went to Oreilys this past week for parts to rebuild my rear brakes (drums.) New wheel cylinders, brake hose and drums all house brand BrakeBest and all made in China. When the parts guy brought the stuff out, I asked him if they had another brand as I didn't want made in China crap. He responded, "I wish I could get made in the USA parts. At least the brake shoes, ThermoQuiet made be Wagner, are made in the USA. New shocks for the front are Monroes proudly made in the USA. I did buy the made in China crap but am real unhappy at this point, I haven't started replacing the parts yet as I really don't want to use this junk on my brake system. I am going to try Car Quest or NAPA to see what they have.

I don't mind paying more money for a Made in the USA part! I would rather support American owned companies that employ Americans in our great country!!

Keith

[69heavychevy]

i used to work for oreillys...moog and master pro (house) are NOT the same

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

Not sure. I think I would stay with Moog, because their parts still have to reach their standards.

True statement. All tie rods,ball joints have to pass US Federal Standards and Moog has always exceded these stds. I don't like it anymore then anyone else but its a fact of life. Its all our fault. I would trust moog and we use them all the time. Just cause they outsourced it does not mean they are inferior. I guess if a person is buying a new truck they won't want to when they find out where all the parts came from.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by 69 1/2 Six Pack Bee

Yet another instance of " we did it to ourselves". Sad state of affairs that America has fallen into. No recovery in sight unfortunately.

I agree. My cousin ran a successful body shop in Cleveland Ohio for years in the 60's and 70's. I remember him running off customers who brought in a Japanese made car to be repaired. He was not very nice to them and as a kid he scared me when he got so angry at them.He could not operate that way today he would be out of business. We all buy stuff thats made there. I get a kick out of this forum. Everyone wants usa made parts for their truck then they buy Harbor Freight tools. You see them in the pics posted to.
Can't blame them. It has become a recent upsurge on this subject. We said the same things in the 70's, now 40 years later its "buy usa". too late. These companies are not going to return the mfg. Unless they can use it for marketing purposes to increase sales like the Hair dryer company

[feller]

i will trust moog until nascar says they dont. if a part can stand up to the abuse that they put them through then it is certianly good enough for me. and yes we did it to ourselves and the only solution i can see is to lie in the bed that we have made. now with that being said i have not steped foot inside a wal mart in 3 months so far and am proud of that, mu uncle has not been to a walmart in 2 years!!!!! and i suport him.

[70STOVEBOLT]

I replaced all my front end parts about 3 years ago, bought the parts at Advance Auto. They were selling TRW branded products, which are a Federal Mogul brand, like Moog. When I removed the parts from the boxes, they were all Moog parts. If I would have purchased parts with "Moog" on the box, it would have cost me about 30% more. I hate Walmart too but it's not all their fault, we are the ones who demand a lower price, and that means a sacrifice in quality most times. If you look, you can still find products made in the USA though.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Hoodlum, Carquest has real good brake parts. Thats all I use. As far as I know they are USA made.
When I had a shop I never let a foriegn car in the door & I did OK.

[Shane]

Originally Posted by OhOneWS6

You can blame it on Wal-Mart and the Internet.

Wal-Mart & the internet isn't selling goods to themselves ... that's where the "blame" lies.

[ETsC10]

Easy gents…let’s not get too off topic nor too political here.

I buy Moog from RockAuto, as well, and shall continue to.
As mbgmike pointed out, all of these parts have to adhere to
Federal Safety Standards.