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Carter Adds Rapid Fit Water Pumps, Publishes Catalog
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By Counterman
Frenkit, a European brake hardware supplier, is expanding coverage for the North American aftermarket. Featuring proprietary rubber components manufactured at its facilities in Spain and India, the company said it now offers U.S. customers nearly 4,500 different brake hardware kits, covering 95% of U.S. aftermarket sales.
link hidden, please login to view said its program includes hardware kits for both disc and drum brakes, caliper pistons, brake caliper repair kits, electronic parking brake kits and more. The company said its portfolio is comprised of more than 12,000 different components covering 50,000 parts cross-referenced to OE. Frenkit added that its catalog is fully ACES and PIES compliant and FMSI-indexed. The post
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view, a division of link hidden, please login to view, announced it is adding new general repair parts commonly used by transmission repair shops in over 50 locations. With the addition, these general repair parts will now be available at the majority of Transtar’s 70 locations, simplifying complex vehicle repair by enabling repair shops to find the parts they need in one location, the company said. The aftermarket brands with which Transtar is partnering as part of the expansion, and their respective repair parts, include:
• Denso – ignition coils, oxygen sensors, spark plugs
• ProMax – Brake pads, rotors, chassis, control arms
• Sunsong® – Brake hoses
• GSP® – CV axles, hub assemblies
• DFC – Brake pads, rotors, calipers
“The addition of general repair parts at a significant number of our locations is an exciting enhancement and one that is a part of Transtar’s overall commitment to becoming a one-stop solution for our customers,” said Tom DeMille, executive vice president, sales and marketing. “We’re committed to supporting shops in all types of repairs. Whether that’s a general automotive repair or more complex transmission repair, Transtar has the parts needed to keep the world moving.”
For a complete listing of Transtar locations and products, visit
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the release of additional late model Hyundai and Kia coverage in February. Eight new part numbers are in stock and available for immediate delivery, the company said. Covering over 2,200,000 applications and model years 2020-2025, these part numbers represent “excellent sales opportunities,” according to Anchor.
All application data is available electronically on
link hidden, please login to view, Epicor and WHI Solutions. For more details on
link hidden, please login to view complete program availability, contact your local sales representative or call Anchor’s customer service department direct at 1-888-444-4616. The post
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By Counterman
Anchor Industries announced the release of additional late model Lexus and Toyota coverage. Eight new part numbers are in stock and available for immediate delivery, the company said.
Covering over 2,300,000 applications and model years 2007-2025, these part numbers represent “excellent sales opportunities,” according to Anchor.
All application data is available electronically on
link hidden, please login to view, Epicor and WHI Solutions. For more details on
link hidden, please login to view complete program availability, contact your local sales representative or call Anchor’s customer service department direct at 1-888-444-4616.
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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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