Aftermarket/factory parts

[Gene]

Hi everyone,

 

The issue of replacement parts quality has been kicked around in several threads, and I think there are two parts to this.

 

The first is whether there are any quality aftermarket parts at all. It seems to me that, over the last 10 years, the quality of aftermarket parts has deteriorated greatly. Moog used to be a good name, the stuff I've gotten from them recently has been junk. Timken bearings used to be the standard, I'm not sure that they are anymore. Several members seem to like Napa, I really have not been impressed with the parts I've gotten from them recently. It actually seems like AC Delco might have the best aftermarket quality right now. I've also gotten a few Mevotech suspension parts, I thought that they would be total junk, but they actually seem to be pretty good quality.

 

Anyone satisfied with any brand of aftermarket parts?

 

Secondly,  I don't recall this being addressed. Where do you get factory parts? Our local dealership is very very expensive. The parts department is only open during business hours, and it is hard for me to get there. Has anyone found any of the online Chrysler dealers to be better? The other alternative, eBay, seems very very hit and miss for genuine factory parts.

 

Thanks in advance for the accumulated wisdom of this group.

 

Gene

[Jeep Driver]

I watch for NOS parts, AMC, Mopar, they are out there, just have to dig for it. 

 

Here is an example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/232107023716?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

And here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/231423893970?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

 

And find a dealer with a friendly and intelligent counter man, dealers have access to "Vintage Parts", just as they do their own parts. I just bought two new Mopar rad mounts for my '88, there where only 9 left in the country and I got two of them through my local dealer via Vintage Parts. 

 

 

I just bought two new NOS Mopar/Seimens/Renix/Bendix TPSs, manufactured in '03. And a copper rad that had sat in a warehouse since '91 for my '88. 

 

 

Buy now, this stuff won't be around in a year or two. 

[HOrnbrod]

I watch for NOS parts, AMC, Mopar, they are out there, just have to dig for it. 

 

Here is an example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/232107023716?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

I just bought one of those last week for $21 shipped.  :yes:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222428195151?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Like the man says - you just have to dig. It's helps if you know how to use the parts manuals and search using the factory p/n. 

[Minuit]

I agree completely. I've been extremely frustrated with aftermarket parts quality recently. Much easier to list the aftermarket parts I haven't had a bad experience with. Just off the top of my head, here's a summary of my luck with aftermarket parts:

 

Hella H4 headlight housings: A+, was very impressed. Far superior light pattern to sealed beams.

 

I've used some Mevotech parts before, and so far I don't have any complaints. Don't remember them being especially good or bad. 

 

Alpine audio amplifier: Works great, no complaints, does exactly what it's supposed to.

 

CSF 3-row radiator: No complaints so far. Likewise for the Hayden trans cooler in front of it.

 

I'm starting to feel a "warped rotor" type of pulsation under hard braking. Raybestos part, replaced about 3 years ago.

 

Pull to left under braking due to sticky right front caliper. Raybestos part, replaced at the same time as rotors. Should've had the OEM rotors turned and just put new pads and bearings on.

 

Omix-ada rear glass run weatherstripping. Cut too short at factory, left a gap between the glass channel and the vent window, causing wind noise. Filled the gap with a piece of the old seal. Very frustrating, since those things weren't cheap.

 

Dorman, oh boy, Dorman. Window regulator on a friend's car failed 3 months after replacement. 4.0L oil pan bolt holes did not line up with the engine block, and had cheesy construction overall. Oil pan replaced with junkyard part.

 

eBay crank position sensor lasted literally 3 days before going into thermal failure. Thrown in trash and replaced with junkyard part, then replaced with Mopar part.

 

Wells gauge temp sender. Temp gauge says 245*F, MT2500 and laser thermometer say 200*F. Sender replaced with 27 year old used Mopar sender which reads correctly. Wells piece of $#!& put on '89 with stuck open thermostat.

 

Are tires an aftermarket part? Cooper Discoverer A/T3 tires (first set of new tires I ever bought) went out of round causing extreme vibration at about 5,000 miles, although I suspect they weren't ever round as there was some vibration even when new. Tread worn enough to not be covered under warranty by the time I realized that the tires weren't round. Replaced with expensive but round and whisper quiet Michelins.

 

I watch NOS part listings like a hawk, and have written down part numbers for things I'm interested in. Make sure to include the common misspellings. The effort you spend digging will be worth it. If you can't tell, I don't buy many aftermarket parts any more.

[ParadiseMJ]

Depending on the actual part...or type of part, I usually buy at NAPA.  For a water pump, always new, never a re-man. I put a re-man alternator in my wife's Camry, 5 years ago...and had to replace on warranty. 

 

Then I put a re-man alternator in my commuter Nissan, only having to replace it 3 months later.  Warrantied also.  So sometimes NAPA is a crap shoot too.

 

I won't buy most electrical stuff at AutoZone, O'Reilly's etc. But I will buy a Bosch fuel pump there or a Timken Unit bearing.  

Usually NAPA (WIX) for filters.  NOS only on ebay.

