OEM parts vs. 2nd party parts.

[kingbiscuit]

I know this probably a repeat, but is there any difference?

I am getting timing belt, water pump, drive belts, and the idler and tensioner barings changed on my 1998 v6 4runner 4x4. I can either get OEM parts or 2nd party like Advanced Autoparts. Can anybody give me any insight on which way I should go? I obviously would like to go the cheap route, but if they are going to break twice as quickly I would rather just get OEM.

Just for reference I will be doing mostly city driving, and maybe 12 trips out a year to go offroading, which for me means fireroads and such not like balls out offroading.

 

[spud72]

I know this probably a repeat, but is there any difference?

I am getting timing belt, water pump, drive belts, and the idler and tensioner barings changed on my 1998 v6 4runner 4x4. I can either get OEM parts or 2nd party like Advanced Autoparts.

Generally speaking, no. There are exceptions though.

You have to remember that even though the belt(s) may say TOYOTA on them, Toyota is not in the belt making business. They get farmed out to belt manufactuters to make. Same thing with bearings. As long as you stay with a quality brand name, you should be fine.

As an aside, in my business (which is power transmission - includes by coincidence bearings, belts, etc) I went to the Hannover fair in Germany last month courtesy of a major belt manufacturer. I was in one of their factories as it just happened to be doing a run of belts that had the name on it of a very well know manufacturer of very expensive, fast cars.

I saw other belts in a pile getting ready for shipping that had the name of another very well known company.

Personally, go with a good, recognized brand name product and you should be fine. I wouldn't be anal about insisting on genuine Toyota for items like that.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Body panels are a different story. OEM is the only choice there.

 

[RamThis]

Yep, aftermarket is fine as long as it's not the cheap parts, at least get name brand parts. They will be as good as factory or in some cases better.

Goodyear Gatorback belts are awesome. Couldnt keep a serpentine belt on my race truck, not even Gates belts would hold on, but the Gatorback belt wont die.

Timiken Bearings are top notch.

NAPA's engine parts are usually factory or better quality like water pumps, idler pulleys and tensioner arms, etc.

And of course, Fel-Pro gaskets.

But like said, stay factory for "appearance" and body items. Body panels that are CAPA certified will fit so close to factory though, that once it's painted and installed, I dont think you'd ever see a difference. Only thing is it wont have the toyota brand stamped into it, which may or may not effect resale value depending on what the part was and the extent of the damage, etc.

 

[kingbiscuit]

Thanks for the replies. It will save me some money.

Also I am wondering who I should let do the work on my car. I know a guy who use to work on my civic who seemed to do a good job, and had really reasonable rates, but he just did it out of a garage. If something gets messed up there aren't promises it will get fixed. It was an old civic and I didn't really care if he broke it cause I wanted a new car anyways. Are the things I need fixed fairly easy or at least low risk that something major could get messed up?

Also I live in San Diego, does anyone know if there are any of those fix it yourself places where they give you the tools and everything, and you pay by the hour I think for the tools and space to work? I would kind of like to do something like that to get a feel for my car since I just got it.

 

[RamThis]

Sorry I do all my own work, at least when it's on my dime, so I dont know what to tell you on that end. If I had the money to pay someone to work on my stuff, I'd find a clean, modern, up to date shop, with newer, good conditon vehicles outside for repair. Not one of those greasy, old blocks and parts piled up, beat up 70's and 80's cars half torn apart everywhere kind of places. You might look for a "Toyota" specialist shop as well, since they will be more familiar with the 4Runners than a "jack of all brands" mechanic. But since I've been a mechanic for the past 12 years, if I can possibly fathom doing it, I'll just do it myself. Usually takes four times as long as a shop since I have to do it in my spare time (mechanic as a living lol) but I save a ton of money and know it's done right.

There is a Honda/Acura specialist shop just like I described across the street that looked well organized, top notch diagnostic equipment, nice Snap-On tool boxes (bigger than my damn Snap-On box lol) and seemingly knowledgeable folks that I was planning to take my Acura to for a timing belt/water pump/seals/gaskets/valve adjusment a couple months ago. Would have been the first time I had let ANYONE touch that car, but with me working so many hours, I just didnt have the time. I talked to them about what I wanted done, and planned to take it in, but a hail storm totaled the car before I got it in, and now I have the new 4Runner lol. So, still havent had the chance to have someone do the work for me on my vehicles lol.

And never heard of one of those type of places. Wonder if they have them here in the DFW area? Sounds interesting, for folks who live in apartments and such and dont have a garage to work in. I use mine as a paint booth for doing body work in between differential rebuilds and engine swaps. :beer:

 

[Koz]

Do yourself a favor and use OEM parts. These parts are made to meet Toyota specs. Yes there are many very good after market parts but most are not as good as OEM. For a belt that you could easily change, you could take a chance. For parts that require hours of labor to replace, DON"T cheap out!

Koz

 

[spud72]

Do yourself a favor and use OEM parts. These parts are made to meet Toyota specs. Yes there are many very good after market parts but most are not as good as OEM.

That is marketing fluff.

Fact of the matter is, for items like belts and bearings they are made to international engineering standards. Toyota will not have some uber-standard. As long as it is built in a reputable factory by a reputable company, it'll be just fine.

I suppose it's possible a timing belt or bearing could be made in a factory in China by child slaves chained to a desk in a dirt floor factory, but that's why you stay with a good brand name products and not something made by Zeng-Jiandofu company, or something like that.

