Redoing my front end. Was going to do the lower ball joints with the OEM parts but thinking about using Proforged tie rod ends and inners; various forums say they're a quality part. I'd prefer OEM for everything but the inner rods command a PREMIUM price just for one. Anyone have experience with Proforged? They sell them at Jegs/Summitt/Amazon for a decent price.
Anyone hear of Proforged parts?
- Thread starter yakobo75
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Hmm...after reading some threads in regards to Proforged ball joints for other vehicles, (Chevy S10 and various muscle cars), I may even be inclined to run the Proforged lower ball joints...supposedly, they have never had a joint fail or any type of warranty work returned....also a 1 million mile warranty; even though we all know that type of hype never holds water.
nodixe
New member
I was going to create new thread asking about this. I just replaced sway bar end links and I am looking at replacing in/out tre and up/lo ball joints was looking for something strong/beefy. Are the oem parts really the best? For end links I found some good ones at wabfab com and for the ubj's I have heard that uca with uniball is better than oem but nothing for tre's or lbj's till now. Does anybody aftermarket lca and/or lbj's or anybody have any other suggestions?
In regards as to where Proforged parts are manufactured...
There are a few countries that produce the majority of steering parts these days: India, Turkey, China, and Taiwan. Some are still produced in the US and Canada, but mostly they come from overseas or are marked as "Assembled in USA."
For the most part, the quality coming out of India, Turkey, and China ranges from pretty low to downright scary - there are a lot of quality control issues, the fit and finish is not so great, and the durability is pretty poor.
The quality coming out of Taiwan is excellent...a big part of the reason is that it is a democratic country and a military ally of the US, so our government has pumped a fair amount of money and technology there over the years.
99% of our parts are made in Taiwan and every product that goes out the door is labeled with the exact country of origin. We spend a lot of time and money ensuring that our products are built to our specifications.
I personally take issue with "Assembled in the USA" because I can't tell where the components are being sourced from. For a Moog ball joint that is labeled "Assembled in the USA," are the ball stud and housing made in China or Taiwan? There is a HUGE difference in quality between the two.
A ball joint that is made and assembled in Taiwan - in my opinion - is much better than a ball joint made in China or India and assembled in the US.
Sorry to say that we just couldn't be in business if we had to make parts like ball joints in the US. For small production runs, the cost is 5x as much domestically. That would make a $20 ball joint cost $100.
There are a few countries that produce the majority of steering parts these days: India, Turkey, China, and Taiwan. Some are still produced in the US and Canada, but mostly they come from overseas or are marked as "Assembled in USA."
For the most part, the quality coming out of India, Turkey, and China ranges from pretty low to downright scary - there are a lot of quality control issues, the fit and finish is not so great, and the durability is pretty poor.
The quality coming out of Taiwan is excellent...a big part of the reason is that it is a democratic country and a military ally of the US, so our government has pumped a fair amount of money and technology there over the years.
99% of our parts are made in Taiwan and every product that goes out the door is labeled with the exact country of origin. We spend a lot of time and money ensuring that our products are built to our specifications.
I personally take issue with "Assembled in the USA" because I can't tell where the components are being sourced from. For a Moog ball joint that is labeled "Assembled in the USA," are the ball stud and housing made in China or Taiwan? There is a HUGE difference in quality between the two.
A ball joint that is made and assembled in Taiwan - in my opinion - is much better than a ball joint made in China or India and assembled in the US.
Sorry to say that we just couldn't be in business if we had to make parts like ball joints in the US. For small production runs, the cost is 5x as much domestically. That would make a $20 ball joint cost $100.
Their response when I facebook'd them in regards to ball joint failure with aftermarket parts....
Thanks for reaching out to us! We have not had any issues with premature failure on the lower ball joint for the 4Runner (part # 101-10212 and 101-10213). Our ball joints are built with SAE4135 or SAE4140 chromoly steel ball studs and SAE1045 forged housings for strength. That said, no ball joint is indestructible - if there is a geometry issue or some sort of underdesign from the factory, we highly recommend inspecting the ball joints with each oil change. Hope this helps!
I think I may just go this route...Full Proforged front end.
Thanks for reaching out to us! We have not had any issues with premature failure on the lower ball joint for the 4Runner (part # 101-10212 and 101-10213). Our ball joints are built with SAE4135 or SAE4140 chromoly steel ball studs and SAE1045 forged housings for strength. That said, no ball joint is indestructible - if there is a geometry issue or some sort of underdesign from the factory, we highly recommend inspecting the ball joints with each oil change. Hope this helps!
I think I may just go this route...Full Proforged front end.
4x4runner2002
New member
this is great info thanks for doing the homework. ive been putting off the tie rods for a while due to cost of oem toyota ones. im going to prob get the proforged tie rods now. post back with info and pics if you get all their parts.
Fore_Play4R
New member
So what did you do, I’m looking into proforged ball joint and tie rods myself.....
I believe the Proforged LBJ is of a sealed design so very similar to the OE.
From my experience with a brand new set of OE ball joints starting to develop play after only 70,000 kms, I'm starting to believe that maybe it's the presence of a lift that is wearing these joints out. Prior to the lift, the factory joints lasted 300,000kms and were still tight when I replaced them.
From my experience with a brand new set of OE ball joints starting to develop play after only 70,000 kms, I'm starting to believe that maybe it's the presence of a lift that is wearing these joints out. Prior to the lift, the factory joints lasted 300,000kms and were still tight when I replaced them.
Fore_Play4R
New member
Thinking about going proforged for my front end. Any regrets here ?
T4R2014
Elite Member
Bingo. I was looking at how some lifted 4Runners drive. On certain road bumps there is some pretty severe down-travel that is likely overstressing the LBJ. Keep in mind that a lift on one of these is essentially forcing the IFS into a fixed down-travel position that the ball joints weren't constantly designed to operate at. Lifting has become so common that all the downsides have become forgotten. This is quite a picky IFS in all honesty.
Absolutely- and, heavy 33-35" tires commonly ran further exacerbate this. On a lifted 3rd gen with 33+" tires, it's not uncommon to start finding JLB play as early as 30,000 miles! That's a lot of LBJ changing
Kanoe
New member
Absolutely- and, heavy 33-35" tires commonly ran further exacerbate this. On a lifted 3rd gen with 33+" tires, it's not uncommon to start finding JLB play as early as 30,000 miles! That's a lot of LBJ changing
Just buy cheap moogs and change them with every second oil change.:eyebrows:
JZiggy
Senior Member
FWIW I used ProForged tie rods and stuff for my 1st gen recently. Decent quality, so far so good. Poor coatings in some areas that developed surface rust already (like the ends of the studs). I would consider them again for basic steering stuff but not 3rd gen LBJs of course.
pluton
Senior Member
I agree...Taiwan can make good stuff.
That means they'd be $637.43 at the Toyota Dealer!
theesotericone
New member
My last set of LBJ's was ProForged. Not that I wheel much but they lasted 6 months. The OEM's before them lasted 6 months. I can't justify spending $360 for OEM LBJ's every 6 months when 80 bucks worth of ProForged went just as long. The ProForged survived the Rubi, Coyote Lake, Mirror Lake, Swamp Lake and Fordyce before needing to be swapped out. Plus countless miles of easier trails. But you guys go ahead and keep buying OEM if it makes you feel better about your safety. lol
Kanoe
New member
How are you determining that they need to be swapped out? (Genuine question, not being smarta$$). If you are catching issues in such a short time you are being more diligent than most- myself included.
