New auto parts versus used auto parts
If you’ve ever put used auto parts in your vehicle, you may have stood in front of two rusty auto parts trying to remember which one you just bought, because they both look rusty and worn. Certain auto parts are absolutely fine to buy used and in some cases may be your only option. There are a variety of parts that are considered regular use auto parts and should not normally be purchased used.
Struts and Strut Assembly do not use these auto parts. Once you have separated a strut from your assembly, you can test that strut. You should be able to press and extend that strut, all the time, feeling even pressure. Being able to do this shows that a strut works without a load, however knowing how long that strut will work is mostly guesswork. Buying a used complete strut assembly, on the other hand, is even more of a guessing game. A junkyard will remove these things from multiple vehicles and they often have unknown or fictitious mileage; and of course you can’t test the strut when the spring hasn’t been removed from the assembly.
Brake rotors and brake pads are probably the most common automotive wear parts. They can usually be bought cheap enough that it’s simply not worth installing a used game. Each brake pad has grooves worn on each side of the rotor and after the brake pad has been made for the brake rotor seat you don’t want to change any relative position. Since brake rotors rust almost instantly after sitting for a period of time, it’s very rare that someone would be interested in installing these used brake components.
Hub bearings and hub assemblies are another thing that doesn’t make sense to buy used. You are spending your own time installing the hub bearing or paying a mechanic to install the hub bearing that can fail at any time. Time and mileage are contributing factors to hub bearing failure. It’s hard to tell if a hub bearing is okay before you install it, and it’s virtually impossible to tell how long it will last. The longer the hub bearing has been seated, the more chance there is for the hub assembly to fail.
Alternators are another guessing game. A used one may last another 10 years… or not. The lifespan of a used alternator depends on many factors. Mileage, age, how long it has been sitting and how much corrosion it has accumulated. Are you willing to put up with a failed alternator? Will you install it yourself? Are you getting a great deal? Is a new alternative too expensive? All of these are valid considerations; the problem is the unknown reliability of a used auto part like this.
There are many auto parts stores that specialize in selling these basic maintenance auto parts. As competition becomes fiercer, prices for these basic maintenance auto parts are getting closer to the price many junkyards ask for used auto parts. We are currently looking at some of the cheapest replacement auto parts that are available for a wide selection of cars and these auto parts are brand new. This has been the result of a variety of automotive distribution centers avoiding the expensive overhead and advertising costs associated with building a brand and maintaining outlets.
When replacing auto parts on your car, you generally want to use new auto parts, especially when it comes to basic wear parts.