Are Auto Zone "Duralast" parts any good?

To look up parts, I always use www.acdelco.com or www.motorcraft.com for Henry's stuff. I buy right from the warehouse. It takes a little detective work but you can find them. They are located in most major cities so they can supply the OE dealers. All you have to do is ask them if they'll sell you as a cash customer. But, you have to ask. Some will...some won't. Key is cash. No credit cards and a check after they get to know you. You also don't go into a dealer or jobber and start bragging about getting parts direct from their warehouse. I call them with my order and go pick it up in about an hour.The OE's are pushing these guys to get into the aftermarket and start selling direct. Pricing is competative and they have many parts for my 60's & 70's classics and newer stuff. The quality is much better than the Zone, NAPA and the rest. And the inventory...Wow!

Next source: Check out a seller on eBay: "stocklifts". He buys parts inventories of companies going out of business. He's located east of Philly. I buy all of my brake parts and shocks/struts from this guy. He has a web site too. Google: Cerell Distributing Co. New name brand parts at a fraction of the cost. OK. That's enough secrets for today.:Smarty:

 

Delco remans are sub-contracted in most cases,especially the older stuff.same with lucas & bosch.

 

I was going to ask if AC Delco did their own, or sent them out.
I will be buying a new starter for the Riv, and have been pricing out the AC Delco brand.

I quess as a rule I have always shyed away from the no name/store branded rebuilds just for the reasons you mentioned earlier.
But figured my odds were better going with a name brand like AC Delco, Bosch or Autolite.
Or, I have bought kits and done them myself, which I was going to do this time but when I took the starter apart to investigate, I found there are some armature windings that are broke were they meet the commutator. So I want a whole new unit.

I did put an Autolite brand rebuilt alternator on the Park Ave. a few years ago and so far, so good.

 

hello!

anybody know if duralast shock absorbers are good?

monroe are good, but expensive so i'm looking cheaper, but good.

thank you.

 

I've had good luck with Duralast parts

 

I have had good luck with Duralast parts. Only one return and that was on what else, an alternator. Otherwise, no complaints. I have had better luck with stuff from the zone than from NAPA, though NAPA seems to have quicker access to the "wierd stuff" locally. I can usually get it the same afternoon from the twin cities warehouse.

As an aside, I got sick of swapping out NAPA "remanufactured" alternators on my sportwagon about 6 years ago and spent $120 on a reman straight from Delco/GM at a parts house that supplies dealers and shops. It has been 6 years and 75,000 miles with no trouble instead of a trip to NAPA every 6-8 months. But it was $120 vs $30.

It depends on what your time is worth, I suppose.