Chev. C30 Update, Brake Failure & More (long)

[Cal_Gary]

Scary stuff for sure, Carter. I've begun loading mine for the trip to the new homestead-should be closing on Thursday....
Glad you are safe-sure is a pain when the components you've just replaced crap out the first time they get used....
Gary

[HingsingM37]

"David, I think the only reason things didn't get ugly is because I usually test the brakes before needing them which allowed enough time to get the old thing stopped before running thru the stop sign onto the road and possibly into another vehicle."

Good habit to have. That is a good looking new pickup you have there

[MSeriesRebuild]

We don't use components from Advance or Auto Zone. The lifetime warranty they offer sounds tempting; but most folks get tired of replacing them after a few times and move on up to CarQuest, NAPA, or some other outlet that offers better quality parts. I'm not saying these outlets don't also offer the CHEAP line of parts too, but you have to shop wisely and be prepared to pay a little more these days if you get decent quality stuff. It's just the world we live in, and I too wish I could say it ain't so, but I can't.

[Carter]

Good information Charles, worth remembering, thank you. Never thought that Autozone was selling inferior parts, figured they were all about the same. If the master cyl goes south again NAPA will be my next place to get a replacement.

[MSeriesRebuild]

Good information Charles, worth remembering, thank you. Never thought that Autozone was selling inferior parts, figured they were all about the same. If the master cyl goes south again NAPA will be my next place to get a replacement.

NAPA and CarQuest have a cheap line of stuff just like the others; however they do still offer the better grade in most items. Many times the better stuff is no longer stocked in the stores, simply because the walk in business doesn't go for it in a huge way. Everything is geared toward quick sales, cheap price drives that. If you stop and think about this; this is cheaply priced stuff with in many cases lifetime warranties attached, look at the big picture. Alternators are a good example; rebuilts at Advance go for $29.99 or $39.99 and are covered for as long as you own the vehicle. I've known many that literally grew tired of replacing them every few months, so much that it soon didn't matter if they were free at the store; they were just tired of changing them out. Some are more than a little difficult to access and change. Most of the small service general automotive shops around us won't even install these types of units anymore. They know they will go in the hole as they will have to keep doing free change outs every few months. When it comes to these types of components, they go to the local CarQuest for the better line of parts. They can do this knowing they won't have to change it out every 3 months, and they don't have unhappy customers who look at them saying they install parts that don't last.

The line "you get what you pay for" has never been more true than it is today. When you buy parts at a cheap price, just know there is a reason why it's cheap, it isn't because you happened by on the day of the annual bargain basement sale. Obviously, you expect to pay more for the better stuff, in some cases a good bit more. We can't do stuff anywhere near as cheap as we could a relatively short time ago, but if we install stuff that doesn't last, we won't be doing anything for very long.