Sunsong V Gates

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Trav

Trav

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I just received Gates hoses for a Subaru along with a PS reservoir to pump hose from Sunsong which at the dealer is ridiculously expensive (6x the price).
The Gates may be good hose but everything after that is total crap, the ends were butchered, they looked like someone hacked them (not even square) with a dull steak knife, the nylon mesh cover was unfinished on the ends and fraying all over.
The Sunsong is very well made, the ends are smooth and squarely cut, the nylon mesh is nicely finished with heat shrink tubing, additionally all the relevant info is on the hose, date of manufacture, type of rubber compound, even the O.D size of the hose which is correct at 15mm. Fit and finish is perfect.
If Gates doesn't get their act together they will lose a lot of business to the Chicoms if this is any indication of their made in USA quality rightfully so. I did order a return part for the gates, the quality was not acceptable by any standard.
 
It sucks what Gates and other companies have done to their quality standards. I’m happy to learn this from you about the quality. Gates is what my automotive teacher swore by and told us to use for everything but he is used to the old stuff. The only thing Gates is good for now I guess is their free belt wear indicators.
 
Bean counters. Too many exec's seem to think one thing is a good as another thing; one person is as good as another person.
They brag about cost cutting. Cost cutting is good business if you are cutting the fat. Accepting subpar quality catches up to you.

Elon Musk said America's execs need to get out of the board room and out to the shop floor so they can see what is really going on.
 
usually you can trust gates for rubber

any of their metal stuff is of dubious quality. i’d rather go ebay special
 
Japanese auto manufacturers love to rape you on Power Steering Hoses. Almost all my bulk hose is Gates.....But I gave up on their Molded Hoses & Direct Fit Crimped (Pressure) Hoses long ago.

I got about $300 in OE return & feed/suction power steering hoses on my Avalon.....The pressure hose got replaced on the previous owners dime 6-7 years ago & I think it was almost $400 my cost at the dealer.

What distributors carry Sunsong Paul? I currently use World Pac, Autozone Commercial, Summit Racing, & a local hole in the wall "Strouds auto supply" outside of my local Dealer parts departments.
 
clinebarger said:
Japanese auto manufacturers love to rape you on Power Steering Hoses. Almost all my bulk hose is Gates.....But I gave up on their Molded Hoses & Direct Fit Crimped (Pressure) Hoses long ago.

I got about $300 in OE return & feed/suction power steering hoses on my Avalon.....The pressure hose got replaced on the previous owners dime 6-7 years ago & I think it was almost $400 my cost at the dealer.

What distributors carry Sunsong Paul? I currently use World Pac, Autozone Commercial, Summit Racing, & a local hole in the wall "Strouds auto supply" outside of my local Dealer parts departments.
Click to expand...
RockAuto carries them, I've bought a lot of their brake hoses and power steering hoses over the years. The power steering pressure hose I got for my Explorer was actually better, quality wise, than what the Ford dealer had, not to mention a third of the price. It was made in Thailand, which makes sense, given that's a rubber source.
 
clinebarger said:
Japanese auto manufacturers love to rape you on Power Steering Hoses. Almost all my bulk hose is Gates.....But I gave up on their Molded Hoses & Direct Fit Crimped (Pressure) Hoses long ago.

I got about $300 in OE return & feed/suction power steering hoses on my Avalon.....The pressure hose got replaced on the previous owners dime 6-7 years ago & I think it was almost $400 my cost at the dealer.

What distributors carry Sunsong Paul? I currently use World Pac, Autozone Commercial, Summit Racing, & a local hole in the wall "Strouds auto supply" outside of my local Dealer parts departments.
Click to expand...
Rock Auto, Car id, Summit, and quite a few Napa part#s are now Sunsong. Gates bulk hose is good hose, it is the workmanship of assembling the part, finishing it and clocking it properly is where they are falling down.
Generally I am no fan of Chinese parts they are usually made for someone else at a price point, this company is making their products for their own brand and setting their own quality standard they are also supplying their OE domestic market. IIRC It was the same with Japanese products back then, they were the last crap you would buy, and now we actually seek them out.

http://www.sunsongusa.com/Default

You cant see how bad this is cut but is half an inch shorter than it should be.

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IMG_0679.webp


IMG_0683.webp

IMG_0685.webp
 
Trav said:
I just received Gates hoses for a Subaru along with a PS reservoir to pump hose from Sunsong which at the dealer is ridiculously expensive (6x the price).
The Gates may be good hose but everything after that is total crap, the ends were butchered, they looked like someone hacked them (not even square) with a dull steak knife, the nylon mesh cover was unfinished on the ends and fraying all over.
The Sunsong is very well made, the ends are smooth and squarely cut, the nylon mesh is nicely finished with heat shrink tubing, additionally all the relevant info is on the hose, date of manufacture, type of rubber compound, even the O.D size of the hose which is correct at 15mm. Fit and finish is perfect.
If Gates doesn't get their act together they will lose a lot of business to the Chicoms if this is any indication of their made in USA quality rightfully so. I did order a return part for the gates, the quality was not acceptable by any standard.
Click to expand...
:mad:
 
I wasn’t too impressed by the high pressure Gates p/s hose from last month; I posted on here. Can’t say I am surprised by your experience.
 
Wonder if Gates proper even 'finishes' their branded hoses or if they make the hose and sub out the rest. Either way, their name is on it and it is disappointing. I've used Gates, but have always been a Continental fan for rubber prods.
 
Sunsong definitely makes quality hoses. I replaced all of the PS and brake hoses on my previous Explorer with those and had no issues. In fact, I'd say they are my preferred brand.
 
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