Part 1. Details

It’s been a while since I’ve been collecting suspension parts for replacement a little at a time, hoping that I’ll replace them when I change the struts, springs, supports and related elements... But I never managed to do this, which is a pity.

And so on Friday I decided to replace the lower engine mount, thinking that the time had already come. To do this, I somehow removed the protection and the factory boot, which was quite tedious due to the presence of a lower extension - I had to bend the ears attaching the boot to the body. But if you do not take into account the hassle with protection, then replacement is very simple, you just need to unscrew two mounting bolts, remove the old one, install a new support and screw the bolts into place. Nothing supernatural.

And finally, I replaced the factory links, also known as anti-roll bars, with reinforced SS20 links purchased some time ago

Part 2. Wheel alignment

Here, too, everything did not go as smoothly as we would like, unfortunately. The next morning, I hurried to look for reviews on the Internet in search of a high-quality wheel alignment. I found reviews about a certain Alexander working at Garage&Co, called and came right away...

Then just look for another wheel alignment, at least some kind... I went to see a young guy with an old laser wheel alignment, quite polite and without unnecessary show-offs, who just started doing his job. I unscrewed the camber bolts without any problems, and of course there were no problems with the toe-in either.

As a result, the steering wheel is pleasant, but a little heavier, so to speak, filled with feedback, and directional stability has improved.

PS

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Issue price: 1,300 ₽

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Comments 49

I’m reading your post and I’m blown away. You changed the balls, just because “for one thing,” and after that you prove that the old balls are crap? Is this your argument for the track? ))) Or have you read a lot of all sorts of pissants in the drive, and your opinion is based on this? ) Ball cedars (with green anthers) easily take care of 65-80 thousand, and the track in the best case goes 40. Everyone praises the track because it is in a beautiful package, and with a fashionable transparent anther, and sellers push it because they have enough these balls are like dog fleas, which once again suggests that Trek is consumer goods. I can’t say, of course, that these are the worst balls on the market, there are worse ones, all sorts of Moogs and similar Chinese crap, but still Trek is far from the Cedars. Have you ever held the new Kedr-Sport ball joints in your hands? Did you try to bend your finger? You should try it before putting it on the same level as Trek.

Yes, at the same time, not everyone skates until something falls off. Show me the line where I said the old ones are shit. That’s why I didn’t take the Kedr, or rather, having taken it, I returned it to the store, because I don’t listen to “all sorts of pissers while driving.” This is not my opinion, this is the result of studying reviews. Is it really so difficult to read the text to understand this? Well, yes, but you’re chasing a little green duster)) Have you held a “Track Sport” in your hands to compare your favorite Cedars with them? Or did you compare it not even with “Trek Champion”, but simply with “Trek”? Have you tried to tilt your finger at Track Champion? I tried, they didn't work by hand.

I held a lot of things in my hands, believe me, you never even dreamed of what I held in my hands! My brother has been working as a hanger mechanic for fifteen years, and I didn’t just pull my opinion out of thin air. The pendants on the vases have already been redone a lot, including by me! And therefore, I know how long these or other balls last. I can tell you one thing about the track, how many years my brother has been working, the quality of the ball replacements changes, and once every two years on average, you have to buy another manufacturer, but the track has never been good. Of course, you can think whatever you want))) to be honest, I don’t care whether I can convince you or not, even if not, I’ll just shout and everyone will remain with their own opinion. In short, think as you want, but your opinion based on rumors and gossip, or reviews, whatever you want to call it, does not need to be instilled in everyone.

I don’t believe it, anyone can babble. You got everything mixed up again, or as you said “confused”, it was you who started making comments about balls. And yes, if you want to be based on your own and your brother’s opinions, please, I like to listen to dozens and hundreds of practical opinions, and not the one who shouts the loudest.

