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By easyissy - 14 Years Ago
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I'm rebuilding my front end on my '58 Ford Custom 300 and was looking for vendors for suspension parts. The only companies that sell full kits are either Kanter or PST. I've read on here about Kanter but can't find any information on PST. Have any of you guys used there front end kits before? and what was your opinion on the quality? Thanks in advance for your help.
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By Jeff - 14 Years Ago
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I went thru the same process in preparing to rebuild the front suspension on my wife's '57 Ford wagon. The general consensus from the forum was to search out NOS parts were ever possible. This doesn't mean necessarily Ford parts but US made parts from any of the major suppliers (TRW, etc.). There are some parts houses that deal with that type of inventory. Fortunately there is a gentlemen in my area that deals that sort of thing I was able to get almost everything I needed. I had to buy one new a-frame bushing and the quality difference between it and the NOS part was quit noticeable. If you are interested I can dig out this fellows name and number for you. Of course there would be some shipping costs from Portland, OR.
Jeff
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By 58rancho - 14 Years Ago
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I have used PST parts on a 67 GTO front suspension and 66 F100 rear spring bushings. Both applications were very well engineered and worked extremely well! This was their Polygraphite parts. JQ
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By easyissy - 14 Years Ago
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Thanks for the reply's. Regarding NOS parts. Would'nt old rubber parts be dry rotted by now? I just worry about purchasing NOS rubber parts especially if I can't see them first hand. If I go with the PST I would use there standard rubber parts, they don't make the poly bushings for my application. I'm trying to avoid purchasing the parts individually to keep the cost down. PST sells a kit for $219 & Kanter sells a kit for $229. Over on other sites they give Kanter great reviews but here it seems they are avoided. I'm just trying to get a consensus. Anyone else use either of these kits?
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By davis - 14 Years Ago
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i've used PST on my ranchero and mustang, havent had any probs.
i think Kantors is the same company as PST.
check their address.
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By easyissy - 14 Years Ago
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Kanter Auto Products
76 Monroe St.
Boonton, NJ 07005 U.S.A.P-S-T Box 396 Montville, NJ 07045 USA They are pretty close. If that's the case I'll just purchase the cheaper kit from PST. Thanks for the info.
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By Nathan Soukup - 14 Years Ago
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I have used both on many builds over the past decade and would say stay away from the crap that Kanter sells.PST has better parts and has better customer service.Kanter has low quality parts and should be avoided.They also have horrible customer service.
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By The Master Cylinder - 14 Years Ago
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Nathan Soukup (6/22/2011)
I have used both on many builds over the past decade and would say stay away from the crap that Kanter sells.PST has better parts and has better customer service.Kanter has low quality parts and should be avoided.They also have horrible customer service.
Nathan, Agree 102%. Once bought a "Kit" from Kanter that was missing parts. When I called them they went so far as to say I was "Lying" so I could get free parts. I kept calling them and finally got them to weigh the parts and compare it the the shipping weight.
Guess what... not even close. "Oh, the parts must have fallen out during shipping".
Never again...
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By easyissy - 14 Years Ago
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Thanks guys for the input. So PST it is.
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By drof75 - 14 Years Ago
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I'd go to rockauto.com first. They listed ball joints, tie rod end, and sleeves. The brand was Raybestos. All seemed to be very good prices. You will have to add all the parts to the cart. No complete kits available.
buz
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By 58rancho - 14 Years Ago
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I would stick with the PST kit over buying piecemeal. You know you have everything and if you don't, PST customer service is excellent. IMHO
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By suede57ford - 14 Years Ago
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I use the PST kit for every '57 Ford we build. The components are all great quality and really a great deal for the price. They have idler arms and inner tie rods too. Their kit is a bargin compared to adding together the components seperately.
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By easyissy - 14 Years Ago
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Here's an update. I received my front end kit from PST but I was a little disappointed of what I found.   
Also, anyone know where I can buy a upper shaft for a 58 Ford??? Mine is pretty worn out.
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By aussiebill - 14 Years Ago
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easyissy (7/11/2011)
Here's an update. I received my front end kit from PST but I was a little disappointed of what I found. Also, anyone know where I can buy a upper shaft for a 58 Ford??? Mine is pretty worn out. ] Its a reality of this lifetime we are in, for a longtime parts have been made offshore and are assumed to be locally made due to US supplier. the main thing is, the us companys if still made by them would be a lot pricer and everyone wouild be complaining about the price and looking elsewhere, While the choice is everyones to keep on searching for locally made parts or NOS. I have been importing parts from US since the 70,s and have watched the change, a lot of rubber items, mounts bushs, accel pedals were made in india and now most are from china, argentina, make a lot of steering arms, tie rods etc. In this day and age the parts will outlast most folks use of their cars. There may be a minority that disagree but i dont care. The parts IF installed correctly, will be servicable and are warranted anyhow. yyy
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By The Master Cylinder - 14 Years Ago
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Well, at least it is from the 'Republic of China' and not 'Communist China'... if that is any consolation.
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By easyissy - 14 Years Ago
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The funny thing is, only the tie-rod ends were labeled as made in taiwan. Everything other piece didn't mention the origin. I am still wondering where everything else was made. 
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By aussiebill - 14 Years Ago
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easyissy (7/11/2011)
The funny thing is, only the tie-rod ends were labeled as made in taiwan. Everything other piece didn't mention the origin. I am still wondering where everything else was made. Most of the rubberised control arm bushs are from india. Since world wide free trade agreement policys are more common, the place of manufacture has to be labled on the product, hence i have watched the products increase form offshore manufactures.
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By aussiebill - 14 Years Ago
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aussiebill (7/11/2011)
easyissy (7/11/2011)
The funny thing is, only the tie-rod ends were labeled as made in taiwan. Everything other piece didn't mention the origin. I am still wondering where everything else was made. Most of the rubberised control arm bushs are from india. Since world wide free trade agreement policys are more common, the place of manufacture has to be labled on the product, hence i have watched the products increase form offshore manufactures. Just back on the subject, there was a point 25 yrs back in my repair shop where i saved 5 TRW ball joint boxes, allways quality and when customers stated they wanted TRW made balljoint, i loved showing them the same trw boxes, same part number but marked; Made in AUST, USA, MEXICO, ARGENTINA, TAIWAN.
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By pegleg - 14 Years Ago
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Bill, did you notice any visible differences in those ball joints, or were they pretty moch ther same. I worked for TRW back in the 70's, they were pretty quality oriented........back then.
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By easyissy - 14 Years Ago
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Don't get me wrong guys, although they say made in taiwan they seem to be pretty good quality. But I'll have to see how long they will last.
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By aussiebill - 14 Years Ago
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pegleg (7/12/2011)
Bill, did you notice any visible differences in those ball joints, or were they pretty moch ther same. I worked for TRW back in the 70's, they were pretty quality oriented........back then.Frank, you,re right on! you couldnt pick the difference and never had a problem, but the assumption in this day & age that using only brand name parts is a gaurantee they are made by them is just B/S!
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By pegleg - 14 Years Ago
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Bill, I was hoping that was the case. TRW and Moog have/had a pretty decent reputation here. I'm too old to start changing my opinions!
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