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By Counterman
ZF Aftermarket and HDA Truck Pride announced a partnership to distribute WABCO products to the CV independent aftermarket. The announcement comes as both companies exhibit at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) 2025 in Grapevine, Texas.
According to ZF, the partnership expands access to the full line of WABCO products for commercial vehicles – including air compressors, air dryers, trailer anti-lock braking systems (ABS), wheel-end solutions and more – to the independent aftermarket through HDA Truck Pride’s extensive distributor network. WABCO’s broad portfolio of innovative solutions improve the safety, efficiency and intelligence of commercial vehicles, at all stages of the vehicle lifecycle, the company said.
“We are excited to partner with HDA Truck Pride, a premier marketing group, to make WABCO products more readily available in the independent aftermarket,” said Steve Bashir, commercial vehicle business leader,
link hidden, please login to view. “With ZF Aftermarket brands TRW and SACHS already available through the HDA Truck Pride Network, we are strengthening our commitment to offer a full range of genuine OE products, remanufactured solutions and quality aftermarket parts to support distributors, fleets and vehicle owners across North America.” “
link hidden, please login to view is dedicated to delivering unmatched value and service to our customers,” said Tina Hubbard, president and CEO of HDA Truck Pride. “Partnering with ZF Aftermarket to make WABCO products available to our distribution network strengthens our value proposition and optimizes our customers’ market presence to drive success.” The post
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By Counterman
MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers announced it will host a virtual Advocacy Town Hall on January 30 @ 11 a.m. ET, where its Advocacy team will share the latest on policy and legislative efforts that impact the aftermarket, including Right to Repair, tariff developments and supply chain challenges.
link hidden, please login to view for the chance to stay informed and engage with MEMA’s advocacy work on the issues that matter most to our industry, the organization encouraged. The post
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By APF
When selecting parts for a car repair, it pays to know the differences between original and aftermarket parts. Whenever possible, get estimates for both.
Choosing between original and aftermarket car parts — and even used parts of either type — is all about squaring your priorities with your budget.
You’ll have different options depending on the part and the shop. And the best choice will depend on whether you’re trying to keep repairs cheap, restore your car’s appearance after a wreck or soup up your ride.
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Before we get into that, here are the key differences:
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts match those that came with your car, and are of the same quality as its original parts. They’re also the most expensive. Aftermarket parts are cheaper, and made by other manufacturers — often several, giving you more options. Used parts may have a bit of wear and tear, but should be inspected or rebuilt to ensure they’ll work. These are the cheapest option. Choosing between aftermarket and OEM parts
Your decision will depend on the type of repair and the quality and price of the parts. Always look for parts that come with a warranty, even if they’re OEM, so you’ll be protected in case they fail.
Auto body repairs
Some aftermarket parts may be OK for
link hidden, please login to view, but others won’t be as good, says Michael Calkins, manager of technical services at AAA. “There’s a lot of variation in quality.” For example, he says, aftermarket parts often don’t have the same level of rustproofing as original parts, fit and finish don’t match, or panels don’t align properly. If OEM parts are used in auto body repair, the car should look and work exactly as it did before the damage, because everything will match up. OEM parts are also crash-tested, unlike many aftermarket parts.
Aftermarket parts come at varying price points and levels of quality, but because they are cheaper, insurance companies often prefer them. If you want OEM parts but are dealing with an insurer that wants the shop to use aftermarket parts, ask to pay the difference.
“There’s also the option of used parts, depending on the age of the vehicle,” Calkins says. “It may be cheaper than an aftermarket part but still have all of the original quality.”
Mechanical repairs
A used part, whether it’s OEM or aftermarket, can really save money on repairs under the hood, so long as it’s inspected first and warrantied. And some aftermarket companies reverse-engineer their products to be even better than OEM versions.
