Which brand for Ball joints and Tie rods? - Infamous Nissan

PFDSA · 09-01-2021, 06:12 AM

Hi everyone.

Need to replace the upper/lower ball joints, as well as the tie rods.
Since OEM is crazy expensive (around 600 usd), been looking around for alternatives.
All these brands have very similar prices (around 200 usd for the 8 parts including shipping):
-Blue Print;
-Delphi;
-CTR;
-Febi Bilstein.

And then there's "555 sankei" which I know that is an excellent brand, but costs an extra 50 usd (around 250 usd in total for the 4 parts).

Anyone ever used these brands in their 4WD D21?
I'm in Japan, so don't have access to MOOG parts or other brands.

Update:
Ended up ordering Mevotech supreme ball joints from Rockauto and had a terrible experience, so be aware. First of all, one of the lower ball joints had a damaged thread, which Rockauto sent me a replacement for.
Regarding the upper ball joints, they sent me wrong ones. The box has the correct part number (MK9022), but inside there's a different upper ball joint with the part number ZK9022ON on the plastic wrap. Sent 4 e-mail tickets to rockauto, which they kept closing, and they won't refund me for the shipping, even though they clearly sent me the wrong parts!! Sent an email to Mevotech, and they said that indeed it is the wrong part, that the part number of the part that I got is GK9022. However in the plastic wrap says ZK9022. Conclusion: have 2 part numbers and neither are the one that I ordered and paid for. Looked up that part number (ZK9022) online and nothing shows up, so there's no way to tell if this part number even exists. Don't know if had bad luck but be aware of both Mevotech and Rockauto.

Update 2: Rockauto kept trying to make a fool out of me until the very end. 5 minutes after I opened a dispute on Paypal they sent me an e-mail saying "Rockauto cannot take further action until you close the dispute with Paypal and provide documentation showing that the dispute was canceled. After that we will review the matter further". Ah, good try. If I close the dispute with Paypal it's impossible to re-open it.
After proceeding with the dispute on Paypal they kept refusing to pay for the shipping (both original and return shipping), so Paypal itself agreed to pay for both the 2 upper ball joints as well as for the shipping and I dont need to return the parts. Great customer service from Paypal.

LugNut1990 · 09-01-2021, 11:15 AM

Are you looking at RockAuto? They likely can ship to there. Won't be cheap, though.

rbourgeo · 09-01-2021, 06:13 PM

Delphi is the only brand I recognize. Usually pretty good

Shipping to Japan from rock auto didn’t look too bad…. Certainly better than $200 shipping for 4 ball joints.

SBJ · 09-01-2021, 06:45 PM

I've had pretty good luck with mevotech parts.

Datsunbox · 09-01-2021, 08:20 PM

PROFORGED BALL JOINTS. www.holley.com

89'HBV6 · 09-01-2021, 09:25 PM

GUYS.. He's in Japan! Consider this when responding.

PFDSA · 09-01-2021, 11:31 PM

Sorry guys, should have said that I'm in Japan.
Took a look at Rock Auto and turns out that buying the 4 ball joints and the 4 tie rods, including the shipping, its actually cheaper. Around 167 usd for the 8 parts including the shipping (Mevotech Supreme).

If I was to buy from RockAuto, which brand would be the best?

89'HBV6 · 09-01-2021, 11:34 PM

Have you contacted Holley or MOOG to see if they can supply you quality... once! Don't want to ship back the wrong parts!

Deerhurst · 09-02-2021, 12:05 AM

I have Moog in my truck but I've heard some of their stuff has let quality slip.