)))) well, you don’t believe me, and don’t. I don’t really care) Drive on the track and be happy, don’t forget to write in your blog. when your balls run out)

Okay, don’t forget to remain silent when yours run out and shout in every entry about balls that “Cedar” is divine)

Brand tour

As practice shows, original steering tips can be head and shoulders above their analogues, or they may not differ significantly from them. The fact is that European automakers order steering parts from manufacturers who produce products under their own name. For example, if you have a Volvo , Audi , Volkswagen or BMW , then it has Lemforder steering ends. In fact, when you buy a branded spare part in a package with the name of this manufacturer, you are buying the same original, but at a much more affordable price. You should pay attention to the products of the following companies first of all:

• Lemforder (Germany) – as already mentioned, original quality at a low price;
• TRW (Germany) - the company is known for selling fairly high-quality spare parts at very affordable prices. They are inferior in quality to the originals;
• MOOG (USA) is a renowned manufacturer of suspension parts. Spare parts from the American manufacturer cost a lot, but they are head and shoulders above many other analogues. Beware of fakes!
• Mapco (Germany) is a manufacturer that has been undeservedly ignored by almost all car enthusiasts. In terms of price-quality ratio, its spare parts are among the best on the market. The steering parts perform well on Russian and Ukrainian roads;
• Nakamoto (Taiwan) - offers excellent tips for Asian-made cars. Today, the Thai company's products are exported to 50 countries, which is a good indicator;
• Febi (Germany) is a manufacturer that collects not the most flattering reviews. However, in general, the average quality of spare parts and consumables is compensated by incredibly low prices. If you are looking for a budget tip and boot, then you should pay attention to the products under the name Febi;
• CTR (South Korea) is another manufacturer offering inexpensive steering gear parts. At the same time, the quality of all parts is very high. The situation is overshadowed by the huge number of fakes that have flooded the secondary market for auto parts.

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Good tips are also offered by Delphi (USA), Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG (Germany), GTR (Taiwan), SWAG (Germany). The latter company offers the most budget analogues, the quality of which clearly does not break records.

Review of the technical capabilities of the ball joint from Kedr - what are the advantages of the parts?

Ball joints from this company are characterized by reliability and resistance to deformation, ensuring the possibility of operation regardless of driving conditions. Kedr supports differ from other manufacturers in the following number of advantages:

• No defects on sale - all parts are ultrasonic tested after manufacturing, which allows you to reject parts with intrastructural cracks even before the product is sold;
• Full set of goods - ball joints are additionally equipped with Zimmer liners, fastening elements and corrugated boots, which prevents the need to purchase unnecessary parts for replacement;
• Easy to maintain - the balls are coated with the anti-corrosion compound Nilbor-20, which reduces the likelihood of metal rusting to a minimum even if there is damage to the boot;
• Long service life - the protective covers of the balls can withstand temperatures from -40 to +65 degrees, which, together with the technological effectiveness of the structural production of the balls, guarantees a service life of up to 70,000 km.

A distinctive feature of Kedr from other manufacturers is the production of parts without compromising the integrity of the internal side of the components, which increases the strength of the threads of the pins and ball joints by up to 25%. This factor, together with anti-corrosion treatment, allows the balls to be used in extreme conditions without the risk of premature failure - the parts feel free even when driving over potholes or potholes, as well as in the event of suspension overload.

Ball joints are available in three variations, which allows you to choose the optimal component option. The classification of the model range is as follows:

• Standard - the supports are designed for gentle operation, without climatic fluctuations or suspension overloads. The Standard class is suitable for budget cars that drive on roads with high-quality surfaces;
• Trial is a version for driving a car on dirt roads or passenger cars used for regular transportation of heavy loads. The Trial class is characterized by greater resistance to dynamic loads and is covered with an additional layer of anti-corrosion compound;
• Trial sport is a specialized off-road version. The design of the balls is aimed at maximizing the stable functioning of the suspension, even when driving on roads with insufficient surface quality in an overloaded condition.

How to distinguish an original from a fake: choose the parts correctly?

Due to the high quality of components and the sale of products at a low cost, components are often counterfeited. However, determining the originality of a replica part is quite simple - when choosing components you need to pay attention to:

• Condition of product packaging - Kedr supports are produced in a box made of thick cardboard, covered with high-quality airbrushing. The packaging must also contain a barcode and the original company article number;
• Presence of markings on the part - on the ball body there is an engraving with a serial number. The original part can be verified for authenticity by the number on the manufacturer’s website;
• Availability of appropriate documentation - a certificate of compliance with Russian Federation standards is placed inside the product packaging, as well as a “Cedar” form, indicating the true origin of the part;
• Providing a quality guarantee - in case of purchasing components from an official representative of "Kedr", the product must be given a guarantee for a period of at least 1 year.

