Firestone auto care suspension part branding

[JHZR2]

Per my thread on metallic noises from my steering, it appears that I am going to need a new strut bearing and so I may as well put in a new strut mount also. Only one is bad, and the Saab has seen a good amount of off road driving and hit a retread at 75 mph.

When I bought my last of tires which I got at Firestone (potenza 960as), I took the lifetime alignment package because was on sale. I have no abnormal tire wear but especially if I'm working on the suspension I figure I may as well get the alignment done. Convenience would indicate that I just take it to Firestone instead of the dealer or an independent and get it all done at one place. However I like to have control of the parts that are being used in my car, so I get OEM or a top-notch brand as opposed to something that just maximizes their profit.

Can Firestone be trusted to do this job with top quality parts? Will they accept me requesting LEM or specific brand of part? I don't necessarily want to bring the park into them but I do want to make sure that the brands and items that are used are my selection

Thoughts?? Thanks!

 

[tdpark]

They tend to get their parts from a local distributor so you should have some options. When I had work done on my car- they used high quality parts and they warranty parts and labor for 12k or 1 year so they are going to use decent stuff. For example, my ac compressor and fan clutch went- both parts were denso- which was probably the oem supplier. When you go in- just ask if you can spec the parts, they can call their distributor to see if they have them.

 

[The_Jeff]

When I worked at a parts/tire shop we used our own stuff with lifetime warranty (I know, I know...) and had an account with NAPA for most other stuff. We didn't use Advance or Autozone because they were our competititon in a way.

I would just bluntly ask them. Alignments are such gravy they should bend over backwards to please you.

 

[bourne]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Alignments are such gravy they should bend over backwards to please you.


Not a lifetime alignment. Its gravy only the first time, after that each time they align his vehicle, its a total loss ( they pay the tech but the cust has a no charge ticket ). Besides Firestone's lifetime alignments are mostly toe-n-go ( at least in my area they are )

 

[The Critic]

The last time I was at Firestone, I saw them install a Duralast branded control arm onto a Maxima. So, I think they use whatever is available at their local parts store.

I'm sure they could arrange for the suspension part to be brought in from the dealer, but dealers rarely stock suspension parts, so your car will probably be sitting there for a few days.

 

[y_p_w]

I had a rad hose blow on me on a Saturday. I wasn't sure where to take it after the tow truck assigned by AAA showed up an hour later. I was hoping to get it into the closest dealer before service shut down for the day, but by that time they were closed. I kind of blanked and said to take it to the Firestone because they were open and I'd been there before.

Turns out I had a blown lower coolant hose. They also recommended replacing the upper hose since they were already there. They had to order them, and the replacements were Gates hoses. They also used a universal coolant, but that was more or less expected.

The radiator did blow after that (over two years later), but I don't attribute that to the work they did or the parts they used. The tank just cracked. I remember driving and seeing a puff of steam rise from the hood. It just kept on leaking slowly. I eventually had a guy I know replace the radiator with an all aluminum one. He said the hoses were fine and he reused them.

 

[Papa Bear]

Originally Posted By: y_p_w

Turns out I had a blown lower coolant hose.


What year/make/model/mileage vehicle are you talking about?

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Originally Posted By: y_p_w

Turns out I had a blown lower coolant hose.


What year/make/model/mileage vehicle are you talking about?

2004 Subaru Impreza WRX with about 68K miles on it in 2010. I saw a ton of steam and the coolant was just spraying all over the street. I was literally 20 feet from where I planned on parking and drove just long enough to park.

I've actually replaced an upper radiator hose before. Can't say it was that hard, but all and all I'll pay someone else to do it if I'm not in a hurry to get it done because I need the car for work.

Firestone shops are a lot like other places. They won't carry most parts in stock for every possible repair. They're likely to have things needed for tires and filters. Everything else they can order from various suppliers. My preferred independent shop is like this, although they're a Japanese car specialist and tends to have a lot of parts in stock, but still need to order parts and typically through dealer parts departments (I've seen them dropping off parts there) as well as independent parts place where they've learned which aftermarket parts they trust.

 

[Whimsey]

The Firestone auto care facility is across the street from an Advance Auto Parts store and the more expensive NAPA store is less than 1/2 mile down the road. Hmm, whose parts do you think they use, think profit. My Indie uses Napa parts, over all much less problems for him. He is willing to use OEM parts I supply. But I bear the responsibility for labor if they fail. The OEM are much cheaper than what he bills me for the Napa parts. It's his insurance for having to replace faulty parts that fail under the 12 mo, 12,000 mile warranty. So far the OEM parts have been good and last well past the 1 year 12,00 warranty he provides. The NAPA parts last past the 12 month period but I've had failures and replaced them with OEM that lasted a lot longer. Not all NAPA parts are bad, they seem better than the other parts stores parts, just not OEM quality in general.

Whimsey

 

[JHZR2]

So I took it in today, and got a call a few hours later... Drove it and couldnt make it happen. It is harder to notice when driving.

Told them (again) exactly how to replicate, and they called me back saying that they made it happen but couldnt tell if it was any different from the other side.

Seriously? The spring binds, then moves with a clang. What is there to miss.

Im not bad technically, but Im also not a qualified auto tech who does it as a day job... But my wife and I isolated this in less than five minutes in a parking lot. It is really easy to determine and feel/see/hear.

So they recommended I take it to a saab place. Seriously? As if a saab strut bearing is magically different from a chevy?

I have the lifetime alignment, and asked specifically for the printout, so we will see if it is a tow and go.

After the mount is done, Ill take it back for another alignment. Their loss on a few hundred in work. Im fairly speechless.