Currently looking at replacing both tie rods (Inner and Outer), Lower Control Arms, CV Axles, suspension, and stablizer bar links. After reading a thread on axles with some warning of aftermarket items, are any of the above subject to poor aftermarket quality?

I have chosen so far

Moog - Control Arms, Tie Rods, Stabilizer Bar Links, CV Joint boot, and Ball Joint

Monroe all in one for the suspension (May switch it out for H&R Springs and KYB strut for 1.4" drop, or something of the like)

Now the one I am concerned about and cant find anything on the org is Empire or Cardone CV Half Shafts. People report bad aftermarket items for these.
Anyone have any experience with these?

 

Moog is great. Monroe might not be as great as it used to be. For axles it's always going to be risky, but who is going to buy from the stealership? I believe I had a Cardone axle on my 96 Maxima for 3 years; it failed when I hit a dip at 40mph, but that was my fault. Whichever axle you decide on buying, if a lifetime warranty is available you're good to go.

 

If the CVs aren't clicking, then don't replace (new boots and grease).

 

30 years ago, we could judge the quality of most auto parts on the basis of brand. Now the bar is set by country of origin. I probably spend thousands of dollars every year not to buy Chinese products (not referring only to car parts). Car parts are especially critical IMO, but sometimes there's no choice. The price gap between Chinese and Western parts (when you can find them) has widened in recent years, probably due to the loss in volume sales on the part of the remaining Western manufacturers. One product that makes this apparent is brake rotors. Bottom-end Chinese junk is now $25 or less. Western rotors (EBC, made in Canada) go for $300 and up. I'm talking about rotors for my pickup here, not a Maxima. Pricing for these cars may be a little different, but I'll bet the ratio is the same. Anyway, any part I buy that carries a safety consideration is always purchased with this in mind. If Chinese is the only choice, I don't go cheap. For example, I recently bought eight rotors for our family vehicles (again, not the Maxima I just acquired). They're Chinese, but the cost was roughly $800 because I bought Bosch. Two cheap rotors I bought previously from O'reilly lasted less then 10K miles. I had an even worse experience recently with O'Reilly brand Chinese brake shoes for the rear of our Ford Escape (now sold). The shoes were apparently contaminated with impurities during manufacturing, and they ruined the original, near-perfect Ford drums in less than 500 miles.

Moving up the ladder from Chinese products, I consider Taiwan and Mexico to be good quality, with no-name products from those countries generally proving to be as good as name brand. North America and most European manufacturing are of course usually the best.

For the types of parts you asked about, I wouldn't buy Chinese if there was any other choice. I think the brands you've selected will be US or Mexico, but it's worth checking it out on a part-by-part basis. As for the axles, my brief experience with this Maxima indicates the only choices to be China or OEM. The latter is about $530 from an online source pointed out to me recently by another member here. I don't enjoy replacing parts that should last 100K every six months, so for me, it's a no-brainer. Your priorities may be different.

 

Do not get the "beefy Moog sway bar end links. . I have tried to place them on two different 5th gens and in both cases they made horrid clunking noises from the larger portions binding on the LCA. .

I have heard of some having this problems, and some not. .

But if it were me I wouldnt risk the headache

 

If the Moog parts have grease fittings, make sure to give them a shot or two of fresh grease every oil change. Their parts are made all over the place, if that matters to you. I bought tie rods for my Accord and got lucky with an American-made set. Look into Beck/Arnley. Many times, they just rebox OEM parts at a lower price point.

A lot of axle posts recently. These cars seem to be finicky as hell when it comes to halfshafts so don't give up your cores unless they're absolutely shot.

I have Monroe Quick Struts and like them. Ride's on the softer side, like a Lexus.

 

Figured I would replace the CV's while doing the other stuff. Nothings clicking, but at my high mileage it could happen at any time. Since mine have lasted this long, perhaps I should find a used oem one from a maxima with lower km's or just not replace it at all?

 

Mileage by itself doesn't mean much, really. Beating on the car does, or lots of city traffic, being lowered, etc.

I got the boot kits for 12 each.

 

Control arms- OEM, Beck/Arnley, custom build with ES bushings or redlion bushings, NOT MOOG

Outer ties rods - Moog

Inner tie rods- OEM

Sway bar bushings - OEM or Energy suspension

Sway bar links - OEM

Struts/shock - funny that you mentioned the kyb/H&R because I have built that setup with everything new, waiting to be installed this weekend hopefully lol.

Monroe are like a cadillac ride, I currently have them, wayyyy too soft of suspension plus my strut bearings are done with at 50K miles.

CV axles - Always OEM

Any questions don't hesitate.