06 ES330 w/ 200k miles

Any of you have experience with the brands offered on RockAuto not named MOOG. Nothing against MOOG of course, just trying to save some money if I can.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...e+rod+end,7428

I also need to replace both front struts. My mechanic suggests I buy the assembly as opposed to struts-only and reusing stock springs. Car has 210k miles. Also trying to save money on the struts purchase by going with a reliable but not too expensive brand.

 

I've heard good things about Moog complete strut assemblies, their other suspension parts not so much try and find Sankei 555 carid and a few other sites sell them

 

Has KYB fixed their upper mount problem? The ones I've seen installed rattled and had to be replaced.

 

a) I have not heard any bad things about KYB bearings in a while. I also take with a grain of salt the complaints, since a lot of them are from DIY installs where I don't think most people are torquing them correctly. KYB is the only shocks I would bother putting in, or complete assemblies where I to voluntarily constrain myself to only that option (I would not). On the front, re-using the front spring and mount bearing, installing a new KYB shock is the cheapest way to go - but only if you are doing labor. If paying someone else at shop rates, the whole KYB strut is likely cheaper. I'd insist on retaining the removed upper bearings, though.

b) The factory bearings are not known to wear out; just re-use them if you want. I have 310k on the original ones myself and their perfectly fine (swapped them over in past suspension jobs). Or as I mentioned in a), keep them as insurance.

c) Of that tie rod list, the only ones worth considering are AC Delco (Professional line, preferrably), Moog problem solver, and that's really about it. Beck Arnley MIGHT be good; they used to be reliably OE or equivalent but not so much any more.

d) I'd consider at the same time putting in some new lower control arms. It will save now vs. doing it independently when they start to wear out at 250 to 300k. And since you're getting an alignment, it makes a lot of sense to do it now, ride out on new LCAs, tie rods, shocks. Have you replaced the front wheel bearings yet? Could also bundle in that odious task and eventual failure.

 

I took down my post about the KYB’s after considering the OP’s money concern.

I recommend the KYB’s assemblies for the front because my car is using them. I replaced the rear struts and it was a KYB Strut Assembly on the right rear starting to rattle with about 30-35K on them. They were the KYB 4085 and 4086 series. The fronts are also KYB Strut assemblies:
https://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/...t-Right-SR4096
https://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/...nt-Left-SR4097

And they now have roughly 40K+ on them and my front end has no issues anywhere, but will be replaced soon enough to prevent it.

I read two Amazon links worth of responses to find out why they hold a 31/2 star rating and the 4-5 complaints were about noise and they were lengthy and were fixed with a replacement. The vast majority of the responses were fully satisfied.