C4 lower ball joints

[Steve Hess]

My lower ball joints are below the wear indicator and I wanted to replace them before an alignment. I've come up with several sources and varying prices from $40.00 - $80.00 ea at Ecklers to $129.00 ea from the local guys. I really want to use the OEM stuff but no one can seem to tell me the differences if there are any. GM restoration.com lists three different numbers:
45D2153
9769599
88911646
Will any ball joint do? If that's the case the $40.00 part from Ecklers is hard to beat.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C4 lower ball joints

Steve, it's unlikely that they can be less than a third the price and equal in quality in my opinion. Parts manufactured by established US manufacturers would probably be of equal or near equal quality, but if the parts are imported, then all bets are off.

I suspect some of these very cheap parts are imported, but you won't know until you read it on the boxes. It's one thing to buy incredibly cheap window regulators or antennas from foreign sources, but in the case of a suspension part, my advice would be to "keep your GM car all GM". Think of it as an investment in your future and your Corvettes future. JMHO

Check with "The Last Detail" or "Willcox Corvette Department"...they have good prices on GM parts.