Noob question about LBJ. Is moog same as OEM?

So I bought a 99 limited in fantastic condition but wanted to replace the lower ball joints for peace of mind. Told the mechanic who was recommended to me by the previous owner I wanted only OEM. After they were installed he told me he got them from Moog because they have a lifetime warranty and assured me that moog uses the same Toyota OEM Lower ball joints. I asked him again and he assured me they are the exact same. Everything I see online refutes this. Does anyone know if that is true on any level? Feels like he’s screwing me and they charged me 115 per joint which is higher than any price online. Also when I compare photos of my joints to the oen photos online mine are a dark grey. Smooth and say moog on the bushing. OEM seem to be texture and have some lines on them and are super dark black. Any help is much appreciated.

 

A lot of independent garages recommend moog.They might be okay, but no where near the life and quality of OEM.
Tell him you would like OEM, and if he cannot source it, buy one from a dealer and give it to him for installation.
That's what I always do. Buy OEM parts and find someone to do it if I cannot do it myself.

 

That’s what I did and he’s telling me these parts from moog are OEM. He said moog gets them from Toyota. That’s a lie I take it.

 

He's bullshitting. He's got a good margin on it to recommend it.
Moog is not OEM. Most are made in China now but they have facilities all over the world and source parts from everywhere..
Ask him to show the box, it will have the country of manufacture.

 

He went against what I told him. I said I only wanted OEM and he did this without telling me and then afterwards told me they are the same par but purchased from moog. What an asshole. I can’t afford to get them done again. He screwed me. I’m super pissed

 

In that case ask him, what life can you expect from them. And if they crack/leak before, will he replace them.

 

Should this look like this?

 

Here’s a better look at the ball joint

 

https://youtu.be/s8ZVahKc06o?feature=shared
He compares Moog ball joint to OEM.
Are you in the rust belt?
It looks okay. But then again it's not OEM and you probably have hardly covered any miles on it after replacing.

 

So an update. Called the mechanic this morning and told him these are not OEM. He sheepishly says “oh well that’s what ‘they’ told me. A lot of these places buy from the original factory and put it in their box to resell”. Told him that’s not the case and this is clearly a moog ball joint. He quickly offered to replace with OEM but told me they were a lot more expensive. I explained he charged me 220 for moogs which cost 140 on moogs direct webpage and the oem are under 200. Said I’ll order the part and you can install and reimburse me and he said ok. Guys been a mechanic for 40 years and expects me to believe he had no idea they weren’t OEM.

 

Wait till you get your rotors and pads changed from him.

 

Moog has been hot garbage for a long while now. Thought this was common knowledge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwqhHXjJH24&pp=ygUKbW9vZyBzdWNrcw==

 

15-30 min job per side

Just get a buddy to help replace them if you can't do it yourself

 

Damn your post boils me. Total BS that he said that to you. Moog is nowhere near oem quality. Did you end up replacing them with oem?

 

Moog is crap, not the same as OEM at all

 

He’s replacing them next week and reimbursing me for them moog garbage. I told him I’ll buy the oem and bring them to him.