An Open discussion: Toyota parts vs everything else

[potomacduck]

Within the past 2 years I had the option of buying Toyota dealership parts or save some money and buy aftermarket parts. Here's my experience:

My front rotors were warped, so instead of buying new Toyota rotors I thought I'd save a few bucks and buy the highest quality NAPA rotors, the rotors were NAPA top of the line rotors.

Something in my mind told me to hang onto the old rotors off my 4runner......glad I did. Within 6 months the NAPA rotors had warped so bad the steering wheel shook in 1/2 inch wobbles any time I hit the brake pedal. So I took my old worn out Toyota rotors and had them turned and put them back on my 4runner along with a set of pads from the dealership. Guess what? One YEAR later the old rotors are giving me perfect braking performance.

Next: I was wheeling in some nasty stuff up in the mountains and snapped a sway bar end link.......not unexpected especially on a very high mileage 4runner.

The dealer wanted $115 for a end link, and that's without the washers or bushings. So for 30 bucks, I bought Moog end links. I figured,"what the heck, it's only a piece of metal connecting the control arm to the sway bar." This is true, but what I found amazed me.

The original equipment end link, after 13 years and 326,000 miles including being wheeled on the beach......in saltwater, it was still filled with clean, pristine grease from the factory. The original end link was nicely made, it had internal allen head fittings for easy removal and not a speck of corrosion on it anywhere.

The Moog end link (recommended by a good mechanic friend) looked like crap......brand new. It looks like it was made in a chinese factory that turned out cast iron parts for ship ballast. I'm ashamed that it's on my 4runner.

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[LittleCaesar]

If I had a deep, deep wallet, my 4runner would receive nothing but OEM replacement parts excluding suspension, audio, bumpers, and lighting.

That said, I have used aftermarket items such as Brembo rotors and Akebono pads and been thrilled with them.

Critical parts, such as electronics (sensors) for example, are nothing but OEM always.

 

[fightman80]

I've bought many aftermarket parts for my truck, and have had pretty decent luck with them. Actually, the only aftermarket part I've bought, and am not happy with...is my exhaust. I got one of those Lifetime warranty mufflers from a local shop, and I had to replace it a few years later. Sure the muffler is free, but I still pay labor for installation.....

 

[Atlanta_man]

Be careful of the oem prices across the parts counter. They are set by the dealer and can be much higher than Toyota dealers who sell on the internet.

 

[Stick Figure]

I personally don't even consider the local parts store for 99% of my needs for my Toyota's. I would go as far to say that I have more parts that I made myself on my truck than I have purchased from a parts store. 99% of what they offer isn't as good of quality as the OEM Toyota parts.

If you are used to working on other OEM's vehicles that isn't always the case, with some of the other manufacturers it is actually better to buy parts store parts than the OEM version. There are also a few cases where you can buy the same part that Toyota rebadges as their own for less, but usually not at your local parts store, and I don't like dealing with online vendors unless I have to.

 

[Beach Runner]

Be careful of the oem prices across the parts counter. They are set by the dealer and can be much higher than Toyota dealers who sell on the internet.

I recently bought the OEM LC shocks. I found them online at 1sttoyotaparts.com and then I had my dealership (Priority Toyota)quote them. When I told them that they were high and I could have the parts shipped to my door for almost half the price; they matched it. May not work for everyone, but it's definately worth a shot.

And yeah, I agree OP, everything I've bought so far has been OEM with the exception of fluids.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Next: I was wheeling in some nasty stuff up in the mountains and snapped a sway bar end link.......not unexpected especially on a very high mileage 4runner.

The dealer wanted $115 for a end link, and that's without the washers or bushings. So for 30 bucks, I bought Moog end links. I figured,"what the heck, it's only a piece of metal connecting the control arm to the sway bar." This is true, but what I found amazed me.

The original equipment end link, after 13 years and 326,000 miles including being wheeled on the beach......in saltwater, it was still filled with clean, pristine grease from the factory. The original end link was nicely made, it had internal allen head fittings for easy removal and not a speck of corrosion on it anywhere.

The Moog end link (recommended by a good mechanic friend) looked like crap......brand new. It looks like it was made in a chinese factory that turned out cast iron parts for ship ballast. I'm ashamed that it's on my 4runner.

.

I am running the Moog end links right now. I havn't checked them to see how they look, but I expect them to be pretty crappy, but I will never pay for the OEM end links. I will just go without the sway bar before I do that. And FYI, my OEM end links were corroded to hell after 100k miles and one was broken. It all depends what environment you are in, OEM stuff absolutely does rust.

If I had a deep, deep wallet, my 4runner would receive nothing but OEM replacement parts excluding suspension, audio, bumpers, and lighting.

That said, I have used aftermarket items such as Brembo rotors and Akebono pads and been thrilled with them.

Critical parts, such as electronics (sensors) for example, are nothing but OEM always.

