More Aftermarket Parts Pondering
Thursday March 4, 2010
I recently received this message from Tracy, a body man with more than 20 years in the business. He had some interesting things to say about the aftermarket body panels many insurance companies are forcing on their customers. Check it out:
I have been a autobody repair tech for the last twenty three years and have had to use many aftermarket parts from headlights to body panels. Some fit, some don't. In the last ten years or so I have seen a huge jump in the use of aftermarket parts on newer cars and trucks that should be getting OEM parts. It's not just the fit and finish on these parts it's the lonjevity of them. Look at your insurance policy and most state they will use the least expensive parts they can, aftermarket.If you're having insurance work done on your car, be sure you're ok with the parts they're using. As you can see, the impact can be lasting.
Wouldn’t parts from an auto junk yard be better and the lowest cost?
I completely agree with that, Not that far back I bought an aftermarket grille for my crown victoria. It fit good enough but not perfect and it’s already starting to fade. Same problem with my aftermarket front bumper trim. After having this happen, It’s OEM or nothing.
You instructions on changing the PCV valve on my 1998 Pontiac Bonneville were great once I found them. The PCV is well hidden on that auto. No hoses running to the compartment.
Thanks
yOUR FINE UPSTANDING PRESIDENT PUT A STOP TO THE WRECKING YARD PART SUPPLY WITH HIS (CASH FOR CLUNKERS) BOONDOGGLE.
my car just landed on its roof i need a fender and a new roof plus a front windshield i am really concerned about tackleing the roof myself although experienced in body work and paint i lack confidence when it comes to cutting the roof off of this car it is a 2005 mazda 3.
In Australia, aftermarket means poorly made Asian components, body panels made using inferior grade steel and not to exacting dimensions, usually frustratingly poor although in recent years, some have improved. Plastic bumper bars and headlights – all of poor fitment and the lamps have very low standards of fitment and also fittings inside for the actual working of the unit, as well as a poor quality look. The guys working with these cringe when told a particular job will consist of a mixture of new, used and aftermarket parts – it triples the work for a professional as he adjusts things to suit the fitment of them – it also gives hem a demoralising feeling being involved in the repair of that car – unless it is a last ditch effort to save a car from financail loss or is being done as private work for someone who is a little cash strapped – the mood of the staff changes then – (or if it is for themselves) – The repair businessses that do take pride overall and want a higher standing within the community and regard from industry will refuse to work with these items and make sure everyone from customers to insurance loss assessors know this. This can lead those shops to more business and with a better identity it can increase their bargaining power overall. One major problem is that in Australia, if you go in to any shopping mall and enter any shop, you will find that all clothing toys, furniture and mostly everything else is made in China or elsewhere in Asia – some clothing is even made in places like the Phillipines or Fiji. This has decreased our industry but also lowered standards and expectations overall – In America, you have SouthAmerica doing similar dont you ? This has given acceptance to the public of lower standards………………….
To remove a turret from a motor vehicle is not that complicated at all, it is actually just an outer skin – that is if you are only replacing the outer part of it – BUT, it is a major structual component of the body and is very integral to it’s strength, it must be fitted and welded correctly (spot welding along with butt welding to corners is most common, many are now only glued BUT to exact dimensions and standards) If not done properly, it will weaken the whole car and make it very dangerous to be in if ever the car is in a colission of any sort not just a rollover. If the bloke with the Mazda had rolled his car and someone had incorrectly repaired his roof, he may have had much more damage to the car and his person or worse ! It is likely that his Mazda also has damage to the frame under the skin and also the pillars, they are all made from multiple sections of hi-strength steel and knowledge is required when working on these types of area’s. Qualified repairers know how to re-align the pillars and even then, it can be very unprecise in the way this is done because there are so many variables involved – most of it stems from the way a car is made – from the floor up, it is not possible to remake a car when working from the outside in, that is why they learn many tricks to overcome this concept – some cars now have complete sides without joins (except the fender but including the lower sills and door hinge panels along with the rear quarters).
Over the past decade, sales of automobiles and motorcycles in Thailand have grown steadily. This growth in domestic demand has encouraged the leading automotive manufacturers to set up production in the Kingdom. As a result, Thailand has become a significant auto manufacturing location for customers at home and throughout the world.
Thanks
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I’ve been in the repair business for over 18 years and I use aftermarket parts and oem aftermarket parts. They are very similar in material etc. I know which companies have quality products and stick to them.
Cody, you have bigger problems to worry about with that Crown Vic than a faded grille. Did you hear about the Florida Highway Patrol Officer who died when his Crown Vic. Exploded when another driver crashed into the back of his vehicle! NO OEM part is going to fix that problem.