We have had good success with qa1 and fk rod ends and even within those brands there is a wide spectrum of features and prices.
Tie rod end vs ball joint.
Self lubricating rod ends and stainless steel rod ends both can be ideal for low to moderate load applications where parts lubrication is not desirable.
Proforged tall ball joints utilize forged sae4135 chromoly ball studs and forged sae1045 housings which feature a virtually rustproof black electrocoating e coating for durability and great looks.
Tie rod end ball joints on the other hand are more tolerant of wear.
Mevotech supreme rods are cheaper and do the job pretty fine.
Inner tie rod ends found on steering racks should be tested for excess wear by listening.
Both brands are similar in terms of pricing durability and ease of installation.
I ll talk about these and more but let s first start with the ball joints.
Ball joints tie rod ends.
With a ball joint at the top of the shank these rod ends pivot in the middle of the body instead of in the eyelet.
Spherical rod ends also known as heim joints from grainger allow pivoting in the housing to help compensate for misalignment in industrial applications.
Your vehicle s ball joint allows for movement in every direction as your suspension compresses and rebounds while your tie rod ends essentially turn your wheels.
Proforged tall ball joints correct this issue reversing the camber curve to yield a night and day improvement in handling.
Use them for linear push applications that require movement along the length of the connecting rod.
Ball joints and tie rod ends are vital to your steering system so you need to maintain them with the utmost care.
The biggest win for moog this control arm assembly is a best seller with a reason.
Honestly a tie heh.
The ball joint and suspension system can perform that function independently of the steering system and tie rod ends.
Trw sets the standard within the aftermarket with tests that go beyond the ordinary to ensure every chassis part we produce meets stringent vehicle manufacturer quality standards in line with the original equipment specification.
For eye candy purposes i dig acdelco s golden colored coating but functionally it doesn t change much.
However the tie rod needs the ball joint to support the weight of the vehicle and at the same time allow the front wheels the ability to pivot left and right.