Aftermarket part rant

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Greasyfingers

Greasyfingers

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Location
Morgan Hill, CA
A few years ago I did a 73-76 disc brake conversion on my 66 barracuda. When I got the set up it didn't have the upper control arms, so I purchased a set of new aftermarket stock replacement arms. Due to other things going on I had to put the car away for few years. It was assembled, but not aligned.
I'm finally getting to the alignment of the front end and find the ball joints are toast. The bushings didn't look all that great either. The car has only driven out of garage to the street to be put on a trailer, so no actual mileage. I was disappointed to have to tear into it again, but needs to be done.
So I figured I would start over by replacing with Moog ball joints and installing offset bushings. Problem #1 my ball joint socket didn't fit. The ball joint is too big for my socket to fit on. I know my socket is correct, since I've used it on other ball joints. Problem #2 the holes in the arms for the bushings are .030 smaller than the new bushing shells. There is no way in hell the bushings are ever going to fit. I haven't received my ball joints yet, but suspect they are not going to fit either. How f***ing hard is to duplicate a part with known specs?
I can't remember what brand they were or where I got them from, so I can help others avoid them.
Time to post a want ad for oem arms.
 
I feel your pain.

I bought a remanufactured power steering pump for my daughter's Jeep Grand Cherokee. Took it out of the box and set the pulley on the shaft. There is a output fitting on the pump that can be in a number of positions and of cource it was positioned directly in the way of the pulley.
I returned it and 2 days later they got another, same exact problem. Let's try pump #3, as if by magic it was in the correct position, problem is it was the #2 pump that someone at the store unbolted and rotated. I could have done that, but did not want to void the warranty or cause it to leak.

And don't get me started on "reproduction" parts that are sort of like the original, but mis the mark that can be spotted a me away.
 
Moog parts are not a safe bet anymore. Before you buy new control arms, you might want to try using Proforged ball joints or bushings. Cheaper than new UCA’s anyway. Several members have had issues recently with Moog parts, especially recently produced stuff. Seems as though they changed production or quality control recently.

As for the ball joints, have you used the socket you have on the 73+ ball joints before? There are multiple ball joint socket sizes, the earlier small ball joints use a different socket than the large ball joints.
 
I feel your pain. I ordered a new single-pot master cylinder for the Valiant, it was the last leaky thing on the brakes to get fixed. Got it from O'Reilly's, but the mounting plate for the firewall was mirror imaged on the unit. It wouldn't bolt up. I took it back and spent 30 minutes explaining to the high-school clerk why it wouldn't work, she never got it. Ordered another one, it was the same thing even thought he part numbers matched and the photo in the computer was correct. Hard to educate someone whose starting point is, the computer shows this, so it must be right... (sigh).

Went to Napa, ordered the same part at twice the price but at least it was the right unit and went in without an issue. Sadly, it seems any parts person under 50 or so is computer-savvy but an automotive moron.
 
Even the NAPA clerks are a gamble as to their competence.
I had a clerk tell me something that seemed wrong. When I pressed him a bit on the matter, he admitted that he didn't even work on cars.
All theory, no practice.
Sort of like the kid that plays video games but has no actual experience dealing with issues in the actual real world.
 
Kern Dog said:
Even the NAPA clerks are a gamble as to their competence.
Click to expand...

For sure, this is true everywhere. I'm lucky, my local NAPA is full of old farts. The younger guys must get schooled by the old guys, they are pretty good too.
 
listen everyone: when you go to napa, tell them you want farm acct pricing, acct number 31999. pay the tax and get a decent discount. simple as that.
 
Thanks but it isn't always about the money. For me, it is about getting the right part and not having to go back and forth several times to finish a job.
 
Kern Dog said:
Even the NAPA clerks are a gamble as to their competence.
I had a clerk tell me something that seemed wrong. When I pressed him a bit on the matter, he admitted that he didn't even work on cars.
All theory, no practice.
Sort of like the kid that plays video games but has no actual experience dealing with issues in the actual real world.
Click to expand...

So I go to Autozone for longer wheel studs and supply the part number for them.
The guy says "Well, I have one so I'll call around to all the other stores and see what they have".
He calls all the other stores in two counties and finds 9 total.
I tell him 9 doesn't do me any good since it takes 10 for two wheels.
He says "I'm sorry but I don't know what else to tell you.

I tell him the part number is a Dorman part (which he knew) and they carry shitloads of Dorman stuff, so can't he just order 10 of them from Dorman???
He says "I don't know".
Now I'm getting a little annoyed.
Finally he asks someone else and a day later I have a box of 10 wheel studs.

DUDE, you carry Dorman products but don't know if you can order Dorman wheel studs?
Come on man.
 
I spent 15 years or so selling auto/ truck parts. The second place I worked for had a reputation of "having everything" or "getting anything" We had a stash of catalogs clear back to the 40's and 30's. "Back in the day" around here, there were LOTS of "GI rigs" (WWII surplus trucks) made into "log jammers" and other farm/ woods equipment. There were LOTS of old Jeeps and a few other things. And there were LOTS of industrial engines in winches, jammers, welders, and lake boats.

So, maybe you can understand that I get a bit annoyed at the modern era of "parts stores."

And, it is MORE than annoying what has happened to old school brand name parts. And it should be ILLEGAL when it applies to brake, suspension, and other "must have" safety parts
 
TrailBeast said:
can't he just order 10 of them from Dorman???
He says "I don't know". Now I'm getting a little annoyed
Click to expand...
Me too. It's ok if the clerk doesn't know something - as long as the next words are, "I'll find out"!!
It is not acceptable for "I don't know" to be the end of the transaction.
 
