ball joints

[j.eklund@domain.elided (John Eklund)]

I have to replace my lower ball joints. No big deal but after ringing
around I found that prices vary from $80 each for the original part (I
guess that's a part made to original specifications?) to anything from $35
to $55 for an after-market item (that's in Australian Dollars). Why such a
big variation? Are the "original" parts worth the difference?

Regards,
John