# Shopping for steering/suspension parts **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** protege, mazda\ **Created:** [June 7, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541 "2022-06-07T17:07:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mystic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mystic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mystic)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/1 "2022-06-07T17:07:02Z")
My car has 220k miles under it’s belt (no pun intended) and is due for new ball joints, tie rod ends and probably a few other front end components. OEM parts cost a fortune and would probably take a long time to be delivered. Moogs parts look good but are also very expensive. I found several different 6 piece kits on ebay but they seem too good to be true. One of these kits costs as much as just one Moogs ball joint and about $20 less than a single OEM ball joint from Mazda. So for about $50 bucks I can get two outer tie rod ends, two sway bar links and two lower ball joints. My concern is that these bargain parts won’t be exactly to spec making a proper front end alignment impossible. So do you guys know anything about these inexpensive ebay kits? Would I be wise to steer away (again, no pun intended) from these? The car still runs really well and I plan to keep driving it for several more years. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/2 "2022-06-07T17:13:55Z")
> [@mystic](#): > > So for about $50 bucks I can get two outer tie rod ends, two sway bar links and two lower ball joints. RUN AWAY. Buy quality parts, these are critical. ---
**Author:** ![mystic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mystic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mystic)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/3 "2022-06-07T17:25:21Z")
Do you know how to find out the OE manufacturer of these parts? Because if I could bypass Mazda and just buy them as aftermarket… ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/4 "2022-06-07T17:29:21Z")
Go to a local parts store, and ask for these parts that meets or exceeds the OEM specifications. Tester ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/5 "2022-06-07T17:33:39Z")
I just replaced my tie rod ends with oem. They are quite substantial. Years ago I had a tie rod end break on the freeway. It was a one.year old mood part. It snapped apart. Parts made by who knows, may look nice but you will never know the metallurgy of the part or X-ray it for hidden flaws. Try rock for good parts at a reasonable cost. Broken suspension parts at 70 mph are fun. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 6:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/6 "2022-06-07T18:57:58Z")
> [@mystic](#): > > The car still runs really well and I plan to keep driving it for several more years. If that is the case I would try to use the best parts possible and not the cheapest parts possible. Stick with name brand parts. I’ve seen too many cheap front end parts worn within a couple of years to consider trying them on my own car. ---
**Author:** ![mystic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mystic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mystic)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/7 "2022-06-07T19:30:43Z")
Alright, I feel better now. I just ordered AutoZone’s top of the line tie rod ends. A weird brand (Rare Parts) I’ve never heard of but watched a youtube video about the company and they look like a good solid company. And for the ball joints I ordered Moogs Problem Solvers. Grand total: $180. I’ll be doing this job myself so even with the pricier parts I’m sure I’ll still save hundreds of dollars. So just out of curiosity, what do you guys estimate a shop would charge for parts/labor considering equal quality parts used? ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/8 "2022-06-09T15:36:22Z")
Rare Parts are fine. I’ve used them with no issues. As for what a shop would charge that is difficult to say as there are so many variables. Locale makes a huge difference, shop markup percentage on the parts, local taxes (10% here) enviro fees, etc, etc. could mean that one place can be double what another charges. That needs to be priced locally. Repair Pal offers some estimates but I consider them a bit iffy. You need to factor in a wheel alignment after that work is completed. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/9 "2022-06-09T23:02:00Z")
> [@mystic](#): > > estimate a shop would charge for parts/labor considering equal quality parts used? Protege’s model year? ---
**Author:** ![mystic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mystic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mystic)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/10 "2022-06-09T23:07:12Z")
It’s a 1998 ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/shopping-for-steering-suspension-parts/184541/11 "2022-06-09T23:12:56Z")
Front suspension, lower ball joint, about $80 each. A little less than 2 hours labor to replace ball joint both sides.