Use caution when you're buying from SA Gear.

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jos51700

jos51700

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The nieces' Ford Edge crapped a water pump, and since Ford is pants-on-head retarded, the water pump is behind the timing chain(s). From Ford, this is like $800 in parts if I'm going to replace chains and guides while I'm there.

Enter Rock Auto. I find a timing chain set from SA Gear. Is it China garbage? Per their website:

S.A. Gear is the only USA based manufacturer of both timing chains and sprockets for the automotive aftermarket.​


I don't 'do' China. That sounds promising, so I order up. Disappointment is inbound:

88770a97-b096-40be-8076-09aed740cf03.jpg


I call SA Gear and the nice lady says they do everything in house, until I start pressing, then she admits that 'some' parts come from China, but not chains. I point out that my chains are clearly marked "Made in China" so they must be fraudulent? Nope, I give her the part number and she instantly admits those come from China. I give her some more part numbers and she instantly admits that those are made in China too.

Then I made up a couple completely fraudulent part numbers and sure enough, 'Taiwan or China'. She wasn't even checking, she didn't need to. If the parts were counterfeit, she should've been raising alarms.

If you think you're getting a quality US-made timing set from them, I caution you. If you're ok with questionable Chinese crap, then that's your choice.

FYI I called Ford, their timing chain parts are all made in Mexico, and NOTHING should be from China. I'm using OE parts so I don't have to do this again for another decade.
 
These days I assume most parts are offshore sourced. I assume OEM parts are too. There are good offshore and poor offshore parts. You guess which is which. One local shop will not install non OEM parts....too many comebacks. I usually take my chances because my labor is free although it depends on the size of the job.
 
1MeanA said:
These days I assume most parts are offshore sourced. I assume OEM parts are too. There are good offshore and poor offshore parts. You guess which is which. One local shop will not install non OEM parts....too many comebacks. I usually take my chances because my labor is free although it depends on the size of the job.
Click to expand...
Generally I agree, you don't know where it's coming from, BUT, I know OEM's have that pesky warranty to worry about, so it's in their best interest to make sure their parts aren't crap.

I picked up the Ford parts. "Majority of componants sourced in USA" is on each package except the water pump which was made in Mexico. Mexico I can handle. When I see the shitty Made In China labels (with what seems like the same damn font on everything made in China, no matter who is selling it), my BS flag is raised.
 
Just yesterday I had a lady come in for a new headlight in her 15 jetta, she seen her factory Hella headlight that I said made in Mexico, not Germany, so I showed her the Vin and data tag inside the door and it said made in Mexico. She about had a fit on the spot, refused the headlight and said she was going to trade it for one built in Germany. I just said good luck
 
Most everything has been sourced overseas because the USA cannot compete with the wage scale, nor the cost of materials. I DO NOT want this to turn into a political post, what I stated is just a statement of fact. Look at who you talk to at any customer service number, they don't speak very good English and you have one HELL of a time trying to understand them. I'm all for nations bettering themselves, but there comes a time to say enough is enough.
 
jos51700 said:
The nieces' Ford Edge crapped a water pump, and since Ford is pants-on-head retarded, the water pump is behind the timing chain(s). From Ford, this is like $800 in parts if I'm going to replace chains and guides while I'm there.

Enter Rock Auto. I find a timing chain set from SA Gear. Is it China garbage? Per their website:

S.A. Gear is the only USA based manufacturer of both timing chains and sprockets for the automotive aftermarket.​


I don't 'do' China. That sounds promising, so I order up. Disappointment is inbound:

View attachment 1716321712

I call SA Gear and the nice lady says they do everything in house, until I start pressing, then she admits that 'some' parts come from China, but not chains. I point out that my chains are clearly marked "Made in China" so they must be fraudulent? Nope, I give her the part number and she instantly admits those come from China. I give her some more part numbers and she instantly admits that those are made in China too.

Then I made up a couple completely fraudulent part numbers and sure enough, 'Taiwan or China'. She wasn't even checking, she didn't need to. If the parts were counterfeit, she should've been raising alarms.

If you think you're getting a quality US-made timing set from them, I caution you. If you're ok with questionable Chinese crap, then that's your choice.

FYI I called Ford, their timing chain parts are all made in Mexico, and NOTHING should be from China. I'm using OE parts so I don't have to do this again for another decade.
Click to expand...
So, did you send it all back?
 
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