96 850 outer tie-rod brand recommendations

Post by **scot850** » 04 Jun 2023, 23:31

This project will need at least the LH outer tie rod replaced as there is play and the boot is split. Volvo suppliers here want $150 each!! (CDN). That is nonsense. Can't find TRW anymore other than in the US at FCP and shipping is a killer for us to Canada.

Any other brands? Febi, Moog, Viaco??

Recommendations please.

Neil.

Post by **wheelsup** » 04 Jun 2023, 23:49

I put on Meyle from FCP and so far they have held up. Installed in 2015 and driven about 30k miles I reckon. For under $20, really a pretty solid deal even if I have to do them again (especially w/ free replacement).

Post by **scot850** » 05 Jun 2023, 10:13

I have had hit or miss on Meyle which used to be a good trusted brand. Their sway-bar HD end links only lasted 4-5 months before knocking started!

These don't take a beating like the sway-bar end-links so a good contender if I can find them in Canada.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Neil.

Post by **wheelsup** » 05 Jun 2023, 13:29

scot850 wrote: ↑05 Jun 2023, 10:13 I have had hit or miss on Meyle which used to be a good trusted brand. Their sway-bar HD end links only lasted 4-5 months before knocking started!

These don't take a beating like the sway-bar end-links so a good contender if I can find them in Canada.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Neil.

That's interesting, I went back to my FCP orders and absolutely swore I purchased them back in 2015 as well but they don't appear (but neither do my front struts and a couple other things). So I might have just missed the cutoff to show previous orders but am 99% sure I used Meyle end links as well. I just tested them the other day and there is no movement, so all seems well enough.

Sometimes the autoparts stores can come through. Down here we have Autozone and Advance Auto Parts as well as NAPA. I put on an Autozone axle back in 2015 as well, no joke it was $65 lifetime warranty vs rebuilt Volvo was $300+. So, I generally hate warranties because I DGAF, I just want the new part to not break again and guess what 8+ years later it's still fine.

Post by **scot850** » 05 Jun 2023, 19:32

We have Napa and another chain called Auto Value, and recently a B.C. company called Lordco has also moved in although I have not used them yet. Realistically, I'm not thinking of OE parts that I prefer on my own cars due to the cost and that the car has 290,000 miles on it and starting to develop rust in some panels.

Good to know you have had good service from the Meyle parts, which is what I used to expect.

Neil.

rrres · Post by **rrres** » 06 Jun 2023, 07:32

I just installed Moog inner and outer tie rods. I'll let you know in 5 years, if they hold up.

Just judging by the way they look, seems well built. I didn't notice any manufacturing defects. The threads looked good and they installed without any problems. Time will tell if the joints hold up.

Post by **scot850** » 06 Jun 2023, 19:39

Moog also had a good reputation for many years. Thanks. I might just leave that to the owner to get sorted. I have cleaned the rust back on both outer joints and recommended replacing both and then an alignment. I have already spent 4 days more on this than I planned! The gift that keeps giving..............!

Neil.

Flystagg · Post by **Flystagg** » 06 Jun 2023, 21:38

Fcp euro has a full set of trw tie rods for like $90 free shipping. Just don't buy the oem boots they are like $120

Post by **scot850** » 06 Jun 2023, 23:20

Thanks for the heads up on the TRW parts. What has happened to TRW? Have they been bought out as their parts seem to have gone mostly AWOL, same as Hutchison and the engine mounts.

FCP free shipping only happens in the US unfortunately. Once they ship north of the 49th, it gets very expensive, very quickly with taxes and cross border handling charges. Same with the FCP warranty, cost of shipping parts back is too expensive for me.

I am planning to ask the owner take the car to a repair shop and they can fit and warrant what ever they like and do the alignment as well.

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 01 Aug 2023, 23:39

Update: The outer tie-rods are now on the to-do list at the top along with the fuel filter. Was going to use MOOG but in Canada, no-one has them and even Rock Auto only has the RH side one. Naturally we need a pair but it is the LH one that needs replaced most! Looks like the options are: TRW - RH $26/ LH $60!!? Febi -Bilstein $35 each, or Meyle at $20 each. Looks like it will be Meyle. I know some of their parts these days can be flakey, but then what brand isn't!?

Neil.