General Parts question on quality

[GGorman04]

Hi Guys. I had a question related to parts quality.
Recently, I was shopping for brake pads for my 1998 honda accord. I bought a set from Advance Auto for $50.95.

My mechanic buddy told me that I should by these types of items from places like NAPA. He said they normally sell OE replacements, making them better quality.

I do most work myself, and was curios about his comment. Our replacement parts from places like NAPA of a better quality than what can be bought at Pep Boys and the like?

 

[Ojustracing]

Buy your parts from a company you like dealing with. You have a ton of choices in Brake Pads. Different manufacturers, quality, composition and warranty.

At my shop we do not buy from Napa. I will say they normally have everything but there items are expensive even on a wholesale level.

 

[NHGUY]

There are quality difference levels all over the place.For example NAPA....they have low line Tru Stop (generally sourced from China,and like $20) to their premium "Application Engineered" line,and a couple other lines in between.Just the name (NAPA for example) doesnt mean its OEM quality or braking performance,you need to take each line/quality on its own merits.

 

[bepperb]

I've had 6 Hondas. I do my own brakes, always have. Their OEM pads suck.

That being said, the stores are all over the place. "OEM" means very little to me. Chances are zero that the OEM pad you buy now is the same one Honda used on the factory line in 1998. If there is any reason to prefer NAPA it would be that their counter people are often more knowlegeable about the differences in the product lines... but this probably varies greatly from store to store.

 

[Chris142]

15 yrs ago Napa parts used to have a good reputation. Today it seems like many places get their parts from the same factory in China and put their sticker on the box.

I deal with a lot of water pumps. The Chinese WP I get from Pep Boys is identical to the Chinese WP I get from Napa. Same funny markings on the pump, same baggie of gaskets taped inside the lid.

 

[law3500]

My observation after running a large parts department for 3 years is that you can get good quality parts and very bad parts from all of the big name suppliers, advance, autozone, checker, orielly, pep boys and NAPA the key is NEVER buy the cheapest option available from waterpumps and ball joints to brake pads if you buy their premium product it will usually have a lifetime warranty and be of good quality.

 

[tomcat27]

just because it's from napa does NOT make it better quality. You can find good and bad parts at any store. I recently purchased an EGR valve from autozone that had all the same exact markings (including a blue paint spot) as the OE on my truck. I'm convinced it was sourced the same.

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: law3500
My observation after running a large parts department for 3 years is that you can get good quality parts and very bad parts from all of the big name suppliers, advance, autozone, checker, orielly, pep boys and NAPA the key is NEVER buy the cheapest option available from waterpumps and ball joints to brake pads if you buy their premium product it will usually have a lifetime warranty and be of good quality.


This is great advice.
I also subscribe to this from experience.

 

[andyd]

All I can say is on my BMW site the purists use German aftermkt/ original stuff. 70-80 bucks. I happened onto GMB waterpumps for 35 bucks. I took a shot and used it for 120k miles simply because I was doing a timing belt. It felt no different than the new one. However I havent bought a GMB in several yrs. They were Japanese. IDK if that is still true.

 

[GGorman04]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: andyd
All I can say is on my BMW site the purists use German aftermkt/ original stuff. 70-80 bucks. I happened onto GMB waterpumps for 35 bucks. I took a shot and used it for 120k miles simply because I was doing a timing belt. It felt no different than the new one. However I havent bought a GMB in several yrs. They were Japanese. IDK if that is still true.

Many GMB items still do come from Japan, but I have seen a few from Thailand and Korea.

I am not sure if that has hurt quality.