Autozone - lower control arms with lifetime warranty - Made in japan or perhaps china

[Murdertalon]

I thought I would share this gem of knowledge I picked up today looking for lower control arms at autozone. First they offer lifetime warranty lower control arms NICE!
Second, you should be aware of something. The duralast lower control arms PN's:
FA4077, FA4078

Come from either japan or china. The black ones come from china, the silver ones come from japan (no idea why they are different colors but they are). The build quality is noticeably better on the under stamping of the ball joint for the made in japan ones.

The nice thing is whenever you wear them out within reason you can take them in and exchange them for free for new ones. The down side is I don't know if the future supplier is going to be japan or china. You can probably guess that its going to be china. I almost ended up with one of each had I not inspected them closer than; huh two different colors that's weird. If I end up having to use china ones in the future that's alright as they will still carry a warranty.

 

[dexterholland04]

Got any pictures?

 

[knochgoon24]

When I worked there, I saw a mix of Moog, TRW, 555, and no-named parts boxed up as "Duralast". It was really hit and miss. As you see, they often have multiple suppliers for the same parts, shelved at the same time.

On the rare occasion, something would come through as an OEM part re-boxed. But that was more common with electrical parts/sensors.

You can sometimes try and match manufacturers using a 3rd party. Sometimes it makes me feel a bit more confident in the part; other times, the exact opposite.
Looks like MOOG sells one that's silver painted. http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=418798&cc=1103252&jsn=382

 

[Murdertalon]

When I worked there, I saw a mix of Moog, TRW, 555, and no-named parts boxed up as "Duralast". It was really hit and miss. As you see, they often have multiple suppliers for the same parts, shelved at the same time.

On the rare occasion, something would come through as an OEM part re-boxed. But that was more common with electrical parts/sensors.

You can sometimes try and match manufacturers using a 3rd party. Sometimes it makes me feel a bit more confident in the part; other times, the exact opposite.
Looks like MOOG sells one that's silver painted. http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=418798&cc=1103252&jsn=382

The moog one is definitely the same ones I got from autozone's (had to go to 2 and look through parts). Its stamped mad in japan / 555 on the bottom, but looks like the one in that picture. The other that is similar looking, but black in color there was no polished lip on the bottom of the press in for the ball joint.

 

[PlanZero]

The silver moogs rust like crazy. Paint em with some rustoleum first.
If you search part numbers on eBay you can actually find OEM new old stock from Chrysler and mitsu dealers, especially for the lateral arms since there was a recall and tons of them floating around out there. The last four I bought cost under $30 each shipped. Lifetime warranties are on most part store products because they fail more often than not. I don't like taking chances on suspension parts separating at over 100mph. Stay away from dorman arms which many parts stores sell. There was a review on here about their inferior welds.

 

[Murdertalon]

The silver moogs rust like crazy. Paint em with some rustoleum first. I don't like taking chances on suspension parts separating at over 100mph. Stay away from dorman arms which many parts stores sell. There was a review on here about their inferior welds.

Thanks, I appreciate the input. I will probably paint them with the epoxy based paint I just picked up and sprayed my used eibach pro kit springs with tonight. Not sure how they will like that later if I have to do a warranty thing, or maybe they wont care.

Pretty sure the ones in my car are the same ones from factory. Both sides have developed play one you can now hear when it shifts over a pot hole. Not driving the car further until I change them out.

I know pretty well what can happen if a ball joint decides to let go at speed. I've had two friends that had it happen at low speeds both were lucky. One was taking a turn in a small toyota pickup (slowed for a trun) bumped curb, then had a sideways tire and a tow bill. The other was in a corolla (the larger older style 4th gen) luckily he was in a parking lot going 10mph, scared him pretty good. If you have one let go at 60mph might be in for a roll over or ripping a chunk of your car apart.