New part numbers, aka Moog for cheap

[InvisiBill]

I went to the local parts store to get some ball joints the other day. When I asked if the ball joints he gave me prices for were Moogs, he said that Moog makes them for CarQuest. I opened up the boxes and they sure looked like the Moogs I got before (because I'm sure no other ball joints look anything like that =Þ). They had numbers stamped on them also, which looked like the Moog part numbers.

I looked up the stamped numbers, and they weren't the Moog part numbers. However, the Moogs did have the exact same numbers stamped in them as well. Maybe they're the ones that don't pass Moog's QA or something, but I'm pretty convinced that these really are Moog parts. I got an idler arm there recently, and it looked just like the "enhanced design" Moog, but they did also sell a Moog idler arm, so I'm not sure what to think about that.

Anyway, 31314 is the upper ball joint, for $17.96 each. 31032 is the lower at $17.22 each. Got all four for under $75. Compared to $45.79 for K5320 and $43.99 for K5289 at www.rockauto.com...

 

[Nick NY]

THe Idler Arm you used is a Carquest part too?

 

[ParTyBoy]

Re: New part numbers, aka Moog for cheap

I went to the local parts store to get some ball joints the other day. When I asked if the ball joints he gave me prices for were Moogs, he said that Moog makes them for CarQuest. I opened up the boxes and they sure looked like the Moogs I got before (because I'm sure no other ball joints look anything like that =Þ). They had numbers stamped on them also, which looked like the Moog part numbers.

I looked up the stamped numbers, and they weren't the Moog part numbers. However, the Moogs did have the exact same numbers stamped in them as well. Maybe they're the ones that don't pass Moog's QA or something, but I'm pretty convinced that these really are Moog parts. I got an idler arm there recently, and it looked just like the "enhanced design" Moog, but they did also sell a Moog idler arm, so I'm not sure what to think about that.

Anyway, 31314 is the upper ball joint, for $17.96 each. 31032 is the lower at $17.22 each. Got all four for under $75. Compared to $45.79 for K5320 and $43.99 for K5289 at www.rockauto.com...

Yep it's been known that some of carquests parts are just repackaged moog. Don't believe I've ever seen them go that low though.. Think someone at that store messed up because Carquest usually sells a moog part or a part from someone else.. Anytime in the past I've bought balljoints from the local carquest I paid roughly $50-60 per part... Also remember that any carquest part carries a lifetime warranty for the owner.. If it fails you can take it back and exchange the part for a new one...

 

[InvisiBill]

Re: New part numbers, aka Moog for cheap

THe Idler Arm you used is a Carquest part too?

Correct. They sold the Moog for ~$50 and the CarQuest one for ~$20. The CarQuest one had the bigger joint area like in the Moog enhanced design (see SyTyArchives Idler Arm HowTo for details), so I figured it would be just as good as or better than stock at least. Possibly a Moog with a different name on it at best...

Yep it's been known that some of carquests parts are just repackaged moog. Don't believe I've ever seen them go that low though.. Think someone at that store messed up because Carquest usually sells a moog part or a part from someone else.. Anytime in the past I've bought balljoints from the local carquest I paid roughly $50-60 per part... Also remember that any carquest part carries a lifetime warranty for the owner.. If it fails you can take it back and exchange the part for a new one...

Hmmmm, you can order the Moog parts online for ~$50 each from them at www.myautobarn.com but they don't list the CarQuest ones online.

Other people should check into this too. See what the average price for these is or something...

 

[kwick6]

Just went to get these at Carquest

#31314 $14.14 ea
#31032 $13.56 ea

I bought 2 of each, for a total of $58.73

If anyone needs these and can't get them, or wants
to do a GP, I may be able to get a discount on a large order.