Is there an easy way to tell if the existing one is bad? What is the failure rate on the 4x2's that aren't used for off roading?

Which one to get? Moogs have the grease fitting, some of the cheaper ones don't. The Moog looks like it may have a bigger "ball" part. Moogs are about 2.5x the cost of the Deeza's

 

Greasable fittings are great if you remember to grease them ha, they'll last a lot longer than the ones without. And about 50-60k plus and they're worn out and should be replaced.

 

The truck is pushing 200k, is it pretty safe to say the originals are shot? What symptoms show when these wear out?

 

If they're oem then yes without a doubt they're gone. A lucky set of end links may see 100k at the very most, but anything beyond that and they're no good. Symptoms can be anywhere from a popping sound when turning, steering feeling looser when up to speed, increased bump steer, etc. Kinda follow the same symptoms as bad ball joints would.

 

The shocks are OEM, I doubt he previous owner changed any suspension parts unless they were giving him trouble. Odd because the previous owner was religious about changing fluids (lots of oil change stickers on windshield, trans fluid bright red).

 

Yea the shocks are probably shot too then, as well as the ball joints. And probably because it's a lot cheaper to get fluids changed, than it is to get parts replaced.

 

I figured the shocks were gone, it's the rest of the parts I'm concerned about. So I should probably figure in a set of ball joints also? The Moog lower ball joints don't have much price difference between Generic/Moog, I'll probably spring for the Moog. The upper control arms have a $100 price spread (per pair) between the Moogs and the Dormans. Is a greasable joint worth an extra $100 per pair on a truck that already has 200k on it? Is that typically the only difference for the price? Once the upper/lower ball joints, sway bar links, and shock/coils are replaced is there anything left on the front suspension that typically wears out?

 

This brings up a question I've been wondering about. I've gone from zero grease fittings to four on each side and was wondering how one tells when there is enough grease in without putting too much in? I don't really think I put as much as should be in there in all but one and in the one I put grease in until I saw the boot start to move from being filled.