[Astro-Seed]

NAPA NCP 2683685 105.33
NAPA NCP 2683686 105.33
NAPA NCP 2721642 83.64
SHIPPING 33.98
$328.28 ??

These prices appear HIGH to me. Also, with all things being equal (all the parts 23 years old) and these (Idler Arms) parts are causing 'soft steering' / lack of responsive 'feel' wouldn't it make sense to replace all the tie rod ends as well?

BTW Mechanic put it on a lift, grabbed right front tire and pulled it in and out to demonstrate the need for Idler Arms and Drag Link. What do I know!

The spec sheet just spells out NAPA parts - not MOOG, etc. I've seen lists of parts for $200 on the eBay:

But Lord Only Knows what the quality might be and returns could prove a proverbial B***H.

Is there a RELIABLE source of decent steering parts? (every WEAR part) is what I figure to do.

Charlotte - Boone NC area . . ..

 

[AstroWill]

Also, with all things being equal (all the parts 23 years old) and these (Idler Arms) parts are causing 'soft steering' / lack of responsive 'feel' wouldn't it make sense to replace all the tie rod ends as well?

Not really, if only the idler arms need to be replaced, I would only replace the idler arms. They are easy to do and unless they were worn out when the last alignment was done, you can save yourself an alignment.
New doesn't always equal better, if they aren't in need of replacement I would just leave them for now.

 

[tungtide]

Rock auto, will sell you moog. parts cheaper. I went with Napa and was shocked at the idler arm price. Of corse I didn’t look until after install. I think they are all made in China these days. Also when I did mine I decided in for a dime in for a dollar. I replaced everything including the steering box (blue. Top). Man what a difference. My front end feels brand new. I. Can let go the wheel and it steers straight down the road. II also went with AT tires that alone made some of the difference. Ball joints tie rods anything that moves wears.

 

[Astro-Seed]

Rock auto, will sell you Moog parts cheaper.
I replaced everything including the steering box (blue. Top). Ball joints tie rods anything that moves wears.
I think they are all made in China these days.

What have you purchased from Rock Auto?
I replaced everything ion a G20 Van years ago including springs but not steering box. Same result as you had!
Don't the parts come in boxes / have labels that tell you place of origin/mfg./assembly?

 

[Astro-Seed]

"if only the idler arms need to be replaced"

How can one tell if the play is coming from the idler arms alone?
If I pay him to install these three parts and that does NOT cure my 'soft steer' issue, wouldn't the next step be to replace more steering parts?
Since replacing the three parts he does feel are 'the issue' requires all but removing the other parts, doing the job in two stages would double the LABOR costs (or darn close to it) - No?
This isn't my first rodeo, I've personally rebuilt the entire front suspension and steering (less steering box) on Chevy van (as TUNGTIDE mentioned) and it made the old van new.
I agree that "New doesn't always equal better," and would add "Neither does old." Every part of this van is FACTORY with the exception of the shock absorbers. Thus, the wear that wore the Idler arms to the point of needing replacement, has been experienced by every similarly functioning component in the mix.
If I can purchase all those parts for less than what NAPA wants for the three listed and the LABOR is the same . . .
Have you purchased front end parts from Rock Auto?
Have another source?
I wonder where the Cubans get their parts!

 

[Rod's Trucks]

I took a 'new to me' Ford E-350 to the alignment shop., for an opinion on the 'wandering'.
They told me I needed tie rod ends and adjusters.
The part numbers they would have supplied looked like NAPA part numbers, and were easily crossed to MOOG and Mevoteck numbers at Rock Auto.
I wound up purchasing Mevotek parts (but no adjusters, as mine appear to be rust free ) via Amazon, and saved about 50% over NAPA. They are all plainly labelled 'Made in China'. The Rock Auto prices were quite competitive, until I factored in the shipping costs.
Later, I considered if the threads on the new rod ends did not match old adjusters, I would have the van down for a while, so I decided to go ahead and get the new adjusters also. The new adjusters are Moog, less expensivew than the equivlent Mevotek parts, and "Made in USA".. 🤞 The cost of the adjusting sleeves was minimal, so now I would not need to be worried they might not be compatible.
I have the tie rod ends and adjusters assembled as left and right units, so now I just need a bit of ambition wrapped in a 'Round-Tu-It' , and a convenient dry day.
Rod J
Issaquah, Wa

 

[AstroWill]

Easiest way is to have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you are looking for play. Idler arms are often an issue on these vans and is most likely your problem. Without being there, can't say what else could be an issue.
On a lot of the steering parts, often the boot will deteriorate well before the joint actually needs replacing, if you are paying someone else labor it's probably worth replacing the joint if you are going in there, but kinda sucks to replace a quality joint for a $5 boot.

Lots of shops don't want you to bring your own parts because they have a markup on the parts they sell you. Make sure to ask your mechanic, often they will charge extra or offer zero warranty if you supply your own. This is perfectly fine and an accepted practice here, as long as they are honest with you about it then it's all good.
Is it cheaper to get it all done at once? That depends. If they are charging you book rates, you may not be saving any money at all by having them done at the same time. Just because the book says 1hr for A and 1hr for B, they are going to charge you for the 2hrs of labor regardless. So you are paying 1hr for part A, 1hr for part B even if it only takes them 5min extra to install part B because they were going to be in there anyway.
Again, it all depends on how they are charging you. That 5hrs they charge to replace that Nissan knock sensor under the intake that they do in 30min is the same, you are still getting charged that 5hrs.

