'03 EB front suspension parts - suppliers/brands to use?

[RichardH]

Hi all-

I have looked and looked, I have never used Rock Auto, but Auto Zone sent me their direction saying they have a better selection. I looked (at Rock Auto) but I hate their website.

I'm looking for the upper control arm/ball joint and lower ball joint.

3 Q's:

- what brands do you recommend?
(I heard Moog and AC Delco are good - please let me know)

- what web site have you ordered from and worked out well?
(limited availability on Amazon, see other brand names I have never heard of)

- I was looking too at some parts at 1AAuto.com (are they any good?)

My mechanic allows me to get the parts and he charges me a very fair flat labor rate.

For S&G's I always call a Firestone to see how they compare/contrast. With my last company we used them for our F-450's, so don't get me wrong...they do good work. They offered a ballpark of about $2,000 parts/labor if this type of work needs to be done.

Please don't think I'm cutting corners, but my last mechanic helped me keep the '01 running in great shape for 4 years.

His labor is $220 and I buy the parts.

Thanks

 

[Adieu]

Amazon or Rockauto are the usual suspects... Motorcraft or Moog parts.

Btw, afaik the front suspension is straight off an F150. Some alternative brands may not be listed as compatible, but they still are. You can use 1AAuto for cross-compatibility lists, check the normal Ford/Motorcraft part, look what years of F150 it lists, then just search for parts for that year F150 instead of Expedition on other sites

2 grand is seriously freaking hilarious. Lol.


PS never use autozone oreilly etc for ANYTHING worth more than a few bucks... they use cheap generic parts at a +150% markup in house brand boxes

 

[RichardH]

Amazon or Rockauto are the usual suspects... Motorcraft or Moog parts.

Btw, afaik the front suspension is straight off an F150. Some alternative brands may not be listed as compatible, but they still are. You can use 1AAuto for cross-compatibility lists, check the normal Ford/Motorcraft part, look what years of F150 it lists, then just search for parts for that year F150 instead of Expedition on other sites

2 grand is seriously freaking hilarious. Lol.


PS never use autozone oreilly etc for ANYTHING worth more than a few bucks... they use cheap generic parts at a +150% markup in house brand boxes

Thanks.

I have bought some ceramic brake pads and windshield cleaner from AZ. Also use AZ for code check, then go shopping for parts elsewhere.

I'll call 1AAuto back tomorrow to see if there are any other kits available as you mentioned for the F150 and see if they are cross compatible. Makes sense.

Lol about Firestone, I'd go Code Brown likely if I called a dealership for these repairs/costs.

I'll give Rock Auto another shot, along with google search for Motorcraft parts. I looked and could not find a phone # for Rock though.

Appreciate it.

 

[Adieu]

Thanks.

I have bought some ceramic brake pads and windshield cleaner from AZ. Also use AZ for code check, then go shopping for parts elsewhere.

I'll call 1AAuto back tomorrow to see if there are any other kits available as you mentioned for the F150 and see if they are cross compatible. Makes sense.

Lol about Firestone, I'd go Code Brown likely if I called a dealership for these repairs/costs.

I'll give Rock Auto another shot, along with google search for Motorcraft parts. I looked and could not find a phone # for Rock though.

Appreciate it.

Phone number?

Shit, it's the digital age, nobody employs helpful people with passable reading comprehension anymore

Just search up the part, scroll down, and look

 

[RichardH]

Lol, did that angle.

Some maybe more reputable companies still offer live people. One example is my credit union and another CC company - 24/7 live support - within seconds usually.

 

[riverside]

When you are first shopping on the site, Rock Auto seems great, until you get to the checkout stage. When I was ordering parts for doing head gaskets and a few other things on my Dodge Ram they were going to ship from FIVE separate warehouses, with each charging their own shipping fees, the shipping charges were going to be over $100 for $500 worth of parts. I have used them since for a item or two but for big orders you will likely have the same situation I did.

 

[bigdogchrisl]

Sorry guys, been trolling for 60 days or so, just picked up an amazing 04 Expy EB. 167K on the clock, 5.4l 2v. New tranny 4 months ago.
There are 2 issues - AC doesn't work and radiator support is TOAST.
New support in, I hate it. I have a welder - I'm gonna fab my own. I'll post some pics.
AC is just a shot condenser and high pressure line.
But, I'm posting this here because all my parts came from RockAuto - yes, it can ship from a billion warehouses if your parts "matching" is all over the board. Sometimes you don't have a choice, but you cant buy a Bang & Olufsen stereo and Pioneer speakers and expect them to ship from the same place. I'm exaggerating to make a point - but I work on a LOT of different vehicles and as long as you're not going exotic I've NEVER paid more than $60 for shipping - but that was due to weight.

I also have a take off on the Gotts Mod - like the radio support, I just hated what was there.

I'm looking forward to making this Expy all that I want!


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[RichardH]

Good luck to both above, thanks for the feedback.

I guess I'll take another look at Rock Auto.