 

[Koz]

I've seen too many aftermarket parts fail prematurely to agree. The one most important OEM part to use is the timming belt.

Koz

 

[spud72]

I've seen too many aftermarket parts fail prematurely to agree. The one most important OEM part to use is the timming belt.

Koz

I disagree. If you're anal with "quality" the most important one would be the tensioner bearing. But it won't, and neither would a timing belt provided it's installed properly and you don't have secondary issues.

 

[Koz]

I disagree. If you're anal with "quality" the most important one would be the tensioner bearing. But it won't, and neither would a timing belt provided it's installed properly and you don't have secondary issues.

The timing belt is so sensitive it has to be packaged and handled with special care. Yes the tensioner, pilot bearings and starter are also important.

Koz

 

[Koz]

Starter

 

[kingbiscuit]

Well I took it to this place in san diego.

http://www.sdtrux.com/

They only do OEM parts unfortunately, but they have good reviews on yahoo local so I am going with them, and their prices were pretty competitive.

Is there somewhere on this site where you can find shops people take their trucks to?

 

[spud72]

The timing belt is so sensitive it has to be packaged and handled with special care.

The only thing a timing belt is really sensitive to (short of something bizarre like a blow torch) is being kinked over, and that is bad for the cording in any belt, be it timing, multi-V or V belts regardless of brand. But no, they aren't so sensitive you have to handle it like NitroGlycerin or something. They're actually pretty rugged. More rugged than a ball bearing which actually can be damaged from just simply dropping it a foot or two.

But regardless, I don't think there is any convincing you by the sounds of it.

Starter

OH MAN! I had no idea that's where they put it!

 

[kingbiscuit]

The only thing a timing belt is really sensitive to (short of something bizarre like a blow torch) is being kinked over, and that is bad for the cording in any belt, be it timing, multi-V or V belts regardless of brand. But no, they aren't so sensitive you have to handle it like NitroGlycerin or something. They're actually pretty rugged. More rugged than a ball bearing which actually can be damaged from just simply dropping it a foot or two.

But regardless, I don't think there is any convincing you by the sounds of it.

OH MAN! I had no idea that's where they put it!

Unfortunately all the toyota specific places even non-dealearship ones are OEM parts only. I just want to make sure this stuff gets done right at an official toyota place, so I am doing OEM unfortunately. I think I probably paid $100 premium for parts.

Timing belt/water pump/drive belt/idler bearing/tension bearing. Not sure what that would have run me at NAPA

 

[Koz]

Unfortunately all the toyota specific places even non-dealearship ones are OEM parts only. I just want to make sure this stuff gets done right at an official toyota place, so I am doing OEM unfortunately. I think I probably paid $100 premium for parts.

There is a reason why smart shop owners insist on OEM parts. They had to do too many jobs twice because of part failures. Moreover, any smart consumer will insist on OEM parts.

Koz

 

[Koz]

The only thing a timing belt is really sensitive to (short of something bizarre like a blow torch) is being kinked over, and that is bad for the cording in any belt, be it timing, multi-V or V belts regardless of brand. But no, they aren't so sensitive you have to handle it like NitroGlycerin or something. They're actually pretty rugged. More rugged than a ball bearing which actually can be damaged from just simply dropping it a foot or two.

When I said the timing belt was sensitive, I was referring to how it is handled and packaged (The belt cannot be bent backwards). In addition, I have used aftermarket timing belts (NAPPA) and they did not last as long as OEM. I keep vehicles a very long time and then give them to family members (and still do the repairs). It is just words of advice, do as you will.

Koz

 

[spud72]

There is a reason why smart shop owners insist on OEM parts. They had to do too many jobs twice because of part failures. Moreover, any smart consumer will insist on OEM parts.

Koz

Congratulations! In one post you managed to insult almost every single person on a forum! I don't think I've seen that anywhere else.

Bravo!:clap:

 

[kingbiscuit]

Congratulations! In one post you managed to insult almost every single person on a forum! I don't think I've seen that anywhere else.

Bravo!:clap:

He's just sharing his personal experience. Don't see an issue with that. Honestly though this argument will never stop unless there is an actual study performed on the cars to see the difference. One persons experiences can't nulify the argument.

I mean the 2nd party places might do a really good job of making belts/barings etc., but there might be small specifications that gear the parts for the car better made by the car manufacturer. Even if it is another company taking orders from toyota, and creating the parts, they may get the small changes that make it work the best way. Then again there maybe core principles that are followed for creating these parts industry wide. Only problem I have with this logic is, if the principles are so well known and easy to follow then why are american cars so undependable?

Im going to look around for a study on OEM parts.

 

[spud72]

He's just sharing his personal experience. Don't see an issue with that. Honestly though this argument will never stop unless there is an actual study performed on the cars to see the difference. One persons experiences can't nulify the argument.

Suppose you're right - don't mean to offend you Koz... but saying only "smart" people buy OEM parts only for their vehicles is quite a stretch.

By coincidence though, I was having a beer with a friend last night and this topic came up. He reminded me that dealers routinely purchase parts from in town jobbers for vehicles their servicing if they are out of stock or can't wait for parts.

It happens all the time with items like plugs, belts, bearings, seals, etc.

Lord knows the aftermarket makes better items than OEM supplied equipment in many cases.. like batteries and OEM selected tires. It surely isn't a stretch that maybe, just maybe the aftermarket makes other fine products, is it?