OEM vs After-Market (Failure)

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MasterSolenoid

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OEM vs After-Market parts.

June 2016: I decided to change Outer Tie Rod Ends
Mileage: 134,048
Vehicle: 2002 Ford ranger
Outer Tie Rod Ends - Relaced with Duralast from Auto Zone
Note: I wanted 'no' zerk fittings and NAPA had only zerks


August 10, 2018: I get my vehicle Inspected and it FAILS
Reason: Worn Outer Tie Rod End
After Market part worn out after 2 years and 15,652 miles …… WOW
Originals lasted for 11 years and 100,000 miles.
As Joe Friday use to say "no brag, just fact"

I told the Inspector to Fail it and I will repair myself.
Ordered from RockAuto (2) Motorcraft parts.

Conclusion: I always try to buy quality parts, but I need to make a better effort.
 
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Are you going to get your money back from AutoZone?


OP here.
YES. That goes without saying.
Parts have a Limited Lifetime warranty / and I have my Receipt.
 
Almost every part or fluid I purchase is cheaper OEM from the dealer or online than aftermarket. Filters, camshafts, alternators, brakes, etc. And if 10% -20% more I still buy because in 8 years when it's still working it's 99% less headache. For instance, I take wife's Subaru to an Indy mechanic. OEM water pump lasted 10 years. On my 2nd aftermarket in in the last 4. But they have 3 year 36k repair. After this one dies in 24k I'll bring my own OEM and just pay them labor LOL
 
Originally Posted By: MasterSolenoid
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Are you going to get your money back from AutoZone?


OP here.
YES. That goes without saying.
Parts have a Limited Lifetime warranty / and I have my Receipt.
you are not likely to get your money back from autozone,just free replacements (read the terms of the warranty)
 
Originally Posted By: Billbert
Originally Posted By: MasterSolenoid
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Are you going to get your money back from AutoZone?


OP here.
YES. That goes without saying.
Parts have a Limited Lifetime warranty / and I have my Receipt.
you are not likely to get your money back from autozone,just free replacements (read the terms of the warranty)



I agree they'll give you the same replacement.
Let us know how you made out with them.
 
Originally Posted By: sprite1741
They will will refund, so will O'Reillys.


Didn't know this.

I wonder if the same cane be had from Advance Auto with calipers/ rotors.
 
Originally Posted By: sprite1741
They will will refund, so will O'Reillys.

I wish. I purchased a BWD map sensor that went bad at oreilley. Left me stumbling to get the truck anywhere. I popped into autozone and bought a different brand map sensor. I took the old one back to oreilley for a refund. They wouldn’t give me my money back. So now I have a spare map sensor I can’t use because it’s a POS. If the one installed now goes out I am putting a motorcraft. I have learned my lesson. Same thing with the ECT sensor. 3 BWD sensors later I finally got a motorcraft and called it a day.
 
Originally Posted By: Kira
Yo, O.P., Why did you prefer no zerks?

Zerks are how the grease gets in. Grease lubes and forces dirt out.


OP here,

I once had Tie Rod Ends with Zerks.
I bought them at NAPA
Problem is the Seal was actually Plastic and used as a Dust Cover / nothing to keep the grease inside.
On the Ford Ranger, the Backing Plate behind the Rotor has an elongated slot for clearance of Rubber Seal on T.R.E.
Every time I greased them, I worried about grease getting thru the elongated slot and getting onto the rotor.
I finally said, "no more worrying, I put on 'zerkless' / Only zerkless locally was at Auto Zone.

So that's why I want zerkless, the 'original' lasted 100,000 miles.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: MasterSolenoid
Originally Posted By: Kira
Yo, O.P., Why did you prefer no zerks?

Zerks are how the grease gets in. Grease lubes and forces dirt out.


OP here,

I once had Tie Rod Ends with Zerks.
I bought them at NAPA
Problem is the Seal was actually Plastic and used as a Dust Cover / nothing to keep the grease inside.
On the Ford Ranger, the Backing Plate behind the Rotor has an elongated slot for clearance of Rubber Seal on T.R.E.
Every time I greased them, I worried about grease getting thru the elongated slot and getting onto the rotor.
I finally said, "no more worrying, I put on 'zerkless' / Only zerkless locally was at Auto Zone.

So that's why I want zerkless, the 'original' lasted 100,000 miles.




+1 on zerkless, I wont buy ones with zerks unless its for off road of heavy stuff. Funny thing is when I started in this business there were only parts with zerk fittings and ball joints, tie rods and alignments were a mainstay of the business.
 
Originally Posted By: Billbert
Originally Posted By: MasterSolenoid
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Are you going to get your money back from AutoZone?


OP here.
YES. That goes without saying.
Parts have a Limited Lifetime warranty / and I have my Receipt.
you are not likely to get your money back from autozone,just free replacements (read the terms of the warranty)


OP here,
If anyone is interested, I did get my money back.
Parts came with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

I went Online and 'chatted' with Auto Zone person.
I asked if I could return them for a cash refund ?
Online person said "yes" …… I then printed online conversation.

I went to Store
The employee wanted to exchange the parts until I showed him the printed conversation I had Online.
I then had my cash in hand and left Store.

If I did not print the Online chat with Auto Zone,
I would have been at the mercy of the Store Employee.
All worked out good.
 
Last edited:
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