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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the introduction of its link hidden, please login to view, which it said is a premium lineup of purpose-designed brake pads for the commercial vehicle segment features five customized formulations, including link hidden, please login to view and link hidden, please login to view. “Each design offers advanced friction technology to deliver a premier level of performance matched to vehicle usage,” the company said. The program will be available in early 2025 to meet the automotive needs of the underserved commercial and fleet market, and is on display at AAPEX, at the Mevotech booth #A3038.
“We’re excited to launch the TTX Brakes category, showcasing our commitment to the design and development of products customized for the individual needs of high-usage commercial vehicles and working trucks. As a brand, it’s an important milestone in expanding our TTX product category that has become synonymous with extreme strength and durability for a market segment that relies on optimal performance without compromise,” said Todd Hack, EVP sales and marketing, Mevotech.
Mevotech said all TTX Brake pads come with a comprehensive installation kit to facilitate a more seamless install that saves up to 30 minutes. Installation boxes include caliper mounting hardware.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the launch of link hidden, please login to view, a new automotive aftermarket distribution platform. The launch coincides with Driven Distribution Group’s acquisition of the auto parts and accessories distribution business of Chicago Parts & Sound, following the recapitalization of Tri-State Enterprises, Inc. in November 2023. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. By bringing together CPS and Tri-State under the Driven Distribution Group umbrella, HCI said it “aims to establish a leading platform in the automotive aftermarket industry by equipping its brands with shared resources, strategic vision, investment and advanced technology to enable its companies to deliver best-in-class customer service.” Both CPS and Tri-State will continue to operate under their respective brands, while benefiting from the shared resources of the Driven Distribution Group platform.
“We are thrilled to welcome the CPS team to the Driven Distribution platform. Consistent with our original platform thesis, CPS represents a geographically strategic beachhead in the Midwest and is a great complement to Tri-State’s existing product categories. We look forward to working together to achieve our shared vision for growth,” said Scott Gibaratz, partner at HCI.
Chicago Parts & Sound, based in Elk Grove Village, IL, with additional locations in Illinois and Wisconsin, is a warehouse distributor focused on automotive aftermarket parts, batteries, consumables, and accessories. The company serves auto dealerships, independent repair shops, municipalities/governments and company fleets.
Bob Lederer, co-owner of CPS, said, “the growth of Tri-State Enterprises parallels that of CPS – just in a different part of the country. Opportunities to combine businesses of such similar backgrounds, culture, and customer focus make tremendous sense for all stakeholders in each company.”
“We are extremely impressed with the stellar business and established market reputation Bob and Jackie Lederer have built over the past 22 years. The combination of CPS and Tri-State as part of the Driven Distribution Group platform will enable us to expand our resources and capabilities to better serve our employees and customers,” said Tristan Taylor, CEO of Tri-State.
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By Counterman
The three “F”s may sound like a report card we wanted to hide from our parents, but in our industry, they refer to form, fit and function. They are the cornerstones of quality in the aftermarket, and heavily referenced when describing your product offerings. From an engineering standpoint, they are critical considerations when producing an aftermarket component designed to duplicate (or upgrade) an OEM design.
Form refers to dimensional and material specifications, and affects the look, feel and even weight of a component. In some enthusiast circles, finish may also be an important consideration. Form is critical for identification, as well as perception of quality.
Fit allows a part to be attached to other components or work in harmony with other parts in a subassembly or system. Fine tolerances are often critical to proper fitment between two or more parts, and fit often follows form from a design and engineering standpoint.
Function is the ability of the product to perform the intended duties of the original design, and may also include considerations of durability and longevity. In most cases, function is the ultimate goal of a replacement part, with fit and form contributing to this functionality.
In many cases, the form, fit and function of an aftermarket part is an exact duplicate of its OEM counterpart. For some components, patent or licensing considerations may prevent an aftermarket provider from creating exact replicas of certain components. When these legal limitations prevent a reputable company from reproducing a design, modifications to the form (which do not affect fit and function) can often allow a manufacturer to produce a suitable replacement. This is not to say that “knockoff” parts are suitable replacements for aftermarket or OEM offerings. The vague or intentionally deceptive origins of gray market and counterfeit parts are a problem for everyone from the supplier to the end user, and undermines the intellectual property rights of both OEM and aftermarket manufacturers.
Beauty is only skin deep, and it’s often what you can’t see that makes the difference between a great part and a potential failure. This is most obvious with counterfeit parts, where the form is often the only aspect of the product that matches the original. The use of inferior materials or other cost-cutting measures make reliability and durability a gamble when compared to the genuine article. When it comes to labor-intensive repair parts like a rear main seal, or safety items like brake parts, the fit, form and function are all critical aspects of the manufacturing process. For others, fit and function are enough to get the job done, especially if the form represents an enhancement to the original design, or an upgrade in performance and durability.
I recently replaced a window motor on my personal vehicle, using a national aftermarket brand. In addition to the new motor were a half-dozen plug-and-play jumper wire adapters, allowing this single SKU to fit multiple applications. While the form was slightly different than the OEM or another brand’s reman offering, the fit and function were excellent, and that single SKU replaces five other units on my store’s shelving. It was a win for me both professionally and personally!
Sometimes, the OEM doesn’t get a design quite right, and the aftermarket sees an opportunity to upgrade a flawed or poorly-conceived part. The increased use of plastics in parts design has led to a few notorious failures. In the late 1990s, we began to see repeated failures of sway bar links on the Ford Taurus. We collectively shook our heads at the OEM plastic design, and replaced them with aftermarket steel links. As these vehicles aged out of the market, it became one of those “remember when?” stories passed to new counterpeople…. until Chrysler inexplicably duplicated the design for its Jeep Renegade and Compass models! The aftermarket came to the rescue once again, and now, even the OEM has upgraded its original plastic links to a steel design.
One of the greatest advantages we have over the OEM is our diversity. With hundreds of aftermarket manufacturers creating (or re-creating) replacement parts, the potential for innovation and the sheer number of resources at our disposal gives us more options than those offered by the OEM. Our adaptability and willingness to work outside the confines of an OEM catalog also give us the freedom to find creative or unorthodox solutions to our customers’ problems.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the launch of 20 new products in North America. The new part numbers include complete strut assemblies and shock absorbers, representing nearly 8 million vehicles in new coverage. The launch includes coverage for light vehicles like the Hyundai Sonata, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Subaru WRX, in addition to popular pickup truck applications, including the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and the Dodge Ram 1500, among others, according to link hidden, please login to view. “We are continually launching aftermarket products using the same high-quality components as our original equipment offerings,” said Bruno Bello, director of global marketing at PRT. “These new items not only expand our portfolio but also strengthen our presence in North America. The new products are in stock and ready to ship!”
For more information, call 1-770-238-1611, visit
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