To start with, I agree with what both Roger & "pdooley" have to say.

It's great to have those nice original factory parts, hard-to-beat. Problem is, that many (but not all) first rate installer/repair shops will usually be hesitant or down right refuse to install customer provided parts, especially those of a suspension, drivetrain or brakes nature, usually because of insurance/liability/warranty and that has to be taken into consideration. I don't take my California Eggs and Farmer John Bacon to the local Denny's every Saturday for them to cook, I use what they provide. OK, that's an apples and oranges thing, but you get what I mean, right? That said, I know of several shops that will install customer provided parts - some will warranty their work and some won't unless you accept the parts they provide. Hey, they're looking out for their neck, just like you're looking out for yours.

The product line your mechanic mentioned is actually called Moog. Moog Suspension Parts are a quality line that is sourced from OEMs (they're very picky about what they source out of Asia for the Japanese Suspension part of their line) and go back over 50 years in outstanding quality. I use to sell Moog Suspension Parts in my line up for the hard-to-find Type 3 Notchback/Squareback items of the sixties and as well as for many domestic vehicles before I had my own biz. That's reaching back 30 years. I'd be willing to bet the Moog Ball Joints are OE in the Moog Box. Ditto on the bushings.

The statement made of "rubber is rubber" could be taken as from someone who doesn't know what they're talking about and in most cases rightly so. I'm not there to actually hear the whole conversation that Dave had with the mechanic, so I would figure the mechanic is making an off-hand remark that doesn't impress "pdooley" and rightly so because different people have different reactions to a statement. And "pdooley" is right in stating there is some real junk out there floating around - in most cases it's called "counterfeit" parts and that can prove to be dangerous. There are two areas I don't scrimp or fool around on Steering/Suspension and Brakes.

In summary though, I would definitely side with Roger on obtaining OE sourced parts from a List Vendor and if Dave can talk his mechanic into installing these parts, that'll be great. The prices quoted by the mechanic seem to be on par with what's charged here locally in Ventura, CA, except the Ball Joints sound a bit on the high side.

YMMV -- Jim Thompson 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria" 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt" 73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise" 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug" oldvolkshome@gmail.com http://www.oldvolkshome.com *********************************** On 4/11/07, Dave Vickery <davevickery@hotmail.com> wrote: > > I brought my syncro in for alignment to a new place (First place a VW > dealer > couldn't get it right). This guys seems trustworthy from a gut reaction. > He is an owner/operator and focuses on 4wd rigs. He said there are some > issues before it can be alignined. About 150K on this Arizona van, > probably > all original stuff up there but van is in great condition overall. > > "Left and right lower ball joints. Left worse than right, but right not > far > behind" $208/pr plus labor > "Upper strut bushings & steering rack bushings, $110 plus labor" I did > see > that those look like dry rotted tires. he said they are very mushy or > lots > of play, don't recall specifics. > Total about $1200 for parts and labor including the alignment. > > I asked about using German parts, he said bushing are rubber so it > wouldn't > make a difference and the ball joints are Moo or Moot brand or something > that sounds like that and he said they are superior to OEM. I asked if he > was confortable working on a vanagon or should I take it to a VW specific > shop. He said it was all pretty straight forward stuff and what he does. > > > Anyone have experience with this or have input before I spend that much $. > > Thanks very much, > Dave in Denver