Should You Purchase Rebuilt Auto Parts?
If you own your vehicle long enough, you’ll eventually need to replace various components. As I’ve mentioned in past articles, auto parts suffer wear and tear just like your tires. Given enough time, they’ll fail and need to be replaced. The question is should you purchase OEM (original equipment manufacturer) units or rebuilt parts? The former are more expensive than the latter, but are you truly getting your money’s worth?
In short, maybe. A new alternator produced by a dependable manufacturer is unlikely to fail anytime soon. However, a rebuilt will often have an even higher level of quality than an OEM product. A lot depends upon the work of the rebuilder. Below, I’ll explain how and why quality can vary widely. We’ll also explore remanufactured components as well as who is actually rebuilding the products.
Why Quality Varies
As in most industries, price leads quality. In other words, the lower the price for a replacement starter, master cylinder, or fuel injector, the lower the workmanship tends to be. Consider the job of rebuilders. They want to produce the best rebuilts possible; their reputation depends upon it. At the same time, prices have been driven into the ground by many retailers who do not place a high value on quality.
Some rebuilders stick to their proverbial guns and focus on producing reliable products that will last for years. Others go for the quick money and recondition units to look new, but are actually built shabbily. There is no standard in the industry. As a result, workmanship can differ greatly. The lesson to take away here is to avoid shopping purely on price when you’re in the market for replacement components.
What About Remanufactured Units?
Rebuilding components is a craft. A lot of people are under the mistaken impression that one brake caliper is the same as the next. As you’ve seen from the last section, that’s untrue. There’s yet another option that muddies the water even further: remanufactured parts. For a particular product to be “remanufactured,” it must be restored to the original equipment specifications. That usually means that only the pieces that have officially failed are replaced.
By contrast, a rebuilder might strip down a steering rack (for example) and replace everything, even if the pieces are merely worn and haven’t failed yet. In this case, the quality of the rebuilt steering rack will generally be higher than a remanufactured alternative.
Who Are The Rebuilders?
Think of the auto parts rebuilding industry in the same manner as the accounting industry. There are national firms, regional agencies, and individuals who cater to a small group of clients. A rebuilt component can come from any one of them. Some rebuilders work only in their area and supply parts to local repair garages. Others produce thousands of rebuilt units each year for nationwide repair shops.
In the end, rebuilt auto parts can represent a significant bargain when compared to OEM components. Look for quality and don’t balk at paying a few extra dollars for it. It will usually be worth it in the long run.