Auto Parts from Amazon

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: Zako2
Originally Posted By: stephen9666

In April 2011 I bought the CT-3 pads for my Sonata from Amazon. The pads were marked with the date 08/07/10, so they were about 8 months old.

First time I see a brake pad with GG friction rating. Are these good?


Off Topic Alert-

They stop great. The OE pads on this car were FF rated. I've seen other posts here where members say other CT-3 part numbers are also GG rated, but I don't know if they all are.

But, I was too aggressive during break in. It appears I overheated them and slightly glazed them. It took about 4k miles to wear through the overheated material in the pads. So, performance wasn't great at first, but that was my fault for going overboard on the bedding process.

I've got about 20k miles on them and I would definitely buy them again. Plus, they're made in Canada or the US, not China.

More info/pics in this thread:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...394#Post2238394

 

[Virtuoso]

Originally Posted By: MarkM66
How is Amazon's fault? They didn't make the pads.


Never said they did, did I?

It's my fault for ordering brake parts ONLINE for a car that needs them pretty much immediately. Lesson learned because I could have returned them and had new parts NOW, rather than waiting days for them to return or for a credit.

Plus the shipping losses on sending a broken product back. (I'm sure they don't cover these?)

Ah well..

 

[Cutehumor]

critic, you should have got some thermoquiet wagner pads. My dad hasn't had any complaints with them. he's on his first replacement set on his 03 sentra

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
critic, you should have got some thermoquiet wagner pads. My dad hasn't had any complaints with them. he's on his first replacement set on his 03 sentra

I am done with run-of-the-mill aftermarket pads. Ever since I switched back to Genuine or OEM pads for my cars and the cars I service, I have had zero complaints about performance.

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Side note-

I notice these pads are made in Japan.

Are they current production still made in Japan?


I believe the Genuine Mazda ones are (not value line), but cost about $78. I will have to call the distributor tomorrow to see how much they charge for the 100 series.

 

[The Critic]

I got a set of the recent production Centric 100 series pads today. I am thoroughly impressed by the packaging of these pads, and the value you are getting.

In this kit, you are getting a full new hardware kit ($10-$15 normally), teflon-coated shims that are chemically (adhesive) and mechanically attached, and a pad formulation that is supposed to match the OE pad. These things are definitely the real deal for an older car, and for applications where continual OE product updates are not a concern.

 

[stephen9666]

I notice the new box doesn't have any country of origin markings. Am I just not seeing it?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
I notice the new box doesn't have any country of origin markings. Am I just not seeing it?

You are correct - I did not see any on there at all.

I am not sure how/why this is the case.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: stephen9666
I notice the new box doesn't have any country of origin markings. Am I just not seeing it?

You are correct - I did not see any on there at all.

I am not sure how/why this is the case.


That's strange. FTC regulations require some sort of COO marking on all products, I believe.

But the few cases I see where items are missing the COO marking are often auto parts. I don't think there is an exception for auto parts.

EDIT - yes, it appears I was right.

I found this on the FTC website.

Quote:
Specifically, Section 304 of the Tariff Act, 19 U.S.C. § 1304, administered by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Customs Service, requires that all products of foreign origin imported into the United States be marked with the name of a foreign country of origin.


It appears if the item is at least partially processed in the US, then it doesn't require a COO label, but it has to meet the "USA made" guidelines to be marked "made in the USA."

Quote:
Where Customs determines that a good is not of foreign origin (i.e., the good undergoes its last substantial transformation in the United States), there is generally no requirement that it be marked with any country of origin. For most goods, neither the Customs Service nor the FTC requires that goods made partially or wholly in the United States be labeled with "Made in USA" or any other indication of U.S. origin.(6) The fact that a product is not required to be marked with a foreign country of origin does not mean that it is permissible to promote that product as "Made in USA."


I know a part I bought recently that didn't have a COO label wasn't made in the USA, as the company told me it was made in Japan. So, that was a violation of the rules, most likely.

I assume since different part numbers of the same product often come from different manufactures all over the world, COO labeling can be difficult. I assume that's why they get missed, but it still is probably a violation of labeling rules. But, I'll admit that COO issues are only a casual interest of mine, I'm no expert.