Why can we not get decent new parts anymore?

Background: Fixing oil leak and PS leak. New pan gaskets, new PS hoses. Was going to rebuild PS control valve but decided to get a professional rebuild. Only thing not leaking was PS cylinder. However, buggered up the stud removing it and the ball stud is not rebuildable (no snap ring, solid piece with grease fitting).

So, order NEW PS Cylinder from Vendor A. Reliable vendor, has always done right by me. Looks good and even has rebuildable ball stud end. Leaks at the shaft seal like a sieve. Even leaks with engine not running when turning steering back and forth.

Remember that I have Vendor B 40 minute drive away. Call Vendor A and explain situation and ask to start refund paperwork. Drive over to vendor B. Pick up NEW "Made in USA" PS cylinder. Advertised as 100% like stock but notice that ball stud end is not rebuildable. Talk to folks at counter. They assure me that it is good.

Drive home. Get to work on car this evening. After having all my PS fluid drain out, get the B cylinder installed. Shaft seal feels really stiff. No leaks when cycling wheel by hand to purge system. Starting to feel good. Then, try to torque stud to 42 lb-ft (spec is 42 to 47). Nut just keeps spinning. Finally get it all apart and notice two things. (1) Threads are all buggered up. Looks like slightly undersize so they stripped very easy. (2) Threads are not cut all the way to taper. So, castle nut went past threads and maybe had 1/2 thread engagement when it started stripping.

See pics below. My original PS cylinder stud on right (grey). Vender B PS cylinder stud on left. Vendor A PS cylinder stud looks like my original, torqued up just fine, just leaked like a sieve.

So, now I have to cancel appointment to get alignment tomorrow, drive back over to Vendor B and deal with this new POS. In the meantime, I need to call Vendor A and find out if we are refunding or replacing the leaky cylinder.

What a PITA! Why can't we get decent quality parts anymore???

 

**** replacement parts have been very common for a long time.
I once went through 3 master cylinders to finally get a good one. The biggest **** off was when I bought a new GM that had a made in USA stamp on the box and a made in china sticker on the mc itself. It actually lasted 4-5 mos before it shot craps.

 

Damn!
Feel your pain brother.

 

Ive given up on trying to find reputable vendors with nice rebuilt calipers/cylinders/valves etc. Its always hit or miss with the seals blowing out prematurly.
I just buy these sort of things at autozone. I get a lifetime warranty(dont plan on selling the car), i can inspect the parts i pick up or go to a differnt store and find a better one. and install same day.
Ive gone through a few calipers and pump. much less hassle than a specialty shop or shipping to online vendors.

 

I didn't know there were steering rams that could not be rebuilt at the ball stud end.

I have had issues with rubber seals and bushings myself. I was going through strut rod bushings so quickly I finally decided it was more economical to use threaded rods with Heim joints.

While I know the statement I'm about to make may be contentious on the forum, it's based on personal experience. I have found the rubber / seal products from Doc Rebuild to be superior to anything else I've purchased. I believe that company sources as much of their products from US manufacturers as possible. If you are handy with rebuilding components, you may consider them. You will probably get some comments regarding their customer service. Many of these comments may be warranted, but I've never had a problem. I do business with them according to their rules. That said, I do agree there are issues with quality, especially where rubber is concerned.

MajD

 

Because we all want to buy cheap replacement parts to repair our cars. Its a catch-22...

 

Considering I am right at $330 between the two cylinders, I don't think cheap is the issue. I also bought all new Moog tie rod ends and idler arm when doing the job. Buy once, cry once. But when you buy the "best" option from a national vendor with a solid reputation, it should work.

 

Speak for yourself.

 

A lot of "junk" is being sold at top price to the Old car market.
All I want is a part that woks, looks nice, does it's job......I am tired of buying parts at the catalog houses and getting crap.
Better to go to a local auto parts store and see what you are getting, easy to return if it is not right. No hassle and shipping.

