Never bit those ****ty rebuilt alternators from auto zone. MIT had me without my truck for almost 2 weeks !!!!!!

 

Things that I never buy rebuilt is water pumps, Alternators, Starters.

 

I once had a guy come into my shop and ask for an alignment on a newer Dodge Ram 1500. So, I pulled it around and started in on it. The ball joints had tons of play, so I went to the front counter and told him that there was no real point doing an alignment with shot ball joints. He basically told me I was full of s**t, because he had just replaced the ball joints two days ago. I went back and asked him to grab a hold of the wheel and shake it, and when he did, his jaw dropped.

I asked him of he had bought them at AutoZone, and he said "yeah, but I got the gold standard ones! They have a lifetime warranty!" So, I asked him how many times he wanted to replace the ball joints in his lifetime, and that got the point across.

Anyway, the moral of the story is...be careful what you buy at AutoZone!

 

Years ago, my dad's 92 F150 caught fire in the middle of a hay field. Insurance adjuster inspected it, and determined it was a bad alternator that caused the fire. The same alternator that had just been replaced the week prior...from Autozone.

 

There's nothing wrong with properly rebuilt starts, etc. The problem is that the suppliers to the cut rate stores cut every corner that they can and they (1) use the cheapest parts possible and (2) omit testing of the completed item after they rebuilt it. So the Go/No Go testing is left up to the consumer, AFTER he spends hours installing it! If you buy rebuild from NAPA or the other professional grade stores, the items are pretested and you're unlikely to have a failure. In short, you have to weigh the cheap costs of AZ parts against how much labor it will take to install it and then take it back out if it fails! If you don't like the odds, then buy a better grade (and more expensive!) part from the Stealership or NAPA.

 

^^^This.
I can compare AZ or Advance to Harbor Freight...There are some parts and tools that I'll buy at Harbor Freight every time. Zip ties, bungee cords, wheelbarrow tires, etc, as well as hand/power tools that get infrequent use.
If I'm buying a new cordless drill, though, I'll get a DeWalt, because that's something I use A LOT, and I can't rely on the cheaper versions.
You use an alternator/starter/battery/etc A LOT. Go for the good stuff, if you can afford it.

 

I've had terrible luck with ADAP and AZ starters. All requiring starter shims due to lousy machining on the mounting surfaces, + sticky bendix springs. Although, ADAP "tough one" alternators have been pretty decent in quality on all my vehicles.

Ball joints, tie rods, and everything else suspension and chassis related I would only go with Moog, mevo tech or stock.

I refuse to by duralast anything from autobone. I've learned my lesson...

Rock Auto 9 times outta 10 is gonna be the place I buy most replacement parts from, unless I need them the same day. At this point I use coupon codes at ADAP, but only for certain items like brake parts, anything Moog, and maybe some electrical components like window switches and sensors. If the local ADAP part fixes any electrical issue, I have been known to order up an OEM version and return the ADAP part..

 

i had a starter go out on my old bronco... coldest day of the year, windy and snowing, and I was about 100 miles away from the house with no tools. walked to auto zone and bought a rebuilt starter and borrowed their crappy socket set (not complaining about that, it was nice of them to lend it to me) put it in and nothing... took it out, walked back and they tested it and it was bad got a new one (and I was stupid and didn't have them test that one) walked back, changed and again nothing. took it out walked it back and they tested it, again it was bad, this time i had them test the third one and that didn't work... they ended up not having any more of the rebuilt ones and upgraded me to a new (newly manufactured not rebuilt) one for free and tested it and it worked... longest 4 hours of my life

 

I've got lower ball joints and tie rod ends from autozone. Already had to get warranty on the driver tie rod end and I believe the passenger LBJ is out again. Not thrilled... I will likely tear the LBJ's out and put in a better product.

 

Oh come on guys..... Auto Zone is great!...... (For cleaning supplies, oil, and wiper blades)