replacement parts - OEM vs everything else

[1990LTD]

Looking at RockAuto, you could get 2 of the Standard Motor Products T-series IACs for the price of the OEM Motorcraft part. The price disparity on a TPS is about the same I think.





Could you share your thoughts on OEM vs everything else when it comes to replacement parts like that? Is there actually that much of a difference? Would an IAC made by Motorcraft last 2-3x as long as one made by a (I'm generalizing here, correct me if I'm wrong) chinaman?


I've read about people buying new ones and getting a bad IAC or bad TPS, for example - Were these OEM or were they cheapies?

[BGoins12]

Personally? I've never had a problem with cheap(er) parts, except Auto Zone Valucrap (Valucraft) alternators, cheap crank sensors for european cars.... they simply just don't last like the OEM Bosch ones, and generic GM ignition control modules.

Oh, and never buy a generic TFI module, always buy those from Motorcraft.

[1990LTD]

Thanks!

stupid question about listings on RA for said parts;

STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS Part # AC20T T-Series
w/ A.T.; Fed.;

huh? I understand most of the abbreviations etc in the listings but not A.T. I assume fed means federally compliant or somesuch other nonsense

[BGoins12]

A/T - Auto trans.
M/T - Manual trans.

Fed - Federal emissions (49 state)
CA or Calif - Well... you know...

[1990LTD]

ah...that would've been obvious if we actually had the option of a manual transmission and I could see w/ A.T and w/ M.T. thanks again!

[Lincolnmania]

even motorcraft parts suck these days......buyer beware!

[1990LTD]

really? oh well, even cheap stuff is warrantied on RA

[GM_Guy]

With electrical parts, you may also find that many of the cheaper parts are made by the same manufacturer as the OEM. Cherry switches for example in the chevy world, the standard Napa Echlin equivalent is identical, for a lot less money.

Alex.

[Lonnie]

OEM parts are definitely not the same quality they used to be. At the dealership I work at we almost always try to use OEM when we process the used vehicles so that the customer should get a reliable used vehicle. Sadly we put a set of drums on a Chevy Truck and the AC Delco drums we ordered from the local Chevy garage were made in friggin China and were so badly out of round that it was sickening.
I had a 2007 Accord come in today and I had put new rear pads and rotors on it back in december and the damn rotors were rusting from the inside out and tore the shit out of the pads, the brand new rotors i went to install on it today were still sealed in plastic and they were freakin rusting WTF???
So yeah I don't even bother with OEM for my vehicles anymore screw it I just buy whats cheap and replace it when it fails.

[tim marks]

its hit or miss. anymore you pull an aftermarket part out of a box and its got oem stamps on it. it depends on what you are working on. for the box cars i wouldnt have too many reservations going aftermarket on a lot of the stuff. once you get into working on newer stuff, some things pretty much require an oem part if you dont want a comeback. cats, maf sensors, air/fuel ratio sensors, etc are becoming more of an issue aftermarket.