Chinese Parts

[Slap Stick]

Break fluid, aka Hoppe's #9.

 

[Photon440]

Yes - But I’m not referring to lithium - alone. Surely you’ve heard of the “rare earth” metals. If one is lithium - fine. But there is a whole category of these that far exceed just one. They are used in virtually everything electronic - which includes all of our sophisticated defense systems, weaponry, fighter jets, electric grids, name it and there is some form of rare earth material in it.

I apologize, it was my presumption that you were speaking of Lithium, because of some sensationalist press stories floating about that mention a $1 trillion amount of reserves, including lithium, in Afghanistan. But if it's rare earth metals, which I'm sure we have all had some familiarity with in the press, then reports such as this https://www.mining.com/how-afghanistans-1-trillion-mining-wealth-sold-the-war/ from people actually in the mining industry take some of the shine off the potential in that country.

Of course we know that China produces the most rare earth metals, they also use the most. The USA uses about 20% of the total yearly production, but with nearly 16% of the world's production coming from the California Mountain Pass Mine (2020 figures) that means not a lot has to be imported. As of this year, the United States Department of Defense has been aiding them with funding to upgrade and improve output to help reduce risks to the supply chain for critical defense items.

 

[kiwigtx]

View attachment 1283646

Metric bolt?

 

[dadsbee]

Metric bolt?

Probably... other than the lid it's damn near identical to the OE master...that thankfully stopped leaking so far.

 

[mmissile]

Chinese stuff....

 

[Rick62]

Don't forget iPhones and iPads along with many other hi tech items are produced in China. China is capable of making outstanding quality. But, some retailers that are shopping in China are not shopping quality. They are shopping cheap. Instead of giving the supplier a print and specs they give the supplier a picture and tell them they want a cheap one that looks like this. Some retailers, like NAPA, have the skills and equipment necessary to monitor the quality of the parts they source. Other retailers, not so much. Good or Cheap. Pick one.