Fastline Performance POWERLINKS versus Moog Enlinks

MrHeeltoe · 09-22-2009, 07:55 PM

MOOG Installed. Um, Ok, whoever said grease fittings were a good idea must have had a really scummy set of fingernails because I really did not want to touch these. The customer came to me with an inability to tighten these all the way and was getting noise. I was surprised to see this since Moogs always seem to get such *glowing* reviews on the forums. Of course, in the name of performing yet another awesome Fastline product install I endured the greasy mess.

FYI, this is a TSX suspension, identical to 04-08 TL, for these purposes.

Here we see a side by side of the Moog and the FLP. The FLP linkball ends are grease-less and are much more compact. The micro polished ball seats have a completely sealed boot on them requiring zero maintenance. They are made of aluminum versus steel (d'oh should have weighed them both!). And I hope you can see why the Moogs are more difficult to install than the FLPs, since the flats on the studs are buried in the leaky boot. I couldn't even get a wrench in there to loosen them, I needed to use a needle-nose vice grips!

Reason number two why the Moogs are harder to tighten...there is no alternate means of holding the stud should the flats on the backside be in a confined space. The FLPs have an allen key way in the ends, just like the stock links, to hold them securely during tightening.

I was however impressed with the range of articulation on the Moog. They have as much travel as the FLPs, which I did not expect to see. Still I am not sure the benefits over stock warrant a lateral move to Moogs.

Honestly, I find nothing wrong with the stock links for the average driver. Yea, in isolated cases they can break and that is a problem, but breakages are rare. So unless you really want to UPGRADE don't waste money on Moogs. Serious performance folks will go with FLP.

I just can't see who'd put this on an Acura:

Versus these:

Thanks for looking!

HoRRo · 09-22-2009, 10:36 PM

As are the occurrences of stock links breaking rare, it is also rare for Moog ones to break. Given the current pricing on all 3, and the relative ease of the end link replacement labour, the choice is obvious for most:

OEM Honda: $32 per side = $64
Moog: $22 per side = $44
FLP: $165 for a pair.

TSX_WS · 09-22-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoRRo

As are the occurrences of stock links breaking rare, it is also rare for Moog ones to break. Given the current pricing on all 3, and the relative ease of the end link replacement labour, the choice is obvious for most:

OEM Honda: $32 per side = $64
Moog: $22 per side = $44
FLP: $165 for a pair.

lol, yea.... value has no place here.

MrHeeltoe · 09-23-2009, 12:12 AM

I'd still get the Honda over the Moog. There is no need to replace both links, only one if one breaks.

BlueTSX05 · 09-23-2009, 07:42 AM

nice write up Marcus!

EuroRspec · 09-23-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horro

as are the occurrences of stock links breaking rare, it is also rare for moog ones to break. Given the current pricing on all 3, and the relative ease of the end link replacement labour, the choice is obvious for most:

Oem honda: $32 per side = $64
moog: $22 per side = $44
flp: $165 for a pair.

+1

fanbanlo · 09-23-2009, 02:32 PM

newbie Q: what are these for? What do they do? How does the stock ones look like?

a2dadamm · 09-23-2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fanbanlo

newbie Q: what are these for? What do they do? How does the stock ones look like?

there the sway bar end links, they hold the reas sway bar in place.

I have had no issue with my moog, they look fine and tightening them was easy as pie. And the price was FTW, even if you only got a year or two out of the mood you could buy 3 sets befor you buy one FLP set.

not saying the FLP's are bad at all, Im sure they are a great product.

MrHeeltoe · 09-23-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a2dadamm

not saying the FLP's are bad at all, Im sure they are a great product.

Actually it sounds more like you'd have more faith in the FLP to last longer but you are making a case that the potential failure rate of the Moog is not enough to justify the cost.

Let's not also forget about the tuning advantage there is with the FLP links. You'll never get adjustable Moogs. I do of course understand the fact that if you are not going to dial the car in this is a moot point, but it's a fact nonetheless.

Marcus

'06pwptsx · 09-23-2009, 03:18 PM

Marcus, could you give me some insight on the tuning ability of these. If you were to tighten them would they not add more stress to the endlink attachment points? And loosening them would only make the rear sway bar less functional would it not? I guess I dont fully understand the adjustability aspect but would be interested in knowing.

And as a side note I would rather spend three times the price for a quality product and save myself the headache/time/hassle. Why replace the moogs three times to save a little money? beats me. Either oem of flp seems obvious to me. Support your forums vendors too.

stukibuilt · 09-30-2009, 09:59 AM

I'm sweating these endlinks hard... Being able to adjust the load on your sway is worth the difference in price if you are that in tune with the car...

a2dadamm · 09-30-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stukibuilt

I'm sweating these endlinks hard... Being able to adjust the load on your sway is worth the difference in price if you are that in tune with the car...

I totaly agree. I wanted them when i installed my rsb and saw i needed to replace the oem. I was like dayum i should have ordered them. but i went 5 min down the road and this is what i got was the moog.

Im just stating for the price the moog are good, if your going to be really tuning the suspension and tracking your car then i wouldnt buy the moog.

overall im satified with the moog so far.