Inner / Tie Rod Ends Brand Recommendations

[Koko4]

I'm about to do my LBJ's when I get back home from this work trip (OEM only - I know), but I am not thoroughly convinced that it's absolutely necessary to go the OEM route for the inner and outer tie rod ends. I have a lifetime alignment from Firestone, so getting it re-aligned if I ever have to go back and re-replace it won't be a huge issue.

The goal is not to spend $120/side for inner OEM tie rod ends.

I want something strong, because I do have a 3" lift and slightly oversized tires (265/16's). I do go offroading, but I try not to beat up on it TOO bad.

Is MOOG a good brand to go with for the inners/outers? I'm looking around on RockAuto and the only brand names I recognize are MOOG and ACDelco.

I know AutoZone has the Limited Lifetime replacements on theirs (Duralast), and I'm guessing they are remanufactured 555's (at least for the outers).

Any suggestions? Right now I'm leaning towards MOOG because they are $30/ea on RockAuto and MOOG is supposed to be a pretty good brand. I'm thinking it won't be completely imperative to go the OEM route because this is not a potentially catastrophic part...

 

[Neil_R]

I bought the NAPA Premiums that have the lifetime warranty, they appeared to be of good quality. I didn't get the Sankei 555 branded ones from NAPA because they were more expensive and didn't have a lifetime warranty.

I havent put a ton of miles on them yet but I do wheel and I have had no issues.

 

[Koko4]

I just ordered MOOG inners / outers from Amazon, along with an Energy Suspension Steering Rack bushings. I might as well tackle everything in the area while I'm down there. All of that was $160 shipped, so that's not too bad. I'll let you know how it improves the front end steering. Funny how a LBJ job can turn into LBJ, TRE's, and rack bushings so quickly!

 

[RAD4Runner]

OEM for parts that could mean life, death, serious injury or serous damage to vehicle. Well- worth i.

 

[kgbdonkey]

I got the Japan made replacement one from low range offroad. $30 per inner.

 

[Ol'Blue]

I'm running the 555 from NAPA. The quality is very good. I honestly like them better than OE.

Blue

 

[amalik]

OP, you should stick to OEM when possible. The OEM OTRE's are not very expensive; just the ITRE's.

This topic was just discussed in another thread:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/190688-should-i-replace-itres.html

I believe the above thread also indicates the Duralast ITRE are the 555 from Japan; and have the lifetime warranty.

Note that if you flex a lot, aftermarket ITRE's will damage the steering rack. JayRolla posted some details in the thread I pasted above.

OEM for parts that could mean life, death, serious injury or serous damage to vehicle. Well- worth i.

LBJ, yes -- but not tie rods.

I got the Japan made replacement one from low range offroad. $30 per inner.

Any warranty?

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

This thread might give you some input: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/190688-should-i-replace-itres.html

ETA: Oops, I see it was just mentioned above

 

[Koko4]

Thanks for the links - I had read the comment by JayRolla before about the droop angle. The MOOG's have already shipped (inners and outers), so I will let you guys know how / if they fail. I'm hoping to get some good use out of them, but I DO go offroading a good bit, so I hope they don't negatively affect my steering rack. We will see - only time will tell, I suppose! Couldn't justify the $120/ea for inners, when the MOOG's were $35/ea. However, the outers I could have justified..but I went MOOG with that as well. Cross your fingers for me!

 

[gamefreakgc]

Hope the MOOGs work out for you... I have not heard good things about them. But maybe they will work fine on your rig!

 

[Gulah]

Thanks for the links - I had read the comment by JayRolla before about the droop angle. The MOOG's have already shipped (inners and outers), so I will let you guys know how / if they fail. I'm hoping to get some good use out of them, but I DO go offroading a good bit, so I hope they don't negatively affect my steering rack. We will see - only time will tell, I suppose! Couldn't justify the $120/ea for inners, when the MOOG's were $35/ea. However, the outers I could have justified..but I went MOOG with that as well. Cross your fingers for me!

How are those Moog inners working out for you? Have you ridden them hard? Thanks.

 

[Koko4]

How are those Moog inners working out for you? Have you ridden them hard? Thanks.

