When & when not to buy OEM parts?

Hey, I had a question for you guys, so we all know OEM parts are always preferred but at the same time cost wayyyyyy more.

So my question is, what parts is a good idea to buy OEM? And what parts would OEM replicas suffice?

I know cosmetic parts like hoods, spoilers, etc, OEM replicas would be fine, but anything else?

I used to be a Parts shop shopper. With the 4runner (mine is a 3rd gen), OEM are substantially better. A perfect example are the ball joints. Before I knew better, I ran high quality aftermarket units. They wore out quickly. I went back to OEM. CV axles are the other place to not go with anything but OEM (or rebuilt OEM).

I prefer OEM brake pads over anything else.

I used to be a strictly OE type of guy, but it seems like the aftermarket quality has gotten a lot better lately.

I've had pretty good luck with aftermarket, but I can offer this: steer clear of cheap aftermarket side view mirrors. I bought a cheap replacement one on my drivers side and that thing seems to rattle or vibrate even when I'm sitting still... I'm exaggerating of course, but the rear view and passenger mirror are perfect where as I can barely tell what I'm looking at when going down the road on the drivers side. And that's without the JL Audio doing it's thang.

I have had tremendous luck with OE brake components. I'm @ 161K+ miles on stock calipers, stock rotors (turned once), and 2nd set of pads with plenty of life left on them. That being said, I'll probably go high quality aftermarket on the next set.

Hope that helps.

I only use OEM parts anymore on my Toyotas. I get them online at "Toyota Parts" | "Toyota Accessories" | Parts.TitusWillToyota.com and have no complaints. They fit right everytime and last as long as the originals. It got to the point that when I put on a non oem part the vehicle would know it and throw fits till I put on the correct oem part. :sniper: If you plan on keeping the vehicle just get oem and be done with it.

I get rebuilt parts for perishable items such as front brake callipers (freezes at about 50,000 miles). You get lifetime warranty at half of OEM price.


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It depends on the components... for example, Moog usually makes wonderful suspension products for the OEM market. StopTech is the manufactuer for our TRD Pads and calipers in some models. Many of the components are outsourced to aftermarket companies, then shipped to the factory and stamped with a Toyota Part Number and logo.

So if you know what the parts are and who makes them for Toyota, you can probably get them cheaper from their website/distriubutor and just not deal with markup.

OEM oil filters. They are the same price as after market filters and I have yet to read anything bad about them from multiple sources. The 90915-20004 is probably the most overkill awesome you can run the but the stock -yzzd series is great too. You can sleep well running aftermarket fluids and greases with the exception of Toyota WS tranny fluid. Best stick with OEM here as well. For parts, OEM is great but I concur with what has already been mentioned, namely rebuilt OEM is probably the more wallet friendly choice.

I tend to use Toyota for everything since I work for them, and know their quality pretty damn well. The only thing I'd probably not get from them (since they're so overpriced) are the tires.

The only aftermarket thing I've put on my truck so far (besides LED swap, Ipod/Aux adapter and tires) is a Napa brake caliper. $20 cheaper than my cost at Toyota plus a limited lifetime warranty. Toyota is 1 year. That was a no brainer.

As Blackworks said 'it depends'. You should do your homework and price out all options. Having the OEM label does not make it superior automatically. There are some parts I buy from the dealer, like pads and door mirrors, but would never buy a wheel bearing or a radiator from them.

Sungod said:

As Blackworks said 'it depends'. You should do your homework and price out all options. Having the OEM label does not make it superior automatically. There are some parts I buy from the dealer, like pads and door mirrors, but would never buy a wheel bearing or a radiator from them.

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As long as it's a Koyo wheel bearing that you're buying, it should be ok.

I've found there are different quality of aftermarket parts. Companies like ADAP or VIP...seem to carry the lower end of aftermarket parts. Here in NH we have a couple local parts supply chains that carry good quality parts.

A couple of things about OEM parts. Toyota is like all other manufacturers...they buy many of their parts from other companies. If you break it down by components...Toyota probably builds less then 30% of all components that go into building a 4runner or Camry (name your vehicle). Take a look at the gas pedal problem....turns out the gas pedal was made by two different manufacturers (one in the US/Canada and one in Japan). The companies that also make these components also sell them to aftermarket distributors. So in many cases when you buy an aftermarket component you'll buying the EXACT SAME COMPONENT that Toyota buys...only for about one third the price.

