Crappy rubber parts

[penster1]

Two years ago I replaced several rubber items , such as brake pedal, clutch linkage rubber parts and other small items. Why is it the factory rubber lasted 30 years but the they sell now doesn't last two years. Anyone know of a good supplier of quality rubber parts.

 

[Only in a Jeep CJ]

Because back then the rubber had higher quality plasticizers and was UV stable. Sure it was more expensive to make, but it was made here (or Canada) and was thinner, stronger and more flexible.

Now, its cheap, stiff, and made overseas because profit margins are higher priority than a quality product. It fades and only last about a year before it cracks. There is no other competition so they don't care.

Shifter boots are a KEY example. I for one would gladly pay more for one IF they lasted like the OEM versions.

I order the Mopar replacements stuff as they are the closest thing to the OEM stuff.

 

[Hedgehog]

My Jeep parts guy is conctantly disgusted with the quality of his replacement rubber. It's to the point where he won't sell them anymore. For shift boots he has a leather one in his display to show customers how to make their own.

 

[Techlight]

I hate this too...I wish there was some middle ground lol. Most of us would be happy with 10 or 15 year life span. I wonder if there's anything out of Mexico or Japan (yes, I just said that ). Everybody seems to like the Moog stuff and it's made in Mexico...Japan usually has quality parts in general. Most of the stuff I see now is out of India and China and I won't even buy it.

When I put the new motor in, I looked forever for stock motor mounts that wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg. The one's I pulled out of there were Korean and seemed fine, but I wanted to replace them anyway because the motor was shot and I'm no mechanic haha. Ended up with Prothane mounts which were an actual inch over stock mounts which made no sense...I assumed they were just cutting corners in some way too so they could make mounts for a bunch of cars at once. I'm pretty sure they'll never break though so I guess that's good. A one inch body lift fixed my off clutch alignment so in the end it worked out...

 

[jzak]

It seems like this is an issue with most replacement parts for CJ's. Everything is ! I recently bought a black hood kit from Rugged Ridge, to replace the chrome stuff i had. The hood-hinge metal looked like tin foil compared to the original, and the powdered coating was terrible. After a couple weeks, rust started coming through.

Every time I have to replace an OEM part on my CJ5 , the replacement part looks and feels cheaper and poorly constructed.

 

[Techlight]

It seems like this is an issue with most replacement parts for CJ's. Everything is ! I recently bought a black hood kit from Rugged Ridge, to replace the chrome stuff i had. The hood-hinge metal looked like tin foil compared to the original, and the powdered coating was terrible. After a couple weeks, rust started coming through.

Every time I have to replace an OEM part on my CJ5 , the replacement part looks and feels cheaper and poorly constructed.

Rugged Ridge is hit or miss. I needed some tailgate hinges and decided to get stock ones from a yard. The RR ones were . I have the RR heavy duty clutch linkage sitting in a box and it looked pretty well made, so I never know what to think when I'm ordering from them. I just installed a replacement shackle from them that was pretty much garbage. Had rust on it out of the box lol. I hit it with some rustoleum and put it in. Just trying to get through the next year before a YJ conversion and lift. Don't want to spend the money on anything just yet.

I know there are better made products out there, but they are a little pricey when I'm undecided the exact route I'm going with my build and just want to get back on the road.

 

[mtnwhlr]

I think the problem is the aftermarket has been flooded with China because nobody wants to get in the game. I don't know if it's because they don't think they can compete or what but I think everyone who has had to deal with all this China would be happy to spend more for a quality part. And I for one wish someone would start making aftermarket parts in the good ol :us:, with the jobs it would create it would be a win win.

 

[73CJ]

Because back then the rubber had higher quality plasticizers and was UV stable. Sure it was more expensive to make, but it was made here (or Canada) and was thinner, stronger and more flexible.[/URL]

Well yes and no :

Plasticizers and UV additives are way better now but they add cost to the material.

China parts choose not to add them. That's why they are way cheaper.

You get what you pay for.