When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Does anyone know if there is a difference between the parts on gmpartsdirect.com and the oem ac delco parts sold on rock auto ie the parts listed on rock auto as oem direct replacement parts (not any other brands). Thanks.
Last edited by Chillo32; Nov 25, 2019 at 05:55 PM.
Thanks. Yeah. I tend to avoid amazon for major parts. Smaller things it ok.
it’s interesting, some parts from gm direct come either in a gm box (even though it’s still an ac delco part) or have a gm sticker on it. Rock auto obviously doesn’t have the gm tag on it. But the parts appear to be identical. I’m just wondering if there is any difference or the than price and other than the addition of the gm tag ie what if anything the gm tag gets you. Could be nothing. Could be better quality control, inspection etc.
Rock Auto is a stand alone auto parts business, with an inventory acquired from wholesalers, jobbers, manufacturers, and dealers. GMPartsDirect.com is a coalition of GM Dealers who sell their GM parts on-line, cooperatively, directly to retail customers.
Rock Auto is a stand alone auto parts business, with an inventory acquired from wholesalers, jobbers, manufacturers, and dealers. GMPartsDirect.com is a coalition of GM Dealers who sell their GM parts on-line, cooperatively, directly to retail customers.
thanks. Yeah. I get that. But I’m asking what is the substantive difference in the parts described above. Not the difference in the procedural businesses.
Some Delco parts are what GM uses and you’ll see GM stickers on a Delco box with the same part number.
Other times the GM part number is different than Delco’s. That’s a part made by a different supplier, and Delco made its own version that isn’t actually GM, and you’ll see different part numbers.
GM partsdirect is official GM parts, whether they be Delco as the supplier or another.
thanks. Yeah. I get that. But I’m asking what is the substantive difference in the parts described above. Not the difference in the procedural businesses.
In my experience there is no "substantive" difference. I've bought parts (especially trim parts) for my Chevy truck from RockAuto that were a perfect match for the GM part. Ditto with the C5. You will see alternative vendors (other than Delco) on RockAuto, but they will show an OEM part as well. For example, when I wanted a new oil pressure sensor, they listed 3 or 4 different manufacturers.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Here's an example of what I'm asking. This is an idler pulley purchased from gmpartsdirect. Obviously gm doesn't manufacture pulleys. They are ac delco pulleys. Also, obviously If you purchase this pulley from rockauto it won't come in a gm box. But it will be exactly the same part at least visually. Thus, my original question. What is the difference?
Last edited by Chillo32; Nov 25, 2019 at 04:51 PM.
If I understand your question (and I'm not sure I do, btw), when you order from GMPartsDirect, you will always get the correct OEM replacement part (of course, provided you select the right part for your application & it's still available).
RockAuto has equivalent replacement parts, but I would suspect anything other than the OEM replacement will be anywhere from junk to good enough.
thanks. Yeah. I get that. But I’m asking what is the substantive difference in the parts described above. Not the difference in the procedural businesses.
Pardon me for having responded. Okay. Well, I'd guess that pretty much each part is different in quality since each manufacturer is different. Why would you think there is a difference? Do you have substantive evidence that parts from any one source are the same as any other source?
Last edited by OregonDan; Nov 25, 2019 at 07:02 PM.
Here's an example of what I'm asking. This is an idler pulley purchased from gmpartsdirect. Obviously gm doesn't manufacture pulleys. They are ac delco pulleys. Also, obviously If you purchase this pulley from rockauto it won't come in a gm box. But it will be exactly the same part at least visually. Thus, my original question. What is the difference?
Whom do propose is the parent company to AC Delco?
Pardon my for having responded. Okay. Well, I'd guess that pretty much each part is different in quality since each manufacturer is different. Why would you think there is a difference? Do you have substantive evidence that parts from any one source are the same as any other source?
each manufacturer is different? Gm sells ac delco parts. Rock auto sells ac delco parts. They are the same manufacturer. Hence the question what is the difference?