There are also many companies that make re-engineered products. These vary in quality also. Some are very very good...other aren't. Moog (mentioned earlier) is one. They make high quality suspension parts. Mood also is an OEM provider for many companies. They may not be the OEM supplier for the particular part you're buying...but they do get many OEM contract bids from multiple manufacturers (Toyota, GM, Ford, Nissan, BMW) just to name a few. In order to be an OEM provider many companies require them to have certain manufacturing processes in place for quality control. So it's much easier for Moog to apply these processes to everything they make all the time....no matter if it's an OEM product or a part you can buy at your local parts store.

I will almost always buy aftermarket. I buy from a quality local parts supplier that doesn't carry the junk that's out there. In 40+ years of buying parts I've yet to have one fail....EVER. And my wife and I have been averaging OVER 300k miles on our vehicles. And for the life of me I can't ever remember an aftermarket that has ever failed or didn't meet or even EXCEED the manufacturers specs.

Body parts are a completely different beast. They are made almost exclusively by the manufacturer. So body parts you probably want to buy from the dealer. Many years ago........GM and Ford and Chryco's fit and finish on their body parts were NOT the greatest of quality. So there were several companies that made BETTER body panels then they did. But their quality has increased drastically that no companies are making better body parts then OEM anymore.

The last category of parts things like Spark-plugs. I never understood why people buy Toyota Only sparkplugs. Maybe if the price is good..but around here the Toyota spark plug is selling for 2-3 times what a Denso or NGK plug goes for at my local parts store.

And even funnier is Glass. Pretty much all the local dealers in my area farm out their glass to the local glass companies. I can go to the dealer to get my cracked windshield replaced for $500....OR I can go to Portland Glass and get it done for $200. And guess what....if I go to the dealer....they'll pull my truck into their service bay and then call Portland Glass to replace it for them.

If it makes you FEEL GOOD to buy OEM parts....GREAT....But I've yet to see ANY good quality aftermarket part that isn't as good or in some cases even BETTER then OEM part....for usually one third the price.

What do y'all think of OEM headlights vs. aftermarket? I was going to purchase a set to retrofit (03-05) with HID, but headlights is not the place I want to cut quality.

I wouldn't hesitate in buying an aftermarket headlight. This is NOT rocket-science. My 15yo son can design a headlight.

Agreed. Performance parts (suspension, motor, etc) would be better off OEM. Cosmetic parts, aftermarket should be fine

Be aware, my last 4Runner had a history of an accident when I bought it. It had one headlight that was replaced from the accident and the other headlight was original. The original Toyota headlight was foggy/oxidized. The aftermarket headlight was much clearer in comparison (obviously because it was much newer) but it also leaked. It had moisture build up around the edges that looked even worse than the oxidized headlight (which is easier to fix with one of those headlight restoration kits). Needless to say, I replaced both headlights when I got the truck with the aftermarket halo projectors which actually had a much better design than OEM. It was designed to allow moisture in and out (not sealed) so although it would fog up for 5 minutes after you go through a car wash, it clears right up and you don't have to worry about it permanently fogging up. I plan on replacing the headlights on my '06 with the sport smoked headlights and plan on going aftermarket for those.

I go with OEM on important stuff like the timing belt and related components and go aftermarket on "big metal" stuff like brakes. My experience is almost the exact opposite of MikeInNH... in 25 years of buying parts, I've had aftermarket parts repeatedly fail. In 1996, I was changing the starter of a van and it took 3 starters to get one that worked. Two years ago, I replaced the temp sensor in my Cherokee and the replacement failed within six months. And, in between those two events, my aftermarket experience has been that of parts failing within 24 months, almost every time. It's nearly impossible to find any aftermarket parts, other than reman stuff, that isn't cheap Chinese crap... regardless of what parts house you go to. Although I'm guessing this depends on exactly what part you're looking for.

-E

Seals and engine associated parts like water pumps and timing belt parts I usually stick with OEM but with stuff like shocks and parts that need to be stronger for a purpose like off roading then the aftermarket usually has some good options.

NJshadow93 said:

...I replaced both headlights when I got the truck with the aftermarket halo projectors which actually had a much better design than OEM. It was designed to allow moisture in and out (not sealed) so although it would fog up for 5 minutes after you go through a car wash, it clears right up and you don't have to worry about it permanently fogging up. I plan on replacing the headlights on my '06 with the sport smoked headlights and plan on going aftermarket for those.

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What manufactuer and model? I assume those were on your totaled '03?

MikeInNH said:

I wouldn't hesitate in buying an aftermarket headlight. This is NOT rocket-science. My 15yo son can design a headlight.

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Heh. It's not so much the design, but the manufacture. Can they make the headlight to spec within prescribed tolerances? Does it fit or is it just a little bit off where you have to do some nudging or trimming? Do they use quality seals & glues? Those would be my main concerns. I'm sure they stole the designs for the parts a long time ago.