For example, many car buffs will tell you that you can get heavy-duty shocks and struts or brake pads that are made of stronger materials. Scan some reviews online, or talk with your mechanic if you’re not sure whether an aftermarket part could be an upgrade.
Adding some extras
If you’d like to modify your ride by adding something like a backup camera or back-seat TV screen, you’ll probably be looking for aftermarket parts. Certain aftermarket upgrades could increase
link hidden, please login to view. This is especially true for improvements like a better sound system or alloy wheels, rather than mechanical repairs. Who provides OEM or aftermarket parts?
The options you’ll have for parts depends on the nature of the repairs and what type of shop you take your car to:
Dealership repair shops will offer only OEM parts — they have no reason to offer a cheaper product from a competitor link hidden, please login to view may be able to offer you a choice between OEM and aftermarket parts Independent garages that specialize in your type of vehicle will likely have both, but with quicker access to OEM parts, including used OEM parts, which can really save you Auto body shops can offer both, but if your collision repair is part of an insurance claim, the insurer will likely prefer aftermarket parts to save money Depending on the job, the cost of OEM versus aftermarket parts varies. Whenever you’re given the choice, ask to see estimates for both so you can weigh your options.
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By Counterman
Robert Bosch, LLC announced the addition of 79 automotive aftermarket part numbers to multiple product categories in December 2024, adding coverage to 52.9 million vehicles in operation. New part numbers were added to Bosch sensors, brakes, spark plugs and other prominent product categories.
Bosch Braking
Bosch released 18 new part numbers for
link hidden, please login to view Blue brake pads covering 2.4 million vehicles in operation for late model Asian, Domestic and European vehicles. The company said the brake pads feature copper-free friction formulation for improved performance and are towel-wrapped for added protection. Additionally, Bosch released 16 new part numbers for Bosch QuietCast brake pads, covering 2.3 million Asian, Domestic and European vehicles in operation. The Bosch QuietCast brake pads maximize performance while offering quiet operation through a next-generation copper-free friction formulation and an OE-style rubber core multi-layer shim, the company said.
Bosch Sensors
Bosch also released 13 new part numbers across multiple sensor categories. The new releases include five part numbers for the Bosch pressure sensors, three for Bosch crankshaft sensors, two for the Bosch knock sensors and one new part number each for the Bosch oxygen sensors, temperature sensors and camshaft sensors. The new part numbers added coverage to more than 2.2 million vehicles in operation.
Bosch Spark Plugs
Bosch released one new part number for the Bosch OE Fine Wire platinum spark plug, adding coverage to more than 569,000 European vehicles in operation including popular Audi and Volkswagen models.
Bosch released one new part number for the Bosch Nickel Super 4 spark plugs, adding coverage to more than 701,000 vehicles in operation across the U.S and Canada.
Bosch Batteries
Bosch also released 15 new part numbers for the Bosch High Performance starter batteries, adding coverage to more than 31.2 million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. According to the company, the high-performance starter battery offers reliable starting power in extreme hot and cold climates and is 100% maintenance-free under normal working conditions.
Bosch Fuel Injectors
link hidden, please login to view released seven new part numbers for the Bosch fuel injectors in the new powersports category and covering more than one million vehicles. Bosch said its fuel injectors are manufactured with the highest quality high-alloy steels and plastic coverings for optimum corrosion resistance and longevity. Bosch Wipers
Finally, Bosch added one new part number for the Bosch ICON Extension wiper blade, adding coverage to more than 12.4 million vehicles. The Bosch ICON Extension is equipped with ClearMax 365, an exclusive, patented rubber technology that combines a soft rubber core with a powder-coated shell to provide a clear and clean wipe, the company said.
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By Counterman
A major change is underway for the bottles of engine oils that line the shelves of American auto shops and supply factory and service fill stations.
ILSAC GF-7—the next specification for passenger car engine oils—will see its first license on March 31, 2025. That means all factory and service fill engine oils must deliver new levels of performance across a range of criteria, most particularly fuel economy.