 

42-47 ft-lb seems like excessive torque for that nut and application. Is that what the valve manufacturer specifies?

 

I'm not saying that any of these are good, but Rockauto at least tells you the manufacturer, and often gives you multiple choices. My power steering pump came from them, works and doesn't leak.

They have 5 choices for the power steering ram, (one out of stock).

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...+cylinder,7372

I don't have stock power steering in either of my cars for a reason, but if I did, I'd probably get the cylinder from CSSB Inc, or rebuild it myself.
http://www.cssbinc.com/5691112powers...gcylinder.aspx

 

Per the assembly manual. Both PS cylinder to relay rod and PS valve to control arm are 42-47 lbs. I torque them to 42 then align the nut for the cotter pin.

 

Just stripped the exact same ball stud on brand new cylinder. I'm working with "major vendor A" to get it rectified. I imagine they're just going to send me the stud rebuild kit. I do think the threads end a little too soon. I'll probably stick a washer in there next time.

 

imagine living overseas! I moved to Australia 12 plus years ago, brought my 77 with me. The cost of shipping is often much more than the part. Yes, some things I can get in Australia, at enormously inflated prices. But when things go sideways,..... bolt holes don't line up, seals that don't seal. it's the quality of the vender that really counts. as they all sell much the same stuff, (I know, some have different stuff).
I have found a couple very good vendors as per standing behind there stuff. I still order from Zip Corvette. not so much a company that starts with E.

 

Short manifold stud - perfectLong manifold stud - crap. Too short. Rolled threads. No shoulder, screws up thru flange exacerbating the fact it's too short to start with.

Both in same kit. The ones in package are local NAPA.

 

I agree many parts that are sold today are junk......but its also true that those who always choose to buy the cheapest parts fail to realize that nothing is free. If you make the choice to buy the "cheap" part, count on problems. That being said, sometimes even the expensive stuff sucks, and I am not happy about it. We are very lucky that you can buy almost every single part of a C3 Corvette today new Just imagine how hard it would be to keep these cars going if these parts were not available. The NOS market is always limited, and normally over priced because of it being NOS. I wish quality parts were readily available at decent prices, but it is what it is. I feel the same about quality labor.........EVERY TIME I let someone else touch my car, they f*** it up somehow. Very irritating. I am more disgusted with that than the lack of good quality parts.

 

They want our gasoline engine dinosaur cars off the road. It is all about electric now. I wonder how the part quality will be in 20 years!

 

I usually focus on the lifetime warranty items at local a/p stores. At least they will will give you a new one when the lifetime warranty item goes bad. Recent starter issue comes to mind. For sure a sad but true situation.

 

Couldn’t agree more with sourcing parts from local parts houses. At least you can take a look at it before you buy it, and it’s a much easier to return if you need to. My recent parts rant comes from a Summit order. Bought a set of M/T valve covers for a new 454 build. Covers were in a box that said M/T by Holley and stamped made in China. WTF. Is nothing sacred now. Had to cut off the casting flanges inside the covers so the rockers wouldn’t hit. A lot of work and money for new parts that should have been bolt on and go.
Seems like our hobby has been sold out from under us while we were in the garage working. Corporations operate on greed now and no longer share the passion for classic cars, racing or performance.

 

The real catch 22 is theres a lot of bait and switch going on with parts for these older cars. Like most tool brands now You could find the exact same part, from the same manufacturer, sold under a dozen different brand name at drastically different prices... These companies are banking on the fact that you are a believer of the simple "You get what you pay for" mantra and marketing.. These are often the same folks that will automatically bash something made overseas if presented as such honestly, but have no issues using or even promoting that same overseas item if its rebranded and marked up in price considerably by an "american" company..

In reality many of the well known respected parts "Manufacturers" exist on paper only these days for marketing of overseas goods, some good and some bad but you can bet you will still pay those "american made " prices regardless for the fancy box and easy return policy and most important, plausible deniability that you can believe its made by the brand that sold it to you..