themechanic
Oklahoma is OK
- Local time
- 11:40 AM
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2012
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- 16,532
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- Location
- Moore, Oklahoma
This trend is worrisome. Even if you have a car that's "finished" you will eventually need service parts.
It's a no win situation...Just recently talked to a guy who had a automotive machine shop attached to a long established auto parts store. They had the real deal parts countermen...Now they are closed down. Just installed new front hub bearings on a 4x4.....Used Doorman's still they were made in China
You seem to be implying that using Dorman's is selecting a quality brand... Hardly the case... I've avoided the brand for at least twenty years due to their falling quality..
How to you get out of what I posted I was "implying" using Dorman's is a quality brand? I needed these parts ASAP. Local parts place didn't have them, discount did and on the shelf. Try not and do the discount store but at times can't be helped
I thought the cap was odd too..I do agree that it's more difficult to find quality replacement parts.
I don't agree with his method for servicing the front drum brakes on a vehicle.
Yes you can do remove the whole wheel and drum by removing the spindle nut.
With the whole wheel and tire still attached it's more difficult to check the end play on the bearing and to tell how tight the shoes are adjusted before pulling the drum. If you have a ridge on the inside of the drum and you fail to loosen the adjuster you are more prone to catching the shoes and then breaking the spring which is what he found. Not saying he broke it, probably was already broke from his description.
I see it as the lazy way and I like to check each part as I take it apart.
Similarly when I put it back together I usually set the adjuster so I can just get the drum back on and it takes a couple iterations. If I had to put the hole wheel and drum back on it would be much more tricky.
Putting a cap on a heater hose outlet is also a hack move.
Thanks for telling it like it isNow I'm going to say something because it speaks directly to the topic at hand so don't freak out.
I'm hopeful that recent changes in policy and trade agreements focusing on US will restore some of the pride, workmanship and craftsmanship we used to see in everything we bought because it was Made With Pride In The USA. Manufacturers are returning and good ol' U.S. steel is making a huge comeback.
That businessman who bought Checker/Schuck's/Kragen and made all the incredible changes benefitting customers and employees was none other than Donald J. Trump.
It wasn't Donald Trump it was investors UNRELATED to Donald Trump who shared the same last name.....Im sorry to have to informed you of thisFrom '84-'88 I worked the parts counter at a Checker Auto in Colorado. Most of the inventory was made overseas; some parts had lifetime warranties while most were two years. Some manufacturers' stuff came back a lot.
In mid-1986 it and the rest of the Schuck's/Kragen empire were purchased by a well known businessman.
The first thing to happen under its new ownership: everyone got a decent raise.
Over the next few months various programs were instituted including job sharing, offsite training (FelPro, Permatex and Monroe shocks classes etc.), more convenient hours of operation, new Point of Sale registers with bar code inventory tracking, and employee vacation time.
Dozens of new USA-based lifetime warranty suppliers were added, replacing or adding options to the cheap foreign lines. Our previous Special Order Department changed almost overnight from laughable (Dashmats woo boy) to extraordinary -- we could get almost anything for any car going back to the 30s, usually with more than one to choose from.
I only quit because I moved to California. Buying my POS project Barracuda in 1991 followed by years of restoration efforts coupled with the late model parts that cross my bench every day now both make me appreciate Uncle Tony's feelings. The entire industry has suffered at the hands of those who prefer profit and overproduction to longevity, peace of mind and safety.
Now I'm going to say something because it speaks directly to the topic at hand so don't freak out.
I'm hopeful that recent changes in policy and trade agreements focusing on US will restore some of the pride, workmanship and craftsmanship we used to see in everything we bought because it was Made With Pride In The USA. Manufacturers are returning and good ol' U.S. steel is making a huge comeback.
That businessman who bought Checker/Schuck's/Kragen and made all the incredible changes benefitting customers and employees was none other than Donald J. Trump.
Reference Post #11 from CudaChick1968: In the interest of accuracy, it was not our President, Donald Trump, who purchased the 3 auto parts chains; Checkers, Schucks and Kragans.
The following is an article that lays out the purchase, with several footnotes to do further research if you're interested; The info is in 1987:
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/csk-auto-corporation-history/
I PM'd her and asked her if she would please correct her post. She basically refused to look at the facts and apparently thinks that all Californians are Trump haters. Actually, I looked into it because it didn't sound like the type of business venture his company would be involved in.
Dorman window regulators for my Ford's are much better quality than the motorcraft.I've been using dorman for years, alot of parts are redesigned. I read this many places
Which actual dorman parts are junk? The 3.8 intakes are good, window regulators, blower motor resistors etc, ive had good luck