Are MOOG componants marked?

[shadango]

Do MOOG suspension parts (like balljoints) have any markings on them so you know they are real MOOG parts and not just a cheap copy?

[femtnmax]

I bought all new Moog front end parts at Carquest.  The boxes all said Moog, but the parts did not have any markings that I saw.   Before making the purchase, I talked with the ONE local reputable front end shop in town, been in business for close to 50 years...they said they buy Moog all the time and have NOT had any problems.   So I went ahead and bought Moog.  Give them a couple years of use and I will tell you how it works out.
That was one of the benifits of working as a dealership mechanic, you'd see the same car come back 25,000 miles later and you could check your work and how the parts were holding up.

[shadango]

Yeah I am planning on Moogs myself

Reason I asked is that I saw a lower ball joint on ebay for $30 with shipping (low starting bid, and I was the only bidder, but $15 shipping)...I couldnt resist bidding and I won.

They say its a brand new Moog part in a new box.....no reason to not trust them but it occurred to me that really, someone could put cheap parts into a moog box and charge a premium (yeah I am paranoid.

I bid on the other side too but lost by $.50.   

But at least I save a cool $15 or so on the one.   

Like you said, guess we'll see a few years down the road  LOL

[femtnmax]

On the Moog tie rod ends, 2 of the 4 had the wrong rubber boot/grease zerk package.  You can tell its the wrong boot because when installed the inside knuckle is visible because the boot is not the correct size (too small).  The parts store brought in 4 more of the same part and they had the wrong packaging too.  Must have had a run with parts package shortage.
The correct tie rod has the outer circumference of the tie rod forging machined to accept the boot.  The wrong boot has no machining.  I was able to make the wrong boot work by cutting a notch in the boot with wire cutters and buying correct zerks.

[shadango]

The correct tie rod has the outer circumference of the tie rod forging machined to accept the boot.  The wrong boot has no machining.

Wait.....is the rod itself machined or is the boot???

[femtnmax]

The tie rod is machined to accept a boot that has a stiff collar built into it.  The collar helps the boot stay firmly attached to the tie rod.  Just thought I'd point it out so you could try to get the best tie rod ends.
I ended up with 3 good ones and one I had to modify, but even the modified one should be ok.

[shadango]

Was planning on buying them from rock auto, online.....

But now that you said this I am wondering if I should bite the bullet bigtime and buy local so I can see the parts and refuse?

[shadango]

Well, got my box of Moog parts from Rock Auto today!



I also got the one lower balljoint I bought off of a seller on ebay, which came in a Moog box with some instructions that looked old and a paper packet with a self tapping zerk and cotter pin....although no nut.

So first thing I did was inventory the Rock Auto box then I went for the other lower balljoint.

Neither are marked Moog anywhere....though every other part I bought DOES say moog...go figure..

The two look really different in the details...color, grease boot style, how the part is cut/forged, the stud.......ShoudlI just assume this is due to the ebay part most likely being a lot older? The instructions look ancient. LOL

Ebay Moog:






Rock Auto Moog:

[Chryco Psycho]

I think the tie rods have the Moog marked on the steel plate the grease nipple threads into
 the lower ball joint would be hard to tell either way , if they are made in Mexico now the casting could be very different from an older US made part

[shadango]

I am not going to worry about it....although it would be nice for both sides to "match", no one will ever really know.....LOL....