 

If I'm buying from RockAuto they usually have a variety (of manufacturers) for the same part at widely differing prices, and sometimes they just don't have it at all.

 

On a sad note, the best damn Jeep pick n' pull in Northern CA is closing forever at the end of the month. So I'll be buying a lot from them next week, since most of my MJ is built with "junk". 

[johnj92131]

Which Jeep pick n pull is the one that is closing?  Might have to make a 3 day trip quite soon!!!

[Gene]

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for all the replies. I actually have been watching eBay. The problem there, of course, is twofold.

 

First, you can tie quite a bit of money up in ordering parts.

 

Second, I suspect that whatever I order to have on reserve I won't need, and the things I don't order, I will need.

 

Of course, I suspect guys like Don, Cruiser, and Eagle probably have enough spare parts to assemble three MJ's out in their shed or garage…

 

 

 

In thinking about aftermarket, I think FelPro quality is still good. That seems to be one of the few older companies that has not sold out in terms of their quality.

 

 

 

Has anyone had experience with any of the online Chrysler dealers?

 

Thanks.

 

Gene

[Jeep Driver]

 

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for all the replies. I actually have been watching eBay. The problem there, of course, is twofold.

 

First, you can tie quite a bit of money up in ordering parts.

 

Second, I suspect that whatever I order to have on reserve I won't need, and the things I don't order, I will need.

 

Of course, I suspect guys like Don, Cruiser, and Eagle probably have enough spare parts to assemble three MJ's out in their shed or garage…

 

 

 

In thinking about aftermarket, I think FelPro quality is still good. That seems to be one of the few older companies that has not sold out in terms of their quality.

 

 

 

Has anyone had experience with any of the online Chrysler dealers?

 

Thanks.

 

Gene

 

https://www.moparpartsoverstock.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_assembly=995102&ukey_make=1097&ukey_model=15916&modelYear=1988&ukey_category=22690

 

 

 

This is what I find every time I visit one of the dealer sites.........NLA. 

[Minuit]

I've ordered a few things from MoparPartsOverstock since I refuse to give my local Chrysler dealer any of my money. Takes a while to get stuff, but their service has been good. Anything I possibly can get Mopar still, I will. Sadly, almost everything is NLA these days.

 

I'm known to buy stuff I don't need (or don't know I'm going to need yet) at the junkyard. It's saved me a few times. If you can afford to (and have the space to - I have at least 3 boxes full of spare parts in the attic) it's nice to build up a small collection of spares for later on. Worst case, you can sell some stuff. MJ parts are worth money, and in the future they'll be worth more money.

[1989 comanche mj]

I am disgusted with Moog also, quality is crap and there is no warranty on it.  My truck got hit and it busted 2 tie rods.  Happened right at an advance auto parts parking lot.  I bought one moog and one store brand because they didn't have moog for it.  Borrowed a pickle fork and changed them in the lot, 11 degrees out.  The moog rubber boot rotted away in 5 months!  The other one is great.

 

AC Delco is just using their name to push chinese stuff.  Felpro is good but also china made.  Cloyes is absolute junk.  Used to be the best for a timing chain.  I bought one for my 98 gmc 454.  Truck only has 110k miles on it with a roller cam, great maintainence but 3 cam lobes went out!  Turns out chevy wasn't hardening testing the cams.  Put the cloyes chain on and it had more slop than my old factory one!  And I waited a week for it to come direct from Cloyes.  This truck cam change was a disaster.  15 hour job.  Pan had to come off,axle had to come down. I wouldn't pay $300 for a new chevy stock cam and wouldn't buy an aftermarket cam because they are questionable, so I put in a 260k mile used one that looked new.   I searched and paid $$ for brand name roller lifters that were supposed to be hardness tested.  They came unlabeled and who knows who made them.  Bought the ac delco factory gasket set, it was china made lower than felpro quality.  Timken is questionable, they merged with everyone and are globally made, aka china.  I think koyo japan made bearings are great.

 

Dorman is crap.  Bought one of their clock springs, air bag light comes on all the time.  No customer service.

 

All firestone tires are crap and dangerous IMO.  Firestone tires have killed more people than all other tire manufactures combined.

 

I really believe most parts are made by the same chinese factory then badged and marked up.  So i buy the cheapest I can find.  At least if they fail I won't be as pissed as if I had bought a timken or moog one.  (Since they offer no warranty)

 

I needed a cps for my tracker.  Dealer factory one was almost $100.  Looked at it at the dealer next to a $7 one I bought on Ebay.  Identical part number and casting flash.  So I carry a spare cheap one and a 10mm wrench.

 

I have used spare computers for all my jeeps that have one, small enough to carry and easy to swap.  Also carry cps map and the one under the distributor. 

 

My US made Bart super trucker wheels, actually one of the few wheels that is factory rated for 35 or bigger tires, are way out of round.

 

Clevite rubber bushings still seem good.

[Minuit]

I am disgusted with Moog also, quality is crap and there is no warranty on it.  My truck got hit and it busted 2 tie rods.  Happened right at an advance auto parts parking lot.  I bought one moog and one store brand because they didn't have moog for it.  Borrowed a pickle fork and changed them in the lot, 11 degrees out.  The moog rubber boot rotted away in 5 months!  The other one is great.

