"Even GMB or Graf"? GMB is a good budget brand but the Graf is top tier, among the best, in my opinionHouse brand parts suck because you never know where they get it from, though some "name brand" aftermarket parts aren't any better
But the worst is Gates timing belt kits because they use a cheap Chinese water pump instead of sourcing it from Aisin, Hitachi, NPW, or some other OE supplier. Even GMB or Graf would be a step up. You definitely don't want to cheap out when the water pump is driven by the timing belt!
GMB isn't too bad for a cheap aftermarket pump, and they are an OE supplier, so they would be a second or third choice if you can't get OE or Aisin or something.
Just be glad you don't have a Cadillac XLR or Jeep Comanche
two failed "lifetime" water pumps from Advance Auto Parts
- Thread starter mrsilv04
- Start date
I read several years ago that engineers wrote a paper saying that the replacement parts you buy at a dealer are not the same as what came on the car from the factory but with looser tolerances to allow for wear on the mating parts. Interesting idea...
SammyChevelleTypeS3
$50 site donor 2023
Sadly. I am not so sure, oem or "name brand" means a thing these days. At one time I purchased all of my auto batteries from dealerships or bought the famous Sears Die-Hard batteries. The last (2) official oem batteries I dealership purchased for our Honda Accords did not even last much past 24 months. Sure, you get a pro rated warranty but who wants to keep having to go thru the dead or failing battery so often. I finally started using a home battery tester several times a year just to prepare to not get the dead battery surprises.
True, but it's still better than random white box scrap.
Even if an aftermarket GMB isn't as good as what they make for the OEM parts at the dealer, they're better than whatever they use for the house brands. Even if Akebono's aftermarket pads aren't the same as OE pads from the dealer, they are still a high quality product
Nope, but looking at the stock photos and comparing them to the GMB one it seems that Aisin is just rebranding from them.Was Aisin the OE supplier for your Sportage?
GMB is an OE supplier to Hyundai and Kia, so if you replace it and haven't done the replacement yet, GMB might be worth considering.
I worked for Advance, I wouldn’t use any of their Carquest pumps on my own vehicles. Most are Chinese-made junk. There might be some old stock that is still decent, or a few particular applications that are sourced from a reliable manufacturer, but I would not trust it.
Gates used to make decent pumps, but I would really only use them on them on older domestic vehicles. For Asian vehicles I’d be comfortable using OEM, Aisin, Hitachi, or Denso. I just put an Aisin on my ‘97 Accord. Newer domestic vehicles, I’d use OEM only. Water pumps just are too important to cheap out on.
Gates used to make decent pumps, but I would really only use them on them on older domestic vehicles. For Asian vehicles I’d be comfortable using OEM, Aisin, Hitachi, or Denso. I just put an Aisin on my ‘97 Accord. Newer domestic vehicles, I’d use OEM only. Water pumps just are too important to cheap out on.
Reminds me of when I was growing up and my first truck ( a jalopy at the time) a 1988 f-150 with the 5.0L in it. Water pump went out, changed it with a "lifetime warranty" remanufactured one from AAP ( Was in HS to say money was tight is an understatement). First one lasted about a month, second maybe a day, third maybe a week, etc.... I went through almost 6 water pumps, finally my father getting fed up with taking me to the parts store said he would install it (Industrial Maintenance foreman at the time) since I had to be doing something wrong. This one made it less than a day. He took me to the local ford dealer after that one and bought me a OEM water pump, it was still on it when the truck was scrapped.
Aftermarket parts in the last decade or so have gotten more expensive and often still subpar quality. At least for Japanese brands, OEM parts aren't much different in price and you often get way better quality.
Now, if I need something ASAP, parts stores are handy. Otherwise, I'll almost always use OEM parts.
What do people like about aftermarket parts instead of OEM?
I'd be fine using, say, a Denso aftermarket part, but they're often not that much cheaper from the part stores. Or if I had an old beater I just wanted to get moving or something.
Anyway...
I price things out and OEM Subaru, Toyota, and Honda often aren't that much more expensive. And if the original part lasted years and years and years, I don't get why people would save 10-20% and deal with the annoyance. Unless it's a known great aftermarket brand. But I've had horrible luck from the par store parts.
For fun I just Googled brake rotors and water pump for my car. Toyota OEM are cheaper than the store brands. And, since they've lasted 120k miles and 9 years, why would I spend more for something from a parts store?
I think many people don’t trust the dealerships, and assume they will get ripped off. But if you shop smart, yes the dealer can be the same price or cheaper.
Both times I’ve needed GM parts for personal vehicles and went to the local dealer parts department they tried to charge me an insane price. But the official GM parts website with their dealer selected showed the normal MSRP. They were very unhappy when I pointed that out but they did adjust the price.
No wonder people just go to the parts store. It might be overpriced but you will at least the advertised price.
Also the dealers aren’t open on weekends, holidays, or outside of typical business hours. And so when you need something, you need it now.
When it does come to warrantying a part at the auto parts store, it’s usually fairly hassle free. On the other hand, I’ve heard of dealers telling customers that they have to pay for diagnostic at the service department and if they determine the part is bad under warranty they’ll replace the part for free but the customer will still have to pay labor. Sure, I get it, because so many people do rip off companies, but why pay $200 in diag fee when you’re trying to warranty a $40 sensor?
Often the dealer is a lot more expensive, but sometimes their prices are competitive enough that they are worth at least calling. The local Ford dealer beat the parts stores on battery prices by quite a bit when I had to get a battery for my F-150.
Yup. I learned this lesson decades ago, with AutoZone lifetime brake pads. My time is worth more to me, than having to having to install warranted parts time and again.
There was also a rash of fuel pumps lasting about 3 months for the EEC-IV Fords. Unless there's an access panel, no one wants to repeat an in-tank pump job.
I also view every unnecessary fuel pump R&R as a good way to blow yourself up or burn your shop down
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/2009-highlander-water-pump-fail.234803/page-2#post-3718480
My experience a few years ago scared me off house-branded water pumps.
My experience a few years ago scared me off house-branded water pumps.
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- Jan 18, 2026
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scary reading as i sit with a amazon 35$ water pump to install in my f150.
That GM parts website is awesome. It lets you compare the prices at all the local dealers in your area.
I'm not convinced that an AC Delco water pump for a 1999 Oldsmobile isn't a reboxed "white box" part.
