Posted On: March 13, 2007, 8:31 am CDT

Posted By: Mjolnir

I hate to burst some of your bubbles, but there is sometimes a difference in part quality.

I was a mechanic for 6 years, so I'm not guessing here. I'm telling you that about half the time a less expensive "aftermarket" replacement part is of inferior quality.

Also, used parts are a good idea in theory, but in real life you don't go down to the salvage yard and pick out a cherry bumper for your pickup.

You submit a parts list to an authorized parts locator, and they deliver the parts to you. Many times the parts are damaged or have visual defects.

Yes, you can send the parts back and request "better" ones, but that means the customer vehicle sits at your shop for another three days.

I'm sure all of you are just thrilled when a 2 day repair on your personal vehicle turns into 10 days. Not.

The last problem is that as a mechanic, you see a lot of parts. When you start seeing factory stuff go 60,000 or 70,000 miles, but aftermarket stuff fails every 35,000 (regular as clockwork) you start getting an attitude about cheap crap.

Does every aftermarket part suck? No. Do enough suck that many technicians pay for factory items on their own cars? Yes.

The bottom line is that while you're assuming it's the evil corporations screwing you, the reality here is that MOST, NOT ALL, OF THE TIME, factory parts will be higher quality.

Somebody is actually looking out for you here, believe it or not.