As for the ball joints, have you used the socket you have on the 73+ ball joints before? There are multiple ball joint socket sizes, the earlier small ball joints use a different socket than the large ball joints.[/QUOTE]
I definitely have the correct socket. It's a Snapon socket I bought when I rebuilt the front end of my father's 67 charger. Which uses the same ball joints.
 
Seems like all the best clerks are despised by management, paid too low, never promoted and end up quitting or getting fired. And I’m not just talking about auto parts.
 
Im luck to be 5 miles from an autozone regional distribution store/center (24 hr open at that!) so If my store doesnt stock it , I usually have it by 2PM the same day if I get the order in before 10:30AM. Im usually not in that much of a hurry as I usually order the parts friday for a saturday job. Cant miss on lifetime brake pads, I had a Chryco Minivan for a while and went through 3 'lifetime' pad sets up front. Mid year model change had larger front brake rotors and pads...tell you something?
 
pishta said:
Im luck to be 5 miles from an autozone regional distribution store/center (24 hr open at that!) so If my store doesnt stock it , I usually have it by 2PM the same day if I get the order in before 10:30AM. Im usually not in that much of a hurry as I usually order the parts friday for a saturday job. Cant miss on lifetime brake pads, I had a Chryco Minivan for a while and went through 3 'lifetime' pad sets up front. Mid year model change had larger front brake rotors and pads...tell you something?
Click to expand...


back when me and the wife were putting 500 miles a week on each vehicle i would buy the lifetime pads and swap em out late october
the asked me once why i returned a still good set
i told the girl, i dont want to have to do this in half a foot of snow
 
ch1ll said:
Seems like all the best clerks are despised by management, paid too low, never promoted and end up quitting or getting fired. And I’m not just talking about auto parts.
Click to expand...
They probably make them look bad or know it's just a matter of time that they will, and take their job in the process.
 
I went to Napa for freeze plugs and the counter guy took me in the back with him because he couldn't "recognize" the part I was talking about...
 
I have had very poor luck with Autozone. I normally avoid them like the plague, but there have been a few times when that was the only option (for whatever reason). Maybe I was just unlucky, but every time I got a completely incompetent counter clerk. Any more, I would have to be desperate to go there again.
 
If the kids working at the Auto Parts stores are in any way a harbinger of the future...WE ARE TRULY DOOMED!

I bought the last two spray cans of this Duplicolor Gray/White spatter trunk paint couple of weeks ago at O'Reillys.....Called over there a week later and asked if they got more of the Duplicolor Grey/White spatter trunk paint in?

Clerk...What's the part #, I need a part #?

Me....Dude, the shelf with the paint is like three feet away from the counter, can you go look please

Clerk... If you give me your phone # I can look up your last receipt to find a part #

Me..... Here's my #

Clerk....Nah, the system says we don't have any.

***Walked in there the other day and asked for a Flare Nut Wrench, Three of them looked at me like I'd just asked them to explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
Might as well have asked for a Spvetscher Valve.
 
Greasyfingers said:
A few years ago I did a 73-76 disc brake conversion on my 66 barracuda. When I got the set up it didn't have the upper control arms, so I purchased a set of new aftermarket stock replacement arms. Due to other things going on I had to put the car away for few years. It was assembled, but not aligned.
I'm finally getting to the alignment of the front end and find the ball joints are toast. The bushings didn't look all that great either. The car has only driven out of garage to the street to be put on a trailer, so no actual mileage. I was disappointed to have to tear into it again, but needs to be done.
So I figured I would start over by replacing with Moog ball joints and installing offset bushings. Problem #1 my ball joint socket didn't fit. The ball joint is too big for my socket to fit on. I know my socket is correct, since I've used it on other ball joints. Problem #2 the holes in the arms for the bushings are .030 smaller than the new bushing shells. There is no way in hell the bushings are ever going to fit. I haven't received my ball joints yet, but suspect they are not going to fit either. How f***ing hard is to duplicate a part with known specs?
I can't remember what brand they were or where I got them from, so I can help others avoid them.
Time to post a want ad for oem arms.
Click to expand...

Your socket is correct for the earlier car I bet and not the 73 and up. Those use a larger ball joint and require a different size socket. I believe, if I remember correctly, there are a total of six sizes for Mopar products used through the years. Most are only familiar with or only use the two sizes we are all familiar with. I have three different size sockets myself.

Yes, those bushings will never fit for sure. .002" is a darn tight press fit, much less .030". That's ridiculous. Have you looked into a brand called ProForged? They are pretty high quality. I've had good luck with those as well as seen others have good luck with that brand too. Good luck.
 
I went to the parts store for an outside door handle for my truck. The counter guy asked if it was 4wd. I told him it didn't matter, outside door handle doesn't make the wheels turn.
 
So, after my anger and frustration subsided, I went about fixing my control arm problem. My ball joints arrived and fit fine. I decided to try and use a stone hone too increase the size of the hole for the bushings. Fortunately the metal where the bushings mount is thicker than my original sbj arms. I was able open the holes up to the same size as my original sbj arms.
Original arm
IMG_20200209_114738605.jpg
aftermarket arm
IMG_20200209_115250686.jpg

I'm still pissed that a relatively simple job became so much more involved just to fit new bushings.
 
heres one i dealt with today
ive been adding some lights to my plow truck, so im running wires

fused 10A into a switch block, hot from the switches to a relay

the relays i bought came prewired with about 10 inch leads on it
there are 5 poles on each relay,
30 positive from battery
85 ground
86 trigger wire from switch
87 out to accesory, normally open
87A out to accesory, normally closed

now, im not brilliant at wiring, but i know some basics, red is positive so that one goes on 30, black is ground so 85, blue is usually trigger (86) that must mean white and yellow are on 87 and 87A, right ?


wrong, it comes prewired like this

30 black
85 white
86 yellow
87 red
87A blue
 
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