what are your favorite brands of parts to use?

[monte85]

i have always tried to stick with gm parts for my vehicles, but as parts go unavailable or the prices get to high, i find myself going to the local parts stores for my needs. so that leads me to the title question, what are your brands of choice and stores of choice? i will go to the napa close to work for some things but i have also gone to autozone or advance auto when time or location limits my choices. i'll rebuild my original when appropriate (alternators and the like).

[VileZambonie]

stay away from bottom of the barrel igniton system components, sensors, steering/suspension parts and such but I've gotta tell ya, most parts vendors use the same stuff underneath the covers. Many product lines simply have different colors and boxing with different warranties but are all manufactured and or assembled in the same house. You can take my word for it I know a lot of people in the business and they're told not to admit it. Other than that usually price is the determining factor. The lower the cost for me the lower the cost for my customers. I also try to stay away from remanufactured waterpumps and master cylinders.

[85MudMonster]

honestly, It depends on where I'm at and what brands they carry. I like Borg-Warner, MSD, Castrol, WIX, Sylvania....but it also depends on what i'm buying as well, there are alot of brands and some make alot of different parts, but IMO they only make that one part that i buy really well.....

Here is my phylosophy:

I go in to buy spark plugs, they carry lets say 2 types of iridium tip plugs, Autolite and Accel, the Autolites are say 2.99 each and the accels are say 2.89 or vice versa, I'm gonna buy the Accels cause they're both name brand and one is cheaper, now if one was accels and the other was bob's spark plugs and bob's plugs were 1.99 I'd buy the name brand plugs. So basically to make what is now a long story short, I buy the chaepest name brand parts.

[Stewart G Griffin]

i like BOSCH; They're a high quality product---waterpumps, alternators etc.

For belts and hoses, Gates.  Although my next hoses will probably be the stainless-steel flex type hoses from Spectre and other decent brands.

For filters, i prefer Fram.  i use nothing but Mobil 1 synthetic in anything i drive.  Although i want to investigate Royal Purple;  i hear good things about them.

Bendix brake pads and components.

For tires, i'm tempted to try Kumhos(you should check out their prices), although i'll probably go with Michelin when it's time.  i have heard good things about the Cornell brand of tires offered by Pepboys in terms of value for money.

My view is that you saved thousands of $$$ by not buying a new Silverado, so don't skimp on parts.
You can buy the best parts and still save big money over buying a new truck.

[werewolfx13]

Wix oil filters (napa gold), Mobil1 oil filters are really good too, any brand of air filter though I'm not a big fan of K&N style gauze filters as far as performance..They flow better for maybe a week, then they flow like an ordinary paper filters, even if the paper filter is a week old too..though they do look better. Champion plugs are my preferred plugs for these trucks, I've always had better luck with em..I also like bosch platinum plugs, they seem to resist fuel-fouling pretty well. Lots of the other stuff doesn't really matter too much to me..

Brands I won't use..I won't use Fram oil filters EVER. I'll run an old wix filter before I'll use a new Fram. I've seen a Fram motorcycle oil filter come apart after 500 miles, and have cut open a few fram filters and have seen the filter matter has desintigrated and been scattered in the engine. If you must use a fram, get the cheapest one..the more expensive two types are absolute TRASH. Their drainback and bypass valves are junk. Accel plug wires and coils are another thing I won't use, some are good, but getting the good ones can take several attempts and mixing and matching plug wire sets. The last set of accel wires I used on a v8 was on my Riviera, it took 6 boxes of em to get all 8 good wires..I got 2 different good ones from each of two boxes, and 1 each from the other 4. There were a couple boxes that didn't have a single good wire in em. No continuity or the resistance was WAY too high. Motorcycle wires were even less consistent.  I now buy Dyna suppression core wire in bulk and make my own wires for my bike.

[JJSZABO]

I use to work for an independent (mom and pop) autoparts store while going to college.  My favorites, WIX filters, Borg Warner for suspension parts, Champion or AC Delco spark plugs for Chevy's.  I put Denzo Iridiums in my Ford (no flames) Expedion and had Great results.  Gates hoses and belts, K&M electrical or ignition system parts (don't know if still made).  TRW for engine parts (stock).  I will NOT use Fram filters - seen too many of them cut open and shown what werewolf13 already experienced.  I also would not use Quaker State oil - sludge in a can.  Just my .02

[Redneckchevy]

you cant get every ones opion..but when it comes down to it you will find out the hard way.....Like i me i had to learn never buy electronic parts from autozone....ill buy brakes and stuff like that....but ill buy the rest of my stuff from summit racing...since they are only 10miles away....Bosch is a good name....but i wont buy there spark plugs...and fram isnt all its crackd up to be..as stated above....like i said....give it time.

[JJSZABO]

...but ill buy the rest of my stuff from summit racing...since they are only 10miles away....

You LUCKY dawg

[Redneckchevy]

o i no im lucky lol....And since they now sell oem parts....Draw back is...I gotta have my "books" at hand so i can call ahead and they can pick the parts...or i can go online and find the parts....so all in all it takes longer to get the part in hand....Other draw back is they are only open till 8 .....

[JRConnieK10]

Yeah I'll have to agree with JJSZABO Redneck that would be nice to be that close to Summit but I would be broke but dang I would have a bad truck.

[85MudMonster]

when I lived in Mayfield Heights, OH I used to drive down to Tallmage all the time to shop at Summit. That place is freakin awesome, it's like the Bass Pro of parts stores.

[86 chevy silverado]

 Like a kid in a candy store...Bow to the gods! 

[monte85]

if i lived that close to a summit store, i don't think i would ever be home long enough to get anything done.