 

[the bus]

I did my 04 .. if I did it again. I would use all higher quality mevotech parts from Rock auto.moog is not the moog of the past imo. and do the swaybar links while you are in there too. I had issues with the upper arm and actually mine uses an 03 based on build dates. Moog had no clue when I called tech support. Motorcraft part look up saved me. Next is an alignment. Make sure you witness mark everything and put it back where you found it. This is not the best way since it should be preloaded but an alignment will be a bear with new parts. The stealership tried to tell me they had to redo and install cam bolts. So I told them to loosen it up and use a large pry bar and extra one hour of tech time. As for tools ... I got a loner kit from advanced Auto. I needed a pickle fork for the lower ball joint.

 

[the bus]

And with the age salt and 2 different metals, I could not get the lower ball joint out and i swapped the whole lower arm.

 

[SEPTIC PROFESSOR]

Dude, why don't you just take it to the nearest Ford dealer, they have guys there who can get the parts and install them for half of what non-brand repair shops can dude.

 

[bigdadbear]

The Overall Best Parts supplier, both Price and Service is Auto Parts Warehouse---they carry Aftermarket and OEM parts
Contact them at PHONE 801-214-2997

Go with Moog or Motorcraft-- Good luck--Bigdadbear

 

[TobyU]

You all know that Moog is pretty much cheap chinese too now????

People still paying for the brand name.
I buy the house brand lifetime warranty at O'Reilly Auto Parts or Advance.
You can go to Napa if it makes you feel better. I will make your wallet lighter.

I have never had a front end suspension part I replaced ever have to be replaced again and some cars I have had 7-10 years after replacement.

I don't see the need or the appeal to buy anything more expensive or perceived/claimed higher quality.
I don't often buy online as I consider any warranty online to be at purchase time only.
In 2-7 years when I may need a replacement, I doubt it will be quick, smooth and painless to get a warranty- IF at all.
I know that my local store will hand me a new one.

 

[Adieu]

You all know that Moog is pretty much cheap chinese too now????

People still paying for the brand name.
I buy the house brand lifetime warranty at O'Reilly Auto Parts or Advance.
You can go to Napa if it makes you feel better. I will make your wallet lighter.

I have never had a front end suspension part I replaced ever have to be replaced again and some cars I have had 7-10 years after replacement.

I don't see the need or the appeal to buy anything more expensive or perceived/claimed higher quality.
I don't often buy online as I consider any warranty online to be at purchase time only.
In 2-7 years when I may need a replacement, I doubt it will be quick, smooth and painless to get a warranty- IF at all.
I know that my local store will hand me a new one.

Because house brands are eye-wateringly expensive, that's why

 

[RichardH]

What about AAuto.com? SW them and it is not private labeled - they claim they make their own...

 

[bigdogchrisl]

Yet another reason I like RockAuto.com - I can choose Rancho or Gebriel but also can chose Motocraft, FCS or Monroe. They classify daily driver parts, performance, economy priced, OE or luxury.

I just appreciate the choices given and options, letting ME chose.

You can shop for you Lexus and Accura parts and pay $$$ or shop Toyota and Honda and get the same part for $.
Why the cost difference? Believe it or not, there are folks out there believe that if they are not paying more, it's cheaper quality.


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[TobyU]

Because house brands are eye-wateringly expensive, that's why

I noticed your other post about a huge markup on house Brands but I don't see this to be the case. The only way I can get cheaper Parts than the house brands in my area would be to order cheap stuff from RockAuto or eBay. I bought a ball joint 3 to 4 years ago for my town car and it was under $9 for an upper ball joint. That was their house brand. I bought and upper control arm which has the ball joints and the bushing for a 2000 Expedition and it was $34.
I certainly don't think those prices are eye-wateringly expensive unless you were being sarcastic.
Some things there is a bigger price gap especially versus online. I recently priced a lower control arm for a trailblazer and online I believe I could have saved about 20 to $25 vs buying locally. This is on about a $90 part. So that's not a huge markup but I would much rather have Parts like this from a local place I can swap them out same day if I need to.
I just see so many people online talking about buying Motorcraft and Moog or Raybestos brake parts and spending twice as much or more because they feel like they're getting higher quality. Today, more times than not this is not really the case.

 

[Adieu]

Ball joints, maybe

Once it's full control arms, they often want original part money or more

 

[TobyU]

I haven't noticed that on the ones I've been pricing or buying but you are correct and you have to be very careful. Everyone should be well aware of what their options are.
Many times people just buy whatever brand or the house plan because they assume it will be the cheapest for the best deal. It might only be $2 cheaper and something else so that would not be the best deal. Also it is alarming how the parts stores I started to crank the prices up over the past 10 years went online sales are taking over. They're really nuts. I guess they figured the impatient people who have to fix the same day and just not willing to order online are going to pad their pockets for the rest of time and I think they're dinosaurs that are in their last days.

 

[Cooper]

I haven't noticed that on the ones I've been pricing or buying but you are correct and you have to be very careful. Everyone should be well aware of what their options are.
Many times people just buy whatever brand or the house plan because they assume it will be the cheapest for the best deal. It might only be $2 cheaper and something else so that would not be the best deal. Also it is alarming how the parts stores I started to crank the prices up over the past 10 years went online sales are taking over. They're really nuts. I guess they figured the impatient people who have to fix the same day and just not willing to order online are going to pad their pockets for the rest of time and I think they're dinosaurs that are in their last days.

As long as their are people fixing their own vehicles there will be parts stores. Also, as long as vehicles are being made there will be junkyards selling parts.
But you can called the the perpetual dinosaur.