GM fan clutch

[SteveG]

In addition to replacement clutches, they are OES for car companies.

That doesn't mean much these days. Just because a manufacturer supplies parts to car makers, doesn't mean they supply the same part to auto parts stores. I wish that was the case. It would make my job a lot easier. Unfortunately it's not. Same manufacturer, NOT the same part. Although the parts stores will try to tell you differently. Until you call them on it. Then they'll back pedal.

[Antichrist]

My standard duty Imperial seems to do just fine.
The severe duty Imperial does engage more, but I'd expect that to be the case.

[High Center]

"Apologies to the purist in our company."

I meant this to apply to LR purist but I will expand it to include parts opinionist as well.

Or just not buy some $40 cheap Chinese made knock off at AutoZone. I spent $100 on something that was obviously of high quality at a "real" parts store (you know, the kind actual garages buy parts from) and have had no issues nor lost any "mileage" (a joke to even discuss in the same sentence as these trucks) over the last year.

Yes, you do get what you pay for when you buy cheap. And if you spend some real money you might get what you pay for. If you spend some real money and actually know what you are buying you WILL get what you pay for.

[Daryl]

"Apologies to the purist in our company."

I meant this to apply to LR purist but I will expand it to include parts opinionist as well.

If you've spent any time wrenching professionally you would understand that cheap chain parts store parts failing early is not an opinion, it's a fact. Best of luck to you in any case. It wasn't meant as a personal slight against you.

[Antichrist]

If you've spent any time wrenching professionally you would understand that cheap chain parts store parts failing early is not an opinion, it's a fact.

It really depends on the part.

[Daryl]

It really depends on the part.

Yes, it does. To begin with anything that is a spinning assembly is right out. Fan clutches as mentioned, alternators, starters, water pumps.

[Antichrist]

Well, like I said, I've used a number of the Imperial clutches without issue, or early failure. The longest for going on 100,000 miles.

[oryxexpeditions]

Yes, it does. To begin with anything that is a spinning assembly is right out. Fan clutches as mentioned, alternators, starters, water pumps.

Overgeneralizing here, aren't we. . . .? What constitutes a cheap, chain store part? Got a hard and fast rule on that? Don't think so. . . Some of the parts you buy from the chains are made by the same companies that make the factory parts. Bosch, Delco, Beck-Arnley, etc. . . Besides, being "Genuine" doesn't keep a lot of the factory parts on cars from failing early does it? Those Imperial clutches are fine in my experience. They're made by Hayden, which is an old and respected maker of fan clutches.

David

[Daryl]

Overgeneralizing here, aren't we. . . .? What constitutes a cheap, chain store part? Got a hard and fast rule on that? Don't think so.

And you're so sure that you're ready to answer for me? Or did you just prefer that I didn't?

Because, yes....I do have a general rule: if it's the cheapest version of an assembly with bearings in it that you are buying at AutoZone, Advance Auto or any of the national discount chains it has a much greater likelihood for failing prematurely than a quality part. When you deal with enough kinds of cars for long enough you start to see these very obvious patterns.

Some of the parts you buy from the chains are made by the same companies that make the factory parts. Bosch, Delco, Beck-Arnley, etc.

Now you're betraying your ignorance of the parts business. First of all, the cheap stuff is almost always a rebuild. It's quality depends a lot more on who rebuilt it and how rather than who originally manufactured it. In addition, not everything coming out of the same factory or rebuild shop is of the same quality. Sorry to break it to you, but things are built to a price point and most manufacturers are happy to built to any reasonable point you choose if you can place large enough orders. For the national chains it's often "as cheap as possible" as their market is to home mechanics where they compete on price, not quality.

If you're happy with your purchases then by all means keep doing what you're doing. But in an open discussion like this you shouldn't get your panties twisted when someone brings inconvenient facts and their own experience and opinions to the table. Your points would be much better taken and replies to you not so sharply worded if you didn't go on the offensive as well. This is a general life tip I'll throw in for free.

[JeremyT101]

In either case gents, as the man says, it comes down to dollars. So at 150$ + shipping/duty so thats like another 60$ easy for me. It would make sense to go through what almost 5 GM fan clutches for the price of the rover one. Heck you could even buy one and carry a spare for less then half of what it costs to get a 'good' one. That seems to be the ticket.

http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/ERR3443.cfm