Where to buy tie rods. Is OEM necessary?

[kimokalihi]

Alignment shop says I have a wheel bearing going out and a worn tie rod. Don't know if he meant the tie rod end ball joint or the tie rod axial joint but I'm replacing everything. I found the part number for the tie rods 34140AA030 and it's $44 from subaru for each side (same part number for each side). Moog makes some for about $14/each and a quick google search of that part number shows amazon sells a Febest german made part for $14/each w/free shipping.

I don't know if this is a part which oem will be better than aftermarket or not. Some simple parts are basically the same no matter who makes them and some are vastly different in quality and even design in some cases.

Looks like that amazon part is actually a sears part. Sears has the same part for the same price with the same pictures.

http://www.amazon.com/34140Aa030-Axial- ... B00FBQ61Z6

http://www.sears.com/febest-34140aa030- ... 7436987523

http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,catalog ... X2869.html

[mike-tracy]

I have a thing for MOOG parts, so the last one is the one I would pick.

[SILINC3R]

Bro use MOOG or OEM. Prices are fairly cheap even for the OEM. I bought all MOOG items and had them on the LS. That was over 5 years ago and no issues.

www.whitelinesuspensionparts.com

[rallyak]

Moog is good, are you talking inner or outer tie rod? Also the outer tie rods are different on the first gens from side to side. Unless you go to the newer style which are straight and then it doesn't matter. I've changed mine and never had a problem. I believe 95 on up all have straight outers.

[kimokalihi]

Inner. Already got the whiteline gc impreza bumpsteer correction kit which comes with tie rod ends and ball joints with improved geometry for lowered cars.

[kimokalihi]

Bro use MOOG or OEM. Prices are fairly cheap even for the OEM. I bought all MOOG items and had them on the LS. That was over 5 years ago and no issues.

http://www.whitelinesuspensionparts.com

The next question is, are the moog ones from rockauto the same as the ones from whitelinesuspensionparts.com? They're over $10 cheaper each.

[kimokalihi]

Whiteline prices are very inflated. Just like grimmspeed.

[kimokalihi]

Alright Amazon sells both the moog and the febest version. Febest is $14 cheaper for two but I've never heard of febest so I'll go with moog. Still much cheaper than OEM at nearly $50/each.

$45 shipped 2 day free shipping thanks to amazon prime. Gotta love Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Moog-EV257-Steeri ... PDKIKX0DER

[kimokalihi]

BTW the moog on rockauto is the same part number as amazon and whiteline.

[kimokalihi]

While I'm replacing this stuff should I get the whiteline anti-lift kit? Any other bushings up front that I can upgrade? Considering doing it all in the front before an alignment. Maybe even the whiteline strut tops that are supposed to "correct" camber and castor. I have adjustable tein tops but the pillow bearings are shot and they clunk badly. Will the whiteline tops get my camber where I need it? The car is lowered a couple inches.

[rallyak]

I have the white line ALK on my car, and it makes the car tight in corners and plows bad. It also doesn't rotate very well in snow when power sliding. That's my opinion, I think I'm going to remove them on the next Aliment.

[kimokalihi]

Interesting. Thanks for the heads up.