Aftermarket replacement part rant... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 05-06-2011, 09:22 PM

They are all crap, crap, total waste of money.

I bought a rebuilt steering rack for my truck last July to fix a leak, and its leaking again.

Bought a serpentine belt, original lasted 60k miles, new one lasted not quite 20k.

WTF?

Next time I'm just going to pay twice as much for a new dealer part.

layback40 · #2 05-06-2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

They are all crap, crap, total waste of money.

I bought a rebuilt steering rack for my truck last July to fix a leak, and its leaking again.

Bought a serpentine belt, original lasted 60k miles, new one lasted not quite 20k.

WTF?

Next time I'm just going to pay twice as much for a new dealer part.

Please finish the story Hattie,
Where did you buy the junk?
What brand was it?
Where was it made?

Some rebuilt stuff is junk. Better rebuilding yourself if you can. They have only resealed some other guys worn out junk.
Serp belts can sit around for years with 1 set of bends in them, they soon fail.

Nate · #3 05-06-2011, 10:39 PM

I had an 04 silverado come in, every 4 months or so... If I remember right, it was a 1500 with a 4.3, and the towing package. Why someone would get the V6 and a towing kit, i dont know. It could have also been the 4.8 V8, but the truck was underpowered IMHO...

The seals on the rack kept leaking. First one was a reman cardon one. 2nd one was another reman cardon... 3rd one is a NEW cardon one. The 4th was a brand new one from GM. Keeping in mind, they're not too hard to change out...

The problem (or so we think) ended up being the metal line to the cooler had a dent in it, increasing the pressure on the return end, and blowing the seals on the rack out. We replaced that line, and got yet another GM rack. It's been out of the shop for at least 2 years, so either it's good to go, or he got rid of it.

~Nate

Nate · #4 05-06-2011, 10:40 PM

Oh, and on the serp belt... did u check the idler/tensioner pulley bearings? They could be dying, and putting more strain on the belt. Stay away from parts store branded belts, I'll only go dayco or gates... I think Dayco is an OEM gm belt mfg (the belt in my moms 04 grand prix is dayco, since new)

~Nate

Hatterasguy · #5 05-06-2011, 10:44 PM

The parts are for my truck, all from Carquest. I think the belt is a Dayco?, the tensioner was replaced 3 months ago when the bearing in the pulley started to make noise. Since the serp belt will strand you I tend to keep a close eye on it whenever I check the oil I look it over and listen for any sounds.

The rack I think is a cardon, rebuild, as far as I can see the rest of the system looks fine. I'm going to ignore it and if the leak gets worse I'm ordering a new one from GM. The leak right now isn't to bad it hardly drips. Changing it is real easy but its not something I should have to do all the time, they are not cheap. I'm surprised because in my experience Carquest seems to sell pretty good stuff, they own Worldpac now and get can any Mercedes part the online guys can. (I'm actually running MB coolant in the truck since I had a bunch left over.

)

The 4.3 is no powerhouse but I can't complain about it, as long as I don't tow anything crazy it gets the job done. Looks like the rear main or front transmission seal is starting to weep slightly as well. I changed the oil today so I was poking around under it for a bit.

When I did the rack I bought new tie rod ends from Carquest, Moog I think, they seem to be doing fine.

Nate · #6 05-06-2011, 11:01 PM

Moogs are the best. GM inners will die every 50k miles. Weather or not anyone checks them out is a gamble, they're not hard to change though.

~Nate

Hatterasguy · #7 05-06-2011, 11:03 PM

That's the other reason I changed it, the inners were done.

Your observation on my old tires that I posted a couple of years back was right on!

TheDon · #8 05-06-2011, 11:34 PM

I buy all of my parts for that stupid aveo from the dealership. I love having connections.

aklim · #9 05-07-2011, 01:04 AM

I had a turbo pedestal for my powerstroke leak. I tried to rebuild it but that didn't work. Probably the bore for the exhaust back pressure valve was scored. Bought a Ford rebuilt unit and it leaked from the get go. Talked to another mechanic and found out that one time, he took 3 pedestals before he found one that didn't leak. Thing is when rebuilding, they often don't hone the bore. 2nd time was my lucky try.

