3rd Gen / L98 Engine Tech 1982 - 1992 Engine Related

Ball Joints... are they all the same?

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Old 03-26-2010, 03:57 PM
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Question Ball Joints... are they all the same?

Hi,

I have bad ball joints on my '91 Z28 with 150k miles on it. I was wondering if there is any noticable difference between regular autozone variety ball joints or "performance" ball joints.

I only use my ride for street cruising, so I'm not worried about drag/strip abuse.

Also if I'm changing out the ball joints, is there anything else I should think about replacing? The tie-rods and centerlink are more than likely the original. But I have already changed out the steering box and idler arm.

Thanks,
Jeff
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Old 03-26-2010, 11:28 PM
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I bought my ball joints for my 91 z-28 ( 350 ) from advance auto parts about 3 years ago. They also offered two grades of them and I asked them to show me both before I bought them. The cheaper one was around $18 and it had no grease fitting. The performance one was $24 with a grease fitting. Other than the grease fitting I did not really see a difference. I did spend the extra money and went with the greasable ones. When I rebuilt my front end I changed the ball joints, tie rods, centerlink, idler arm, stabilizers, struts and strut mounts. After all was done the front was also aligned.
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Old 03-27-2010, 02:32 AM
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after replacing front end parts in most everything i own and a friends car, i would go with MOOG and only MOOG. they cost a tad more but are a much better part. i highly sugguest aganst the PST brand parts you see on the back of the mags. i strayed ONCE and will never do that again.

i had a tie rod pop apart on me on my 89 and when i took my front end apart to look at my ball joints to pop in my drop springs i didnt like the condition of my ball joints from PST and out they came for MOOG joints.

on my 83 i have MOOG hard parts and energy suspinsion soft parts, that car is tight as a snare drum. and that front end went together in the mid 90s!!
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Old 03-27-2010, 06:46 AM
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I have 87 IROC-Z and replaced all my front steering parts including ball joints.
I went with the Spohn Performance front end kit, it was one stop shopping & received quality parts that fit a 3rd Gen car. None of this it will work reply from some parts stores.
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