Moog or Lemforder lower ball joints?

[HuskyMan]

Moog has a new design lower ball joint that eliminates the dust boot. I'm thinking of going with these on the 1984 300DT rather than the Lemforder design but I'm concerned they will fit properly.


"Moog Ball Joint housings are forged and/or machined from a single block of fine-grain alloy steel, providing unequaled strength and durability. Powdered-metal gusher bearings, with grease grooves, resist wear better than conventional designs. Moog's innovative approach allows grease TO flow through the bearing TO the stud AND provides a smooth, durable surface that extends service life.

Moog's design also transfers the load to the housing and provides strength and stability. Patented pressed-in cover plates minimize radial and axial deflection, securing a solid-steering feel. Moog uses premium polychloroprene and polyurethane — superior compounds that stand up to temperature extremes, dirt and abrasion — to seal the boots on our ball joints.

On select Moog ball joint applications there is a pre-installed integral dust boot. These ball joints look cosmetically different but maintain the same level of performance you come to expect from Moog Problem Solver. This product feature provides easier installation."

[vstech]

Got any pics? I'd be interested in the MOOG bootless design.

[sixto]

http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/moog-integral-dust-boots.asp



The boot is closer to the pivot so it doesn't move as much.

Sixto
83 300SD

[EDBSO]

Call me old fashioned BUT I think that the best design has a zerk fitting and grease with molybdenum disulfide added from time to time.

Yup, old fashioned.

[DeliveryValve]

I have been using Moog products for years. But if they can't easily proof read their ad......

DON'T WORRY, IT'S AN ACTUAL DUST BOOT

So don't worry when you open your package and it looks like you were shorted a dust boot. It's their, and it's better than ever. Take a look at how Moog's new dust boot is a much improved design than the traditional set up.

Then I wonder what issues are they overlooking in their product lines?


.

[Rick76]

A nice groove there for dirt and moisture to accumulate.

[Mike D]

The Moog ball joint I recently received for my W115, even though they show it to be the "bootless" type, was just a standard booted part. No grease fitting.

Too bad too because I was interested in trying the new design. It looks promising. Since the lubricant only works on the ball and receiver surfaces it doesn't make sense to have the large pocket filled with grease.

[Dan Stokes]

I have a set of the new style on our E150 van. So far so good but they're pretty new. I've used Moog for decades with good results so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt - guess we'll see in a few years.

Dan

[oldsinner111]

look up where the part is made.Even germans are making **** in china now

[Junkman]

How long will Lemforders last? A long time.

Bought - from the OE supplier!!!!

Some things work as designed without a lot of maintenance and there isn't much point in changing.

Now moving on to the next issue.

[Diesel911]

Either one is likely to last the rest of the life of your car.

If the Lemforders still have the Plastic Boots the boots seem to last forever compared to rubber boots and offer a opporunity to lift the boot and add more grease.

[Diesel911]

Originally Posted by sixto

Moog's Integral Dust Boot - Aftermarket Suspension Parts



The boot is closer to the pivot so it doesn't move as much.

Sixto
83 300SD

I think the Boot while still intact offer better protection in the face of wet and road salt.
I think rust is going to start right at the sealing edge just like it does eith lip seals.

If you want something really good get the bootless one and then also add a boot.

[ngarover]

Originally Posted by Junkman

How long will Lemforders last? A long time.

Bought - from the OE supplier!!!!

Some things work as designed without a lot of maintenance and there isn't much point in changing.

Now moving on to the next issue.

5 years and 100K miles on my Lemforders on my 85 wagon. Everything fit right when we did the work and have hd no issues since. Checked and they are still totally fine, but will go with them again in the distant future.

[fahrvergnugen]

Before I came to Mercedes, I drove a Volvo. Lemforder is an OE supplier for Volvo as well. During that time (starting 5 years ago), we began to see that Lemforder was made in China. IOW, the Lemforder of now is not the Lemforder of old. And yes, the Chinese stuff was crap.

I'd buy Moog over Lemforder, but then again I get a discount.. :-)

[Diesel911]

One of the things I like about eBay is you can ask the seller what country the item is made in (sometimes that is in the Ad text). You don't have to buy from them but knowing what country they the item is made in means there is a good chance the same item sold by another seller is also made in the same country.
about 2/3rds of the time eBay sellers answer your questions.

For the W123s so far as I have read the Lower Ball Joints are made in Germany and the price is extremely reasonable.

I used Moog Track Arms on my Van steering but I did not order them till I found out they were made in the USA. So If I am taking the time to order them and have them shipped I take a little extra time to see if I can find out where the item is made.

Did the same with a Timken Front Hub which turned out to be made in the USA. Timken is one of the companies that also sells made in china stuff.