Hey fellas, I haven’t taking my car out of storage yet because the weather here hasn’t decided if it’s winter or spring. I knew last year before I put the car away I was in need of some front end work. I got a bit of noise and play coming from my passenger side front wheel. Side to side. Luckily if everything works out my wife’s cousin is a pretty experienced mechanic when it comes to suspension, brakes, etc. I’d like to buy a kit and have him rebuild the entire front end. I’m wondering your thoughts on this moog kit. I obviously have labor involved so I want something reliable and that will last but don’t have an unlimited budget here. I know I probably should only fix what’s wrong with it. But I’m hoping if I replace most of the wearable parts on both sides it will be problem free for a while. I did also want something that doesn’t look too after market to still retain some of the original appearance. Has anyone tried this kit before. Or is there something better that isn’t to far out of this price range? https://www.opgi.com/chassis-suspen...-a-body-polyurethane-165-lower-rr-poly40.html
MOOG are usually top notch parts, formerly the standard to which others were held. I do know that certain years have two different styles of rear lower bushings, round and oval. and the two do not interchange. In fact it used to be that you had to keep your original outer metal housing! Also SOME vendors thing that because it fits a Chevy A body, then it fits a Buick A body. I note that the comments say it DOES fit 1966-1970 Skylark. I haven't replaced an entire front suspension in quite a few years, but it doesn't hurt to shop around for the same items. Just beware... I installed all rubber bushing on my susension with polyurethane on one of my Turbo Regals about 30 years ago, and that was a horrible mistake for a street driven car. Stick with rubber except on the sway bar bushings...
For something you want a nice ride and cruiser type build go rubber....only issue is new rubber is garbage...last 1/3 at best vs the old rubber..Moog is still the best option. But it's China made now....oriellys has their select/precision suspension line that is made in India..Isreal...Mexico etc....I use it for most everything mostly because I have an account there but it's nice quality an at least it's not China man made
Have you inspected the steering and suspension for worn parts? Why replace something that isn't bad? Any new part, regardless of where it's made or what brand it is will probably fail before the originals. Just replace the parts that are bad. My 1994 Caprice wagon with 160k miles has only had one steering part replaced, a right outer tie rod. I replaced it with a Moog at well over 100k and had to replace it again a few years later.
I put all poly graphite bushings in front end from I think PST (Performance Suspension Technologies) over 25 years ago. I have all original rubber in rear upper control arms and new Moog rubber in the lower control arms.
You can save some money and find better prices on ebay and amazon (on sale), but you have to buy the parts individually. On ebay look for NOS, you might find USA made!
I’m glad I asked. So rubber will be what I’m looking for. The car is pretty much stock so it will only be seeing roads and highways. I haven’t had the entire front end inspected but considering how busy my wife’s cousin gets and hoping that this will be most of the parts that (could) be the next to go I’d feel better just him rebuilding both sides and what ever else he has time for. I’ve had the car for 20 years and I haven’t had to do any front end components. I just feel better if I go through most of it. So I guess the new question would be a kit that is all rubber. But a reputable brand. I just watched some videos on moog vs the common auto part store parts and how superior moog was over them but I wanted your guys opinions that actually wrench and do this regularly or have had to replace the same parts in looking to do. Since Moog doesn’t sound like it lives up to its name anymore. Does anyone else know a kit that is good that won’t break the bank? I went to NAPA and for the same parts minus the pitman (joint/arm), which they could not get. I believe they said that part. It was almost a 1,000$ just in parts as the moog kit. Thanks Mike
Napa quote today. I guess I need to find out if the control arm bushings are round or square. And the only other part that I would need to order from the parts place or OPG is the pitman arm.
My advice here is the always the same- Forget about these kits. Jack the car up and see what's loose. You probably only need one part. Grease/service the rest and you're way ahead of the game. The original GM parts are 100x the quality that they make now, even the moog stuff. It's a waste of time and money to replace anything that isn't loose or worn and a big step back in quality... save your money.
You will have the round bushings Moog isn't what it was....but it's still the industry best option The Proforged from Summit racing are nice looking pieces as well..used them on a chevelle a customer supplied them I wouldn't hesitate to use them on my own vehicle....but you also have to remember...this will be driven what...2k miles a year MAYBE,.....
More like 200 miles . Thank you for the help. I just would like to get everything done at once. I’m over the shop to shop and bringing it back when I should have did it then. I’ve had the car for close to 20 years. Don’t think I’ve put 3,000 miles on it. With the help of some of the members here I’m close to just making sure I have fuel in the tank. I think I still would like to just get a kit and be done with it.
I agree! Yesterday I needed one cotter pin for my inner tie rod, I know the parts store sell the “assortment” in a package, five cotter pins but only one is the right size, I went to the local hardware store and bought five the correct size so I have four spares.
My posture as well. Too many people replace parts because they're "old". The whole car is old. Just replace the worn parts. If the parts still have service life, leave them be. They're way better than anything you'll replace them with