 

AC Delco is just using their name to push chinese stuff.  Felpro is good but also china made.  Cloyes is absolute junk.  Used to be the best for a timing chain.  I bought one for my 98 gmc 454.  Truck only has 110k miles on it with a roller cam, great maintainence but 3 cam lobes went out!  Turns out chevy wasn't hardening testing the cams.  Put the cloyes chain on and it had more slop than my old factory one!  And I waited a week for it to come direct from Cloyes.  This truck cam change was a disaster.  15 hour job.  Pan had to come off,axle had to come down. I wouldn't pay $300 for a new chevy stock cam and wouldn't buy an aftermarket cam because they are questionable, so I put in a 260k mile used one that looked new.   I searched and paid $$ for brand name roller lifters that were supposed to be hardness tested.  They came unlabeled and who knows who made them.  Bought the ac delco factory gasket set, it was china made lower than felpro quality.  Timken is questionable, they merged with everyone and are globally made, aka china.  I think koyo japan made bearings are great.

 

Dorman is crap.  Bought one of their clock springs, air bag light comes on all the time.  No customer service.

 

All firestone tires are crap and dangerous IMO.  Firestone tires have killed more people than all other tire manufactures combined.

 

I really believe most parts are made by the same chinese factory then badged and marked up.  So i buy the cheapest I can find.  At least if they fail I won't be as pissed as if I had bought a timken or moog one.  (Since they offer no warranty)

 

I needed a cps for my tracker.  Dealer factory one was almost $100.  Looked at it at the dealer next to a $7 one I bought on Ebay.  Identical part number and casting flash.  So I carry a spare cheap one and a 10mm wrench.

 

I have used spare computers for all my jeeps that have one, small enough to carry and easy to swap.  Also carry cps map and the one under the distributor. 

 

My US made Bart super trucker wheels, actually one of the few wheels that is factory rated for 35 or bigger tires, are way out of round.

 

Clevite rubber bushings still seem good.

 

Come to think of it, I had 2 Cloyes 4.0 timing sets in a row be sloppier than the 160k mile factory set!

 

I seriously believe that for many parts, you're better off going to the junkyard and pulling the original parts off of 200k+ mile junkers than you are getting a new one.

[Goose_XJ88]

On a sad note, the best damn Jeep pick n' pull in Northern CA is closing forever at the end of the month. So I'll be buying a lot from them next week, since most of my MJ is built with "junk".

Which Jeep pick n pull is the one that is closing? Might have to make a 3 day trip quite soon!!!

Back to the important stuff, what Norcal Jeep pick n pull is closing? I have tomorrow off and plan to go to the junkyards

[DirtyComanche]

Lots of anger in this thread.

 

I have had good luck with the high end Moog.  I don't think I've ever got an ACDelco part that was substandard in any way.  Fel-Pro makes some good stuff, along with standard/cheap stuff.  I've even bought lots of Dorman junk for not a lot of money, and found it to be acceptable.

 

I don't have high regard for Crown, Omix-ADA, and BWD electrical (I don't know if that's a brand you would ever run into).  There's probably a lot of other brands that I don't have high regard for, but I just don't buy that stuff and don't think about it.  Generally if it's a brand I feel is suspect I treat everything on a case by case basis, and try to see the part prior to buying it.

 

I basically can't buy dealer parts, and most eBay stuff is out of the US ($$$ shipping), so most of what I use is aftermarket or junkyard.

[Airborne Janitor]

I've always had good luck with Napa stuff *knock on wood. Advance Auto, not so much. Seems like quality brands like Moog and Raybestos have been going down hill over the years. There's a Federated Auto Parts here that seems to sell decent parts. Honestly though I've been using eBay a lot more lately, even for aftermarket parts. Lots of guys are beating local prices and offering free shipping.

 

car-part.com is my favorite junkyard search engine, have used them numerous times over the years for OEM stuff.

 

I also recently placed an order with moparpartsgiant.com for a heater core seal #56001322 for $16, and the passenger side drip rail molding #55015914 for $25.

 

 

Love getting unopened NOS parts!

[ParadiseMJ]

No, the yard I'm talking about is in Oroville. Oroville Self-Serv  Not a specific "Jeep" yard, but they've always had a bunch of XJ's and always 1 or 2 MJ's in their stock.  Lot's of older Jeeps that come out of the hills around here.  The guy says he "can't make a go of it anymore" but I think he's just retiring, who know's, they're always busy but may be too cheap.

 

 

 

On a sad note, the best damn Jeep pick n' pull in Northern CA is closing forever at the end of the month. So I'll be buying a lot from them next week, since most of my MJ is built with "junk".

Which Jeep pick n pull is the one that is closing? Might have to make a 3 day trip quite soon!!!

Back to the important stuff, what Norcal Jeep pick n pull is closing? I have tomorrow off and plan to go to the junkyards

 

[big66440]

Just an FYI, I got my new Mopar CPS and was extremely disappointed to see " Made in Taiwan" on the bag.