For auto service professionals, it’s worth staying educated on developments like these to best satisfy the wants and needs of your customers. In this article, we’ll explore the new performance requirements of GF-7 in more detail, as well as the science that goes into delivering next-generation performance.
A Focus on Fuel Economy: GF-7 Performance Requirements
The new GF-7 specification requires that next-generation lubricants contribute to enhanced fuel consumption rates, as well as enhanced fuel economy retention over the course of the oil drain. To the average driver, these fuel economy gains will likely go unnoticed. But taken across all cars on the road, they will have a major impact on emissions reduction for the American auto population.
But those aren’t the only new requirements. GF-7 will require lubricants to deliver heightened levels of overall engine protection and will measure the lubricant’s ability to prevent low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI), piston deposit control, and premature timing chain wear over extended periods. These are important attributes. For example, LSPI is a potentially catastrophic problem unique to modern gasoline direct injection (GDI) and turbocharged GDI (TGDI) engines.
The specification calls for advanced performance in several other areas, including deposit control, seal compatibility, wear and corrosion protection, oil pumpability, and catalyst compatibility. Taken comprehensively, the requirements of GF-7 will help to better protect cars on the road while enabling new-model engines to meet their full potential.
Elsewhere, it’s important to note that GF-7 will in fact be split into two separate categories: GF-7A, which covers legacy viscosity grades 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30, and 10W-30, and GF-7B, which covers 0W-16, a lower viscosity that some OEMs have specified in new-model vehicles to drive even higher fuel economy benefits than the GF-7A category. For auto service professionals, it’s worth knowing how and when to recommend GF-7B products to customers in conjunction with automaker recommendations.
The Science Behind Performance
To understand the technology that goes into GF-7 performance or other OEM specifications, it’s helpful to understand the anatomy of an engine oil. Formulations are composed of three primary component parts:
Base oil. The base oil is the carrier fluid and delivers basic performance. It makes up the majority of the formulation and is a critical building block for formulating a high-quality lubricant. Additive. This is the key performance enabler, allowing the finished product to meet operational requirements when in use. Viscosity modifier and pour point depressant. This component ensures the final product will deliver consistent flow across a broad range of operational temperatures and climates. These components complement each other to create optimized performance that will need new performance specifications. Generally, engine oil producers will utilize high-quality base stocks blended with additives and viscosity modifiers to deliver the required performance.
There can be some complexities here. Base oil availability and pricing can be inconsistent, and access to the highest-quality options is not always a guarantee for formulators. But by taking advantage of advanced additive technology, engine oil producers can typically meet the required performance standards with a range of available base stocks.
Additionally, elevated additive performance can enable the use of viscosity modifiers (VMs) that help maximize engine durability while achieving the necessary fuel economy requirements of new specifications. Typically, passenger car engine oils are formulated with VMs that maintain a shear-stability index (SSI) of 35. The higher the SSI, the more easily the finished product will shear, contributing to fuel economy gains. Lower SSI VMs, by contrast, may hinder some of those fuel economy gains, but will deliver higher levels of durability. For example, heavy-duty engine oils for commercial trucks are typically formulated using VMs with an SSI of 25.
Higher-performance additives, however, can change those considerations. Top-tier additives enable finished engine oils to achieve higher fuel economy gains in combination with lower-shear (25 SSI) VMs. This means no compromises when it comes to protection and durability while delivering meaningful fuel economy contributions.
GF-7 is nearly here, and it raises the bar for what modern lubricants can contribute to today’s and tomorrow’s vehicles. Ultimately, today’s additive science is the reason engine oils are reaching those loftier performance standards—and that is a positive thing for every car on the road today.
Padu Sreenivas is Product Manager at The Lubrizol Corporation and manages Lubrizol’s North American passenger car motor oil business. He has over 25 years of industry experience and has held numerous positions in technology, testing and commercial roles globally.
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