Also, when searching for parts, it is necessary to take into account the location of sale and the features of the outlet. It is not recommended to purchase components from small retail stores or service stations, as there is a risk of replicas being distributed or improper storage conditions - the best option would be to purchase from dealerships or certified sellers.

Basic faults

As a rule, the tie rod end does not fail quickly. The car enthusiast will begin to notice a change in the nature of the steering mechanisms even before the need to replace the tip becomes obvious. The first sign that it is time to change the tip is the appearance of play. Completely new and even seriously worn, but while the spare part is working there is no play - the ball pin is fixed as tightly as possible by the liner. To determine whether you need to replace your tie rod end, pay attention to the following:

1. The nature of the gas pedal operation has changed;
2. During disassembly, it became clear that there was play in the steering rod;
3. The steering wheel turns too easily;
4. When driving on bad roads, accelerating or braking, the steering mechanism knocks or creaks;
5. When turning the steering wheel, a dull tapping sound is heard;
6. During the wheel alignment procedure, failures occur.

According to experts, the service life of different tips is different. On average, a part needs to be changed every 40-50 thousand kilometers. Over time, the hinge joint wears out due to the ingress of dirt particles. If the boot was not damaged, then the tip can travel over 50 thousand kilometers.

Often the elements of the steering mechanism fail due to the car hitting an obstacle at high speeds. If the driver inadvertently drove onto a high curb or even got into an emergency situation, then in the near future it is worth checking the condition of the steering mechanism.

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Owner reviews: is it worth buying spare parts?

Over the course of several years of selling the product, we managed to receive a lot of positive feedback from both ordinary drivers and taxi drivers or truckers - for example:

Anastasia, Samara: “Friends advised us to install ball joints from Cedar, but I doubted it for a long time - I don’t trust domestic manufacturers, since I already have bad experience. Having decided to install it, I turned to the dealer for help and was pleasantly surprised, they also recommended the manufacturer. After six months of operation, I have not identified any defects in parts, everything works smoothly, without knocks or bumps”;

Andrey, Yekaterinburg: “The wheel rattled and the question arose about replacing the ball joint. I decided to select parts from the budget category and replace them with a pair at once - the choice fell on Cedar. I installed it myself, and was pleasantly surprised by the completeness of the unit: the box contained everything that was needed, right down to the inserts and bolts. After 20,000 km, I decided to lubricate the ball joints - the boots are intact, the pin wear is not visible despite driving on bumpy roads. I recommend!";

Nikita, Moscow region: “My wife was driving a car and the steering wheel began to turn with difficulty. I had to urgently go to the nearest service station, so they advised me to replace the ball joints, recommending parts from. I installed it and was surprised - despite the low cost of the parts, the balls perform excellently, both when used in a loaded or empty car. What you need for Russian classics!”;

Maxima, Rostov-on-Don: “After overcooking the car for drifting, the question arose of replacing the stock ball joints with a more durable option. From the budget category I found only “Cedar” parts; the choice settled on the “Sport-Trial” version. I can say with confidence that this is a high-quality product that is not afraid of overloads - the supports easily cope with tasks even with an aggressive driving style. I installed the same parts on the main car, I definitely recommend it!”

Ball joints "Kerd" will allow you to quickly and efficiently replace a damaged suspension unit without special repair costs. The use of modern technologies and high-quality materials allowed the manufacturer to create a reliable product that has widely proven itself in all regions of the Russian Federation - balls from Kedr are suitable for installation on both foreign and domestic cars.

18 reviews and 55 votes

among 9 manufacturers

I’ve been using Cedar for three or four years, probably the fourth, the mileage is probably already more than 70 thousand kilometers, there are no complaints.

Cedar - stood for 1 year, mileage approximately 12 thousand - for replacement. Track - I have it now - 1 year mileage - about 30 thousand - play - need replacement. Mahle - stood for six months with a mileage of 6 thousand - replacement. This is all said about the steering tips.

Kedr trial sport, drove 28 thousand. Right and left long dead. Strong backlash.

I gave it to oak after 2 weeks of work. And it was called g@$no Kedr Trial-Sport.

