I went to my NAPA auto parts store to price all of the Moog suspension parts to totally rebuild the front end of my '68 Camaro. The guy there claims that although they sell Moog parts, the NAPA brand is better quality, lifetime guaranteed, and only costs 20% more. Does anyone know if the NAPA brand parts are better? If not, is Moog the best way to go? Thanks.

i know moog used to be good. i don't know anymore... they share parts with so many companies now, some of which i have had personal bad luck with.

NAPA makes and tests their own stuff, as far as i know. moog and napa ft end parts were once almost identical.

this is all stuff drawn from memory, and some hearsay, so take it as you will. i would get the NAPA.

probably the same parts in a different box- maybe order a NAPA tie rod and a Moog tie rod and compared them.
i know when i got my Moog suspension parts last year, i was shocked at how much beefier they were than the stock parts they replaced, and how much more massive they were than the parts in a friend's el-cheapo resto house front end rebuid kit for his 71 Camaro. i know a 71 Camaro uses different parts than my 71 Nova, but the difference in quality was astounding. the Moog stuf just "feels" better.

Years ago, Bill Moog had an Aerospace buisness in East Aurora, NY supplying Space Shuttle parts and Patriot Missle parts etc. One of the other divisions made automotive parts. Bill left the corporation years ago and went off with the Moog auto parts business. He is a car guy and used to give his top executives cars for Christmas. I know a guy who got a pretty red Corvette back in '79. I have not followed the story in quite a few years but that is what I remember.

Anyway, Moog parts were top quality in my opinion. I have not bought any lately and do not know where they are made anymore.

NAPA is good stuff too. I would ask to see both and make a decison at the counter. If both look good, I would not pay more. Just my opinion.

-Mark.

If you want MOOG, check the prices at Summit Racing. They are about the best you will find. I went with TRW and purchased them from Advance Auto. I doubt if NAPA is better than MOOG (but that is just my opinion after researching my parts).

Thanks for the information everyone. I like you guy's idea of looking at the two and comparing. The NAPA parts guy told me theirs were visibily stronger, bigger, etc. I'll go back and have him pull one of each and post my results for others to see. If anyone else has already compared them, I'd like to ask them to add a message on this string.

I'm sure either will work just fine, however I don't like going to Napa unless I have too. It seems hard to find anyone that really knows cars and I've can't say that their parts were that much better than the local parts store, but they did cost more. I would question their, "if it cost more its got to be better parts." Many of times I walked out of Napa because they suggested some micky mouse way to fix my car.

I installed all moog parts in my 69 last year. Happy with the quality of the parts. I would personally save the 20% and get the moog parts. Moog parts are considered some of the best replacement parts out there. The napa parts could be better, but I don't think you will ever notice the difference driving or in durability. I would put the 20% saved towards better shocks.

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[ 11-25-2004, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: GunnerV ]