alabama_lowlife · 09-02-2021, 12:17 AM

Stay away from moog. Proforged is the best I’ve seen

09-01-2021, 06:12 AM	#1
PFDSA Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Japan Posts: 90 Vehicle: 1988 4x4 D21 Crew cab Diesel Thanks: 101 Thanked 22 Times in 15 Posts	Which brand for Ball joints and Tie rods? Hi everyone. Need to replace the upper/lower ball joints, as well as the tie rods. Since OEM is crazy expensive (around 600 usd), been looking around for alternatives. All these brands have very similar prices (around 200 usd for the 8 parts including shipping): -Blue Print; -Delphi; -CTR; -Febi Bilstein. And then there's "555 sankei" which I know that is an excellent brand, but costs an extra 50 usd (around 250 usd in total for the 4 parts). Anyone ever used these brands in their 4WD D21? I'm in Japan, so don't have access to MOOG parts or other brands. Update: Ended up ordering Mevotech supreme ball joints from Rockauto and had a terrible experience, so be aware. First of all, one of the lower ball joints had a damaged thread, which Rockauto sent me a replacement for. Regarding the upper ball joints, they sent me wrong ones. The box has the correct part number (MK9022), but inside there's a different upper ball joint with the part number ZK9022ON on the plastic wrap. Sent 4 e-mail tickets to rockauto, which they kept closing, and they won't refund me for the shipping, even though they clearly sent me the wrong parts!! Sent an email to Mevotech, and they said that indeed it is the wrong part, that the part number of the part that I got is GK9022. However in the plastic wrap says ZK9022. Conclusion: have 2 part numbers and neither are the one that I ordered and paid for. Looked up that part number (ZK9022) online and nothing shows up, so there's no way to tell if this part number even exists. Don't know if had bad luck but be aware of both Mevotech and Rockauto. Update 2: Rockauto kept trying to make a fool out of me until the very end. 5 minutes after I opened a dispute on Paypal they sent me an e-mail saying "Rockauto cannot take further action until you close the dispute with Paypal and provide documentation showing that the dispute was canceled. After that we will review the matter further". Ah, good try. If I close the dispute with Paypal it's impossible to re-open it. After proceeding with the dispute on Paypal they kept refusing to pay for the shipping (both original and return shipping), so Paypal itself agreed to pay for both the 2 upper ball joints as well as for the shipping and I dont need to return the parts. Great customer service from Paypal. __________________ Current: '88 D21 AD 4x4 Crew cab TD23 Diesel (MT) Past: '90 BMW Z3 1.9 (AT) / '03 Toyota Yaris 1.0 (AT) '90 Renault 19 1.2 (MT)/ '02 Seat Ibiza 1.6 (MT) Last edited by PFDSA; 09-15-2021 at 07:58 AM. Reason: grammar

09-01-2021, 11:15 AM	#2
LugNut1990 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: N.E. Kansas Posts: 915 Vehicle: 1990 Nissan Hardbody Thanks: 0 Thanked 138 Times in 119 Posts	Are you looking at RockAuto? They likely can ship to there. Won't be cheap, though. __________________ Original owner 1990 Nissan Hardbody, Aztec Red Standard cab, 4x4, KA24E, 5-speed Intentionally near-stock Mods: Second OEM horn, stereo/speakers/sub, mud and snow tires, HD trailer hitch (cat 3+), liquid bed liner, G1W dashcam Definitely not for sale!

09-01-2021, 11:31 PM	#7
PFDSA Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Japan Posts: 90 Vehicle: 1988 4x4 D21 Crew cab Diesel Thanks: 101 Thanked 22 Times in 15 Posts	Sorry guys, should have said that I'm in Japan. Took a look at Rock Auto and turns out that buying the 4 ball joints and the 4 tie rods, including the shipping, its actually cheaper. Around 167 usd for the 8 parts including the shipping (Mevotech Supreme). If I was to buy from RockAuto, which brand would be the best? __________________ Current: '88 D21 AD 4x4 Crew cab TD23 Diesel (MT) Past: '90 BMW Z3 1.9 (AT) / '03 Toyota Yaris 1.0 (AT) '90 Renault 19 1.2 (MT)/ '02 Seat Ibiza 1.6 (MT) Last edited by PFDSA; 09-02-2021 at 05:05 AM.

09-02-2021, 12:05 AM	#9
Deerhurst 4/86 SE-V6 2 tone 4x4 HB Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 8,049 Vehicle: 1986.5 SE-V6 4WD D21, 2003 Audi A4 Avant 3.0 Quattro Thanks: 917 Thanked 1,082 Times in 977 Posts	I have Moog in my truck but I've heard some of their stuff has let quality slip. __________________ 1986.5 SE-V6 4X4 D21 Hardbody Pacesetter Long Tube Headers Morimoto Mini D2S HID Projectors and Hella 500s VG33i

09-02-2021, 12:17 AM	#10
alabama_lowlife Owner and Administrator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: jack, alabama Age: 42 Posts: 10,790 Vehicle: 2012 370Z, 1970 Datsun 521, 1995 Nissan Hardbody x2 Thanks: 1,094 Thanked 2,227 Times in 1,828 Posts	Stay away from moog. Proforged is the best I’ve seen __________________

09-01-2021, 06:13 PM	#3
rbourgeo Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 171 Vehicle: 1996 D21 Thanks: 55 Thanked 37 Times in 27 Posts	Delphi is the only brand I recognize. Usually pretty good Shipping to Japan from rock auto didn’t look too bad…. Certainly better than $200 shipping for 4 ball joints.

09-01-2021, 06:45 PM	#4
SBJ Total Buzzkill Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: OR Posts: 3,108 Vehicle: '90 D21 4cyl 5spd 2wd Thanks: 347 Thanked 593 Times in 527 Posts	I've had pretty good luck with mevotech parts.

09-01-2021, 08:20 PM	#5
Datsunbox Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: FL Posts: 93 Vehicle: Nissan D21(1992) Nissan D22(2003) Thanks: 16 Thanked 17 Times in 15 Posts	PROFORGED BALL JOINTS. www.holley.com

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