TwoFaced

Recently had a curb to wheel suspension disaster after a hydroplane.

New subframe is on the way, it and my upper control arm were both bent. Nothing really crazy but enough to where my wheel sets back in the wheel about an inch farther than it should. Tie rods are shot as well as ball joints *not directly related to this incident* This causes my tire to rub the inner well when going over hefty bumps.

I have an 00 civic with the y8 still in, dropped about 2.25 inches on springs and new struts.

I'm really tight on money had no option really but to order one of those all in one suspension overhaul kits on ebay. It was about 75 shipped and came with new UCAs, upper and lower ball, tie rod inner and outer, and sway bar bushings kit.

The brand is called " OE brand". Since this is a pretty generic name it's hard to find a review for it. Has anybody that works at a parts store, or in general had any experience with this brand?

I ask because I plan on replacing these parts with better parts when the money is avail, I'm just wondering where I should set it on my priorities list. I want to know if these things will last a couple of months or is it like a next immediate chance I get replace these before my car takes a dump kinda thing.

Thanks in advance.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Never heard of this as a "brand" per se but I think you should be okay for the very short term.

TwoFaced

^ Yeah lol. The brand name is OE Brand...they have a cheesy logo and all.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/honda/oe-br...4m33j1s11.jcwx

That's just some random part showing the logo.

The UCAs actually feel a little bit beefier than my current ones, which I assume are OEM. I am second owner though so who knows.

No matter what they're in better shape than what I have now. Inner tie rods just fall down if they aren't supported. I got ES steering rack and shifter bushings though. I can replace ball joints easily but steering rack, I don't want to pull my subframe twice.

SeanK325

It's kind of like saying OE Spec, but you know it's not quite as good as OE. If you're strapped on cash, do what you got to do, but know that it's not going to last you very long before the 'ish hits the fan again.

94EG8

Pretty much. Aftermarket ball joints, especially the really cheap ones tend to last 4 - 6 months before they go bad. Which IMO is absolutely ridiculous. But it gives you 4 - 6 months to come up with money for good stuff if that's the situation you're in.

D Griff

True... I had the "OE Brand," I got them at Autozone or Advance Auto. They made it about six months. It's not worth the cheap price to have to crawl under the car and do that job twice a year.

TwoFaced

^ Thanks for all the positive input guys...4-6 months will be no problem...like I said strapped on cash and I have to make a trip to San Antone at the end of this month.

555's on the tie rods first then I guess moog on the ball's when I get a chance and then an ES kit on the sway bar links.

94EG8

I've got no problem with three five tie rod ends, but OEM Honda ball joints are really, really hard to beat.

TwoFaced

^ really? There's alot of hype for the moog stuff around here. Alot of guys swear by them.

Would you happen to know off-hand how much the OEM ones cost, estimated?

94EG8

A lot of guys like Moog, and while I don't have any real data to say OEM is better i'm still willing to put money on them lasting longer. I had to replace my first lower ball joint at 290,000kms, other side went bad at 316,000kms. Have 368,000kms (220,800 miles) on it now still have the original upper ball joints and inner and outer tie rod ends on it, no play or seizing yet and I drive on some pretty rough roads.

51220-S04-003 JOINT, BALL (LOWER) (MUSASHI)

US List price $52.28 BK Honda sells them for $39.21 each. Majestic Honda is probably a couple of dollars cheaper again.