I have cedar, I rode 80,000, I haven’t changed it yet, during use I replaced two boots (they burst), but I think that the boot is better than the tip.

At one time I staged “Cedar”. 70 tkm passed.

CEDAR-TRIAL-sport, I highly recommend it.

HOLA, Mahle they haven’t driven more than 5 thousand for me. Trek were quite good. The KEDR balls lasted over 70 thousand, and the tips... were installed by KEDR last year, the mafynka ran for about 10 thousand, so far everything is fine.

Which steering tip boot should you prefer?

To carry out an inspection, you should drive your car onto an overpass or inspection hole. It is quite possible to get by using a jack if there is no access to the inspection hole. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Use a rag to clean the parts from dirt;
2. Inspect the mounting points;
3. Carefully inspect the steering tip boot. A boot covered with cracks definitely needs to be replaced;
4. Have an assistant turn the steering wheel and observe the operation of the tip. If it has moved along the length of the finger axis by a distance of more than 1.5 millimeters, then we can talk about the presence of play.

If the steering tip has play, it must be replaced as soon as possible. Anthers are consumables, so if there is the slightest damage, they can be safely replaced with new ones.

We also note that primary diagnostics can be carried out not only with the car raised, but also with the wheels removed or hung. This is true for checking ball joints, stabilizer bars and bearings. However, to get a complete picture, it is still worth carefully examining the underbody of the car and the steering elements in particular.

A separate question: how to choose a tip boot? If you clarify the compatibility of the boot with your car, which, again, is easiest using the capabilities of the World Wide Web, then all that remains is to choose the material of the product and give preference to a specific manufacturer. You should know the following about materials:

• Rubber is a cheap and wear-resistant material. Today, almost all manufacturers have learned to work with it. You can take an inexpensive domestic boot and travel about 40 thousand kilometers with it (sometimes it goes even more). Rubber tends to harden in the cold and does not perform well in northern latitudes - it begins to crack, which negatively affects the operation of the tie rod end;
• Polyurethane is tougher and more durable than rubber. Not all cars are supplied with polyurethane bushings and boots. If you have a relatively new foreign car, then several European companies are definitely involved in the production of polyurethane boot tips and CV joints.

The steering tip boot can be found in the catalogs of almost all steering system component manufacturers, but there is one catch: the boot is rarely sold separately - only in a set with the tip. The hardest thing to find separately are Lemforder anthers, and the easiest ones are Febi and Mobis.

The procedure for replacing individual steering elements is not complicated and takes an average of 20 minutes. The same work can be entrusted to a master, who will probably do it even faster. However, if you decide to replace the tip yourself, then follow the following algorithm:

1. Raise the car or leave it above the inspection hole;
2. Unscrew the bolts connecting the wheels to the car suspension;
3. Loosen the pin (pin) nut, leaving it on the thread;
4. Put on a puller that will make it easier to squeeze out your finger;
5. Get rid of the nut and take out the pin;
6. Remove the locknut located on the steering rod of the car;
7. Remove the tip;
8. It remains to mark the location of the existing tie rod and count the number of revolutions that the body of the old tip makes.

Now you need to install a new steering tip. After installing a new spare part, driving your car will become more reliable, easier and much safer. After replacement, it is strongly recommended to undergo a wheel alignment procedure at the nearest station - experts unanimously agreed that this procedure is mandatory after replacement.

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Restoration of steering gear elements is not recommended. The fact is that it will be difficult for a car enthusiast to monitor compliance with factory parameters and soberly assess the cost of restoration. It’s easier to buy new parts and install them yourself. It is also easy to replace the anthers yourself without the help of a specialist.

What do we know about Kedr tie rod ends?

The manufacturer's brand is registered in the country - Russia. The official website is located at: https://www.kedr.ru.

In December 2020, PartReview had a positive opinion about Kedr steering ends.

PR score - 80 out of 100, based on 18 reviews and 55 votes. 14 reviews have a positive rating, 1 is neutral, and 3 are negative. The average review rating is 4.1 (out of 5). The votes were distributed as follows: 44 - for, 11 - against.

In the ranking of the best manufacturers of tie rod ends, the spare part occupies 2nd position, behind such manufacturers as FENOX, but ahead of Lemforder555 tie rod ends.