When it started to give problems, I changed the turbo and the pedestal to one without the EBPV which solved the leak

travisman · #10 05-22-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

Oh, and on the serp belt... did u check the idler/tensioner pulley bearings? They could be dying, and putting more strain on the belt. Stay away from parts store branded belts, I'll only go dayco or gates... I think Dayco is an OEM gm belt mfg (the belt in my moms 04 grand prix is dayco, since new)

~Nate

Dayco or gates parts? for serpentine belts both are around the same price yet Dayco is just a few dollars more, which should I go with?

Nate · #11 05-22-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisman

Dayco or gates parts? for serpentine belts both are around the same price yet Dayco is just a few dollars more, which should I go with?

I like Gates belts, only because the T245 timing belt for a duel cam dodge neon is a 1/16" too wide, and will melt the timing belt covers... Either is fine, but my preference is Gates, because the dayco rep that I talked to refused to entertain my measurements compared to a gates belt which would indicate that they're MADE TO THE INCORRECT SPECIFICATIONS!!! Wasnt just 1 belt either...

I think it's just that application though, never had a problem with dayco otherwise, just a thorn in my side from a rep who liked to deflect rather then accept criticism.

~Nate

mgburg · #12 05-22-2011, 09:41 PM

I was driving a '93/'94 S-10 Blazer...it just started eating serps like Pez. It got so bad I kept a spare belt with the spare tire.

Finally, I got tired of mid-night mechanic'ing on the roadside and took it to a dealership.

15 minute drive and 10 in the bay, he comes back and says to/shows me a cracked support.

Replaced the support, no more ripped-up and thrown serps.

He admitted he ALMOST dismissed the crack as a casting flash.

Look closely grasshopper...all may not be as calm as it appears.

(Think belt alignment under stress...)

:

Nate · #13 05-22-2011, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgburg

Look closely grasshopper...all may not be as calm as it appears.

(Think belt alignment under stress...)

:

If that's in reference to me, I measured it next to a gates timing belt, and it was the problem with the manufactured with of the belt being too wide.

Maki · #14 05-23-2011, 12:19 AM

Regarding steering racks, check out Jorgen -- they do quality rebuilds. I've got one in my E30. http://jorgenauto.com/

There's also an outfit in Washington called Red-Head Steering Gears. They rebuild boxes themselves, mostly for light trucks, but they also sell third-party racks. I don't think they'd sell junk.

They're highly regarded in Effie circles -- their rebuilt boxes are better than factory. They add bearings where Ford cheaped out. I've got a '91 F250 that has one of their units in it. http://redheadsteeringgears.reachlocal.com/coupon/?scid=982563&cid=771721&tc=11052221192341229&rl_key=15623585156214dc34d2bcf53cdd1753&kw=5007906&dynamic_proxy=1&primary_serv=redheadsteeringgears2.reachlocal.net

Cardone -- bleh.

mgburg · #15 05-23-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

If that's in reference to me, I measured it next to a gates timing belt, and it was the problem with the manufactured with of the belt being too wide.

Nope, it wasn't. My problem turned out to be the belt path's alignment...the route from the idler and back to it. I don't remember if it was the alternator (top right side of the enging) or the idler-wheel itself, but the support holding the item was cracked just enough that when higher torque was applied during acceleration or high-speed driving, the mis-alignment would occur, eventully succeeding in tearing a perfectly new belt to shreads in, literally, a hundred miles or so. My "reference" is to the path the belts takes, not the belt itself.

You have a flexible part that must drive a myriad of components...that flexible part isn't going to have a chance in hell surviving any length of reasonable time if it has to ALSO deal with axial-torqueing/mis-alignment in it's travel-sphere.

And, like I mentioned, the casting was cracked in such a way that only a thorough scanning by the technician could find it and even he said he almost dismissed the crack as a casting flash. Something must have caused him to get out a pry bar and see the actual space appear. Once we changed out the support, no more belts getting torn up/shreaded.