Brand names mean squat today when it comes to getting "quality" parts..Dana / Spicer,TRW,Moog,McQuay-Norris used to be revered as "the best",but lately its a crap shoot..
Moog has been getting a lot of complaints for early failures ,many shops I know no longer are willing to pay more to get them ,when the parts don't hold up long,some claim the cheap ones in unmarked boxes outlive them and probably came from the same factory in China..no better (maybe worse) than house brands like Duralast or NAPA/Balkamp or the dozen or more "no name"ones or brands you never heard of..
Dodge Durango's and later model GM pickups eat ball joints rapidly,my friend replaces a few sets a month on those vehicles,the shop up the road from him does auto inspections and has outrageous labor charges,they find a loose tie rod end or ball joint they want $200 to replace them,and their mechanics are not too swift,so the manager sends the customer to my friend,he does the repair,for about half the cost ,the shop that does inspections in return gets customers sent to them when my friend has one that needs a inspection sticker..