If it were mine, I would first inspect everything for play. If you can, replace the idlers yourself and save even more money, they are one of the easiest things to replace, you can borrow a pickle fork from many LAPS, and you don't need an alignment done. Once you start replacing the other parts then you will want an alignment done as well.

As far as parts, it really depends as well. I would look them up and order wherever you can get them cheaper, sometimes that is RA, sometimes ebay/amazon/laps/etc. I have ordered from just about everywhere, if it has a high probability of a warranty issue, then I will usually go local.

 

[tungtide]

A

What have you purchased from Rock Auto?
I replaced everything ion a G20 Van years ago including springs but not steering box. Same result as you had!
Don't the parts come in boxes / have labels that tell you place of origin/mfg./assembly?

s stated above I bought fromNapa. As far as a list from RA I don’t have. iit handy. Like Will I often source parts from different venues. I was simply offering that I was happy that I replaced everything at once.

 

[Astro-Seed]

happy that I replaced everything at once.

Right, understood. I've been checking Rock Auto and Found Amazon Competitive on MOOG parts for my 99 Astro Van. But the Drag Link(?) was not available from Rock Auto and the one I found on Amazon I found was near sixty dollars while the AC Delco part was $21,76!

However the three NAPA parts the mechanic specified totaled $328.28 nearly twice (185%) the Amazon price for MOOG parts. ROCK AUTO wanted $225 plus $35 FedEx Ground (in two shipments) with an "ACDELCO 45B0107 {#88911003} Gold RWD; Drag Link" at $49.79 instead of the (ACDelco Advantage 46B0107A Steering Drag Link Assembly) Amazon came up with for 23 bucks delivered.

Looks like the same part! Well, it is and it isn't. the "A" indicates Advantage which AC DELCO site shows as 'Silver' while the other part is listed there as the "Professional" and 'Gold.' Amazon does not have the Professional part, only the Advantage.

Geeze, they sure know how to confuse a fella!

I think they are all made in China these days.

Don't the parts come in boxes / have labels that tell you place of origin/mfg./assembly?

If you can, replace the idlers yourself and save even more money, they are one of the easiest things to replace.

I am debating just that - last time I did it I was forty years younger and had pals around if I got stuck!
Now I am way outta town & trying to clear out space in the (wood) workshop to keep the van under cover (or maybe work on it) with but an equally aged broad for intermittent assistance -> if it's light enough, she can hold it for me.

I've watched a couple of videos to refresh my happy recollections of the time I'd boast "I can fix anything" and more often than not, did just that.

What the (Rolling) Stones said . . .

 

[AstroWill]

For each one it's 2 bolts and 1 nut, pickle fork them to separate, installation is reverse of assembly. Super duper easy, and we are here to give you advice along the way, but you probably won't need that.

The boxes usually come labeled.

 

[Astro-Seed]

The boxes usually come labeled.

Right, the reason I asked about the labels on the parts boxes is because folks on (some) blogs seem to shout "Chinese" rather recklessly - latest claiming MOOG was manufactured in China as well as (is it) MEVOTECH and AC Delco.

Not saying it isn't true, just asking for the evidence I guess. I was under the impression that one had to disclose the place of origin/manufacture/assembly under our laws.

Maybe McConnell's wife got him to change that rule?

 

[AstroWill]

It's really all about quality control, humans anywhere can make anything good/fast/cheap, pick any two, often it's the latter two that are chosen by market demands.

 

[Astro-Seed]

It's really all about quality control, humans anywhere can make anything good/fast/cheap, pick any two, often it's the latter two that are chosen by market demands.

Way off topic. Astro Philosophy?

All I'm trying to ascertain is the relative quality and place(s) of manufacture of the AC Delco, MOOG, etc. parts under discussion.

I came here to 'speak' to folks with real world experience replacing such parts on their 2WD Astro vans. Years ago, my trusted mechanic pals touted me onto MOOG and I spent serious money replacing the front suspension and steering components with MOOG parts. Now, those days and pals are far behind me and, if alive, far far away - but the impression MOOG parts made lingers.

No one (so far) has dug out a MOOG part's box and seen the words "Made In China, Mexico, Turkey, etc." butt there have been lots of suppositions and rationales intent upon supporting such contentions as true.

Every manufacturing process creates a number of 'mistakes.' The most conscientious include a QC Process in an attempt to reduce the number of such errors that reach the consumer, others (I suspect HFT adopts this approach) simply package everything that comes off the line intact and replaces the defects customers bother to call to their attention within the specified 10, 20 or thirty days. Yet all their packaging indicates PRC when applicable.

Thus, the fact that a MEVOTECH part failed after 18 months is not necessarily an indication (much less a reliable indicator) of the place of manufacture.

Please et us stick to, as Joe Friday once said "The facts, Ma'am, just the facts."

 

[AstroWill]

Where they are made today could be different than where they were made yesterday, and could be different than where they are made tomorrow. You can get the exact same part, with the same part number, same box from MOOG, one made in the USA, one made in Germany, and one made in Taiwan depending on where that run was made.

The last MOOG idler arms I bought were in a CarQuest box, but unfortunately I never paid attention to where they were made and I'm pretty sure that I never took a picture of the box. Either way they appeared to be a quality piece, are currently installed on my van, will see how long they last.

Facts! I love facts!

 

[Astro-Seed]

"The last MOOG idler arms I bought were in a CarQuest box "

Huh!?

You ordered and paid for CarQuest - but got the more expensive MOOG Idler Arms instead?