oem vr. aftermarket

[Epixstar]

oem or aftermarket. Lately i have been having lots of problem with aftermarket parts so ive been try ing just to buy motorcraft. Is there any aftermarket brands that are decent anymore? How much aftermarket repair parts do you buy for your trucks? I try to get motorcraft ifi can afford it hell the cap and rotor ran me almost 60 bucks for my 3.0.

 

[Hopman]

oem or aftermarket. Lately i have been having lots of problem with aftermarket parts so ive been try ing just to buy motorcraft. Is there any aftermarket brands that are decent anymore? How much aftermarket repair parts do you buy for your trucks? I try to get motorcraft ifi can afford it hell the cap and rotor ran me almost 60 bucks for my 3.0.

Be warned: you just may opened a big can of works for some people, so stand back and don't blame me if the BS gets to hot & heavy.

I can think of a few aftermarket parts brands that are still good. For filters, Wix is still excellent, and not to bad price wise either. Another good brand is Bosch, especially their ORIGIONAL platinum plugs and their wiper blades (of which a set are on my truck right now.

My mechanic swears by nothing but Moog chassis parts (ball joints, tie rod ends, bushings, ect). I agree with him.

For brakes, Raybestos still has some good stuff.

 

[Peregrine]

I'll use aftermarket parts as long as they appear to be equivelent to OE. However, for my 2.0, the only choice was resurfacing the thermostat housing or using a Four Seasons new housing. I tried the FS one, but the bolt hole at the top was off nearly a quarter inch. Checked out more than one and all were the same way. Not even lining up with the cheap gasket shipped with it. I suppose bad master castings happen, but that started to sour me on the aftermarket.

 

[koda6966]

Meh, I buy cheap crap.

 

[nitrofan1]

For switches and sensors Motorcraft is the way to go. Gaskets Fel Pro, Chassis Moog, Brakes there are a lot of good companies. The top aftermarket brake that shops use more than any other is Wagner Thermo Quiet.

 

[adsm08]

I'm with nitro and Hopman. Echlin and GP Sorenson also make good engine control parts. If you can't swing motorcraft I'd look for Bosch (since they make most of them for MC) and then go to Echlin.

 

[4x4junkie]

Moog ball joints last me all of 1-2 years.

Spicer (or now Raybestos) "Professional Grade" on the other hand... Going on 8 years now and still running.

Air filters... Fram is fine (Do NOT buy their oil filters though)
Oil filters = Purolator or Motorcraft or Wix
Oil = Valvoline or Castrol
Cap & Rotor & Wires = Bosch
Plugs = Autolite or Motorcraft (platinum)
Brake parts = Raybestos (check for Made In U.S.A. Do NOT buy anything not)
Bearings = Timken
Seals = Timken, CR or Federal (check for Made In U.S.A.)
Balljoints/chassis = Spicer/Raybestos "Professional Grade" (only)
Sensors = Bosch or Motorcraft
U-joints = Spicer
Transmission/motor mounts = Ford Dealer (Motorcraft)

 

[OilPatch197]

Airtex/Master Fuel pumps-

...they used to make water pumps, but the "Carlye Group" moved that business(tax break), and I have NO Ideal on who makes the best water pumps anymore.

Oil filters = Motorcraft, really the OEM oil filters is quite well constructed, then I would recommend a Mobil 1 at much more $$$

Wix makes great air filters

Shocks: Monroe Sensi tracks

Headlamp assemblies: I would only buy OEM

Meh, I buy cheap crap.

BUYING CHEAP "CRAP" IS NOT CHEAP, it's just expensive junk.

 

[TheTopher]

BUYING CHEAP "CRAP" IS NOT CHEAP, it's just expensive junk.

Words to live by. Now I just wish I lived by them BEFORE my cheap air compressor blew up while my truck was on jack stands.

 

[LearjetMinako]

It really depends on the design to the OEM part. A good example of this problem that I am having recently is comparing the OEM fan blade to one that the auto parts store offer (flex fan). After a inspecting of their parts, the parts are more universal than OE type. So probably not the best decision to make unless low on money and need something to just work. Another example is when I replaced an IAC unit on 1994 Tempo. Autozone gave me a unversal unit that did not look anything like the OEM part. And not to my surprise, did not work either. Advance Auto Parts did have an IAC unit that is OE type from BWD. Installed it and it worked perfectly.

 

[disciplerocks]

Depends on what your talking about. Oil, plugs, filter I stick with Motorcraft. Air filter I buy cheap cause I replace it every time I get soup in my airbox. As for everything else, brakes, rotors, wires, O2, ect. I go with the Autozone brand which usually have a good enough warranty to suit my needs.

 

[bcost882]

I just know that bosch plugs make a 3.0L ping horribly and autolites work the sweetness next to motorcraft and i've never had a prob with fram oil filters

 

[ufgators68]

I would suggest not putting Champion plugs in the 4.0L. I think I paid $6 per plug and they made my truck run like crap. I think it was only hitting on 3 cylinders.

Put some Autolite plugs in and haven't had an issue since. Probably going to change them again soon... been about 75k miles or so.

I still use Motorcraft oil filters but I use Castrol Syntec 10w40, I also have one of those dreaded K&N air filters and Accel wires.

 

[disciplerocks]

I suggest Motorcraft coppers for anyone changing their plugs. Especially with an upgraded ignition. They run colder than any other and at 1.99 a piece you can't beat that.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

So far the only Motorcraft stuff I regularly run is filters for both trucks and oil for my F-150. I did put Motorcraft spark plugs and coilpack boots in the F-150 though.

Usually for brakes, bearings and stuff the name brand aftermarket stuff is pretty good.

Not many bearings or seals are still made in the US anymore. You are going to do a lot of fishin' to find ones that are.