I think Brembo is the OEM supplier for rotors (at least I read that here somewhere). It is worth it to find out who the OEM supplier is for part you are replacing as you can usually buy the OEM brand on the open market for less than you can through a dealership. That is not always true though, some online dealerships have some really good prices on parts that are lower than even crappier aftermarket parts (like LBJ's, OEMs were cheaper than most aftermarket joints).

I agree that often times the OEM stuff is better than the aftermarket, but you can and should use you discretion on whether you pay exorbitant prices for OEM. Things like brake pads, oil filters, fuel filters, air filters, coolant, etc; you really don't need to go OEM, and the OEM is probably MUCH more expensive.

 

[swampy_swimmer]

What about the shocks?
I replaced original rear shocks with Tokico Trekmasters recently. Ride improved a little.
I'm thinking about replacing the front ones as well, but I'm leaning towards OEM parts now. It's about $30 more per each on the web site and $60 more at local dealer. When I told the dealer that I replaced the rear shocks with aftermarket he said that I shouldn't have done that since they pressurized differentely and blah, blah... so on.
I think he had a point though...

 

[Nelsonmd]

What about the shocks?
I replaced original rear shocks with Tokico Trekmasters recently. Ride improved a little.
I'm thinking about replacing the front ones as well, but I'm leaning towards OEM parts now. It's about $30 more per each on the web site and $60 more at local dealer. When I told the dealer that I replaced the rear shocks with aftermarket he said that I shouldn't have done that since they pressurized differentely and blah, blah... so on.
I think he had a point though...

No, he didn't have a point, because the OEM's are tokico's. He just wants you to buy them from him so he can mark them up on you. There is LOT'S of information about suspension here, so just search for it.

 

[TheDurk]

I avoid the dealer like the plague. Most of the few things I have had to replace in almost 13 years I have replaced with OES parts made by the same manufacturer. partsgeek.com is a good source that clearly identifies OES manufacturers. My Aisin fan clutch and water pump didn't come in a red box but are otherwise identical to dealer-sold parts and cost a lot less from partsgeek.

For 13 years, I have used NAPA filters made by Wix and OES NGK plugs from NAPA and I am quite happy. I get OES Denso sensors from Amazon. NAPA Echlin relays and other electric parts are also highly reliable. I did cheap out on sway-bar end-links from Advance Auto, but those are not mission critical and I can afford to replace them three times compared to the dealer part. The stockers rusted and broke after 10 years, Advance are fine after three, so I am ahead of the game so far. There is zero difference in performance on this part--the only thing it has to do is not break.

Spend money on red boxes if you want to. I won't.

Oh yeah, the Trekmasters are actually a slight upgrade from the stockers. I have them. What dealer BS.

 

[quicksilvr]

I pick and choose what I buy OEM and what I buy from the parts store. A lot of times the "premium" parts store part is the same price as a wholesale priced OEM part online. Unless the part absolutely does not matter, I don't ever buy the cheapest thing available. Which means OEM is the way to go more often than not.

I've had good luck with NAPA lbj's, R1 rotors, and cheap Wearever brand brake pads. Belts and hoses from the parts store as well.

 

[potomacduck]

Tokico makes the factory shocks, however the Tokico Trekmaster are an upgrade and are a little stiffer. I have them and I'm not crazy about them.

Some of you made a good point that aftermarket retailers sometimes sell the OES parts. I bought my AISIN fan clutch at partsgeek. I wish I could find an aftermarket supplier for lower ball joints. No way I will buy Moog for that !

BTW, I run my 4runner on the beach through Atlantic Ocean saltwater. Not one of the OEM parts have rusted.
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[SIKHILUXSURF]

i dont know if the moog 3rd gen links are different form the 2nd gen links i highly doubt but they are not made in china. they are made in Japan buy 555 Suspension company. i have bought them and installed them. while some things should be bought OEM only there are other things that you are overpaying for when buying oem. alot of things are rebaged to oem for dealers.

 

[potomacduck]

I just checked the box my Moog end links came in.

Moog K90681: made in Mexico.




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[Nelsonmd]

Tokico makes the factory shocks, however the Tokico Trekmaster are an upgrade and are a little stiffer. I have them and I'm not crazy about them.

Some of you made a good point that aftermarket retailers sometimes sell the OES parts. I bought my AISIN fan clutch at partsgeek. I wish I could find an aftermarket supplier for lower ball joints. No way I will buy Moog for that !

BTW, I run my 4runner on the beach through Atlantic Ocean saltwater. Not one of the OEM parts have rusted.
.

Lots of chat about LBJ's. Napa's seem to be a decent alternative, but you can get OEM's for cheaper.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I have found that with online ordering, I save roughly 30% off list for OEM. The dealers within 100 miles of me all think they are gods and will charge up to 50% over list.

There was one guy at a Fairfax Toyota dealership who would sell all parts to me for 5 to 10 percent under cost. I went one time and he was gone. I saw him later in a paint store. He told me that the general manager had told him to stop selling parts so cheaply, even if it meant not moving as much inventory as before.