Hey, they've held up just fine, although I've got to admit I haven't been offroading as hard / as much as I intended to, so I may not be the best case study.

 

[Gulah]

Hey, they've held up just fine, although I've got to admit I haven't been offroading as hard / as much as I intended to, so I may not be the best case study.

Thanks for the update. I have some sitting here i was planning to install next week and this thread scared me a bit. I think I'll gamble as well; will update here if they fail me.

 

[Herculean T4R]

I was thinking of buying Moog inner tie rods also. I ended up buying OEM from Amayama. The price differential was $100 only between moog and OEM. You can get moog from rockauto for about $37 a piece.

Since I offroad, I felt OEM will be a better choice for me. I won't lie that $145 for moog inner and outer tie rods was very tempting vs $300 for OEM parts. But I am hoping OEM parts will last me a long time.

 

[JayRolla]

Hey, they've held up just fine, although I've got to admit I haven't been offroading as hard / as much as I intended to, so I may not be the best case study.

That's awesome. My aftermarket inners failed, a Napa brand and two lifetime duralasts. Glad you didn't have my experience.

 

[octanejunkie]

Just did a search on Napa online for ITREs and they list the following 5 items listed for 96-02

Altrom brand ATM SR3560 for $96 each (more than OEM/Amayama) with a 12 month/12K mile warranty

NAPA Proformer Chassis brand PCC ES3663 for $32 each with a with a 12 month/12K mile warranty

NAPA Chassis Parts (Federal-Mogul brand) NCP 2693220 for $66 each with a Limited Lifetime warranty
-this is the only lifetime warranty one they offer at this time

Altrom (Sankei 555 Brand) ATM SR3560 for $34 each with a 12 month/12K mile warranty
-reloaded page, now $95 each

Altrom (Ultra-8 Brand) ATM 1002479 for $45 each with a 12 month/12K mile warranty​

Funny thing, each time I reload the page, the pricing changes. Silly NAPA

Interestingly, the they only carry 3 options for ITRE

NAPA Proformer Chassis brand at #32 each with a 12 month/12K mile warranty

NAPA Chassis Parts (Federal-Mogul brand) for $77 each with a Limited Lifetime warranty
-this is as much as OEM from US Toyota dealers online

Altrom (Ultra-8 Brand) for $35 each/averaged with a 12 month/12K mile warranty​

The cost of lifetime warranty OTRE/ITRE parts at NAPA is $143 per side, plus tax, and you have to retain your receipt for warranty replacement - which is more expensive than OEM from Amayama sans warranty

 

[MarkamisPrime]

I’ve had moog inners, outers and LBJ on this runner for 5k miles and two hard wheeling trips. Still no issues. A lot of guys gave me a hard time for posting that I was installing moog but they have worked for me.
My cousin has the same set up as me and he has 115k on his set with no issues.
We religiously check them after every wheeling trip and every 3k rotation/oil change.
I’ve been installing moog into toyotas since 06 and have never had an issue.
The only time I do OE is for electrical components.

 

[nobb]

The LBJs are the only parts where OEM is strictly necessary. There still has not been any definitive proof (eg. direct comparison of droop angles) beyond anecdotal statements that the Moog ITREs are of poorer quality. I personally like the lifetime warranty and greasable OTREs on the Moogs.

 

[JayRolla]

The LBJs are the only parts where OEM is strictly necessary. There still has not been any definitive proof (eg. direct comparison of droop angles) beyond anecdotal statements that the Moog ITREs are of poorer quality. I personally like the lifetime warranty and greasable OTREs on the Moogs.

I directly compared oem droop angle to multiple aftermarket itres and there is a 100% difference in droop angles. Doesn't mean they can cause a problem. But in my rig in my situation they all loosened up so bad my steering was all over the road. OEM been in the years now and no issues.

 

[thegipper]

I've had a Duralast gold OTE on my rig for about a year and half now without any issues. Seems to be holding up well, boot is in tact and not leaking.

I had to destroy the OEM one to get it separated (was replacing LBJ's, OEM of course) and dealership didn't have one in stock.