I have purchased new Cats, and have replaced two radiators due to poor quality. The O2 ports on the cats needed cut off and rewelded onto the pipes due to misalignment. I have had to return two radiators because of leaking lower tanks. The radiators where made by Vista Pro, the best Rock Auto had to offer.

Im going back to using the local Auto Parts. Rock Auto nails you for shipping for any returns, even if the parts are faulty. I've racked up almost $100.00 in shipping cost due to there crappy parts.

Never Again:mad::mad::mad:

That sucks. I've never had any issues with them, but I only order brands I'm familiar with - Fel Pro, etc.

Sent from my DROID X2 using AutoGuide.com App

I ordered the Vista Pro Radiator. Both that I received had the same factory defects, leaking in the same place from the lower tank.

I like their prices, but have gotten stung by paying for shipping back a part that was supposed to be right, but obviously wasn't. I even sent them pictures of the 2 radiator hoses that looked like apples and oranges. I paid about $10 to get back $10 for the part. They did nothing to satisfy me on this. I'll use them as a last resort in the future. I've never heard other complaints about them though.

cheap parts made in even cheapter china. get what you pay for in the aftermarket.

I did not want to say that but you are right. They are cheap parts, I don't have alot of patience for that. Both Radiators went bad in under 50miles.
I got zero help from Rock Auto with the second bad radiator and they will only give me store credit because the clock started when I bought the first bad radiator even though it was defective.

NEVER AGAIN!!

Original Denso replacement radiator $184.77: Denso automotive parts available online at DensoProducts.com (http://www.densoproducts.com/resultsSearch.asp?s=9&txtPartNumber=221-0517)

Remmy, Thanks. Added to my favorites.

RockAuto caters to a certain segment of the population - those people who want dirt cheap parts and don't particularly care about the quality, because after all, it was cheap! That's probably ok with most domestic makes, because you can get the same crap your car was built with in the first place. Even Chrysler offers two lines of parts now; their regular line and their MV (Mopar Value) line to cater to the same camp as RockAuto, Autozone, Checker/O'Reilly's, Shucks, PepBoys, et al. Recently, I installed a "genuine" Ford egr controller that was made in...China!

My $.02 is to stick with OEM (drop me a PM if there is something you need :D) or go with the OEM's manufacturer (like what Remmy linked to).

RockAuto caters to a certain segment of the population - those people who want dirt cheap parts and don't particularly care about the quality, because after all, it was cheap!

X2 which is why to stay away.

Why put a cheap part on your ride, only to have to
replace/repair it more frequently in the future. In the long run, you pay more. May even got stuck on the road and stranded, and then
have more headaches to deal with. God forbid, if it was faulty brakes and they failed, when you needed them most.

China parts scare me, especially for life safety components, like brakes, suspension, etc. I value my life and my family, and want QUALITY parts, even if it cost a little more. That
equates to reliability and safety.

is there really a place called Shuck's????:confused:

I actually ordered name brand belts and hoses when I had problems. They were for my old Acura.

I've read about at least a couple other people who also bought the Vista Pro radiators from Rock for their Toys, and also had the same issue with them leaking, and having to go thru the return hassle.
Best bet is to stick with OEM when possible, and if you cant, then get JAPANESE made OEM supplier brands. While there ARE good US and European brands out there, the US parts are mostly geared toward domestic brands, and European parts are generally geared toward European brands.
An example is Bosch and AC Delco parts. Even though they make Toyota applications, I would buy Nippon Denso, NGK, or Aisin parts first. They are Toyota OEM suppliers.

Ok, besides Remmy's Denso link where else can one buy quality OEM parts for a tundra? I am about to give this truck to my daughter to use as her first vehicle. Before this I want to replace/upgrade the front brakes and upper and lower ball joints.

you ought to email this to RockAuto and tell them their policies are loosing them market share.

Sounds like a great idea!

Pgaski - Here's a few on-line parts sources I've used over the years:

Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Toyota Auto Parts and Accessories (http://www.toyotapartszone.com/)

http://www.importpartsguy.com/

Toyota Parts Overstock.com - OEM Factory Toyota and Scion Parts | ToyotaPartsOverstock.com (http://www.toyotapartsoverstock.com/)

Camelback Toyota Parts (http://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=214329)

OEM Toyota Parts Group (http://www.oemtoyotapartsgroup.com/toyota/toyota-parts.html)

Order Toyota Parts - Toyota Parts Barn (http://www.toyotapartsbarn.com/Toyota/Parts/Toyota-Parts.shtm)

Thanks Marvbest

You're welcome Pgaski

Why are you guys blaming Rockauto? Were these parts Rockauto brand? I buy parts from Rockauto, and they have names on them. I'd blame the manufacture, not the retailer. I don't follow the logic here. This is like saying "Don't buy beer from the grocery store, I bought Coors Light there and didn't catch a buzz"

i think he's pissed at them not standing behind the stuff they sell and charging a return postage.

exactly....and if its a common issue with that brand, then they as the retailer should maybe start rethinking about offering it.
So by your logic, if you bought a Maytag washing machine at Sears, and it turns out it was defective, you wouldnt have a problem with letting Sears hang you out to dry on it (pun intended :)), like keeping your $75 delivery charge, then charging you another $75 to deliver a defective replacement?
AND you would go back to Sears to buy another one?...I somehow dont think so...

Stone, You got it. I use to remodel baths and do handyman work. If the lady of the house did not like the toilet or the color she picked out for the walls I would change it no questions asked. I had more work then I could handle, after a couple of years I was busy almost year round with repeat business. Think about it, it would cost me a couple of hundred bucks to change that toilet she didn't like but this lady just spent 35000 for a completely new bath. My return comes when she has lunch and tells all here girlfriends what a great bathroom remodel I just completed. It is my job to lose when her friend or neighbor calls and want to get the master bath redone or update the kitchen.

I hate it when no one will step up to the plate and do the right thing. I will never do business with Rock Auto again

"Don't buy beer from the grocery store, I bought Coors Light there and didn't catch a buzz"lmao :tu:

I shop RockAuto occasionally for replacement parts. The thing I love about them is they have a broad selection of brand names that I trust.

I actually had a positive experience about a year ago. I bought an O2 sensor for my wife's old Maxima. It sat on the shelf for ~6 weeks before I got around to installing it. That's when I realized I bought the wrong part. Their policy is 30 days to return. I contacted Rock Auto and described the situation and indicated I intended to purchase the correct part from them. They ignored their 30-day policy and let me return the sensor for full credit (I had to eat shipping, of course, but I expected to).

the operating factor is YOU screwed up and they were not out anything. when their supplier provides a customer with a defective item it should come out of their and their suppliers pocket, not the customers.

YMMV

exactly....and if its a common issue with that brand, then they as the retailer should maybe start rethinking about offering it.
So by your logic, if you bought a Maytag washing machine at Sears, and it turns out it was defective, you wouldnt have a problem with letting Sears hang you out to dry on it (pun intended :)), like keeping your $75 delivery charge, then charging you another $75 to deliver a defective replacement?
AND you would go back to Sears to buy another one?...I somehow dont think so...

I wouldn't bother asking Sears, I'd go to Maytag, who manufactured a defective product and issued a warranty(unless I bought Sears comprehensive extended warranty, which does not fit into this scenario). All online ordering businesses have their return policies, it's the purchasers responsibility to read them. Not picking a fight, but I like Rockauto's service, and I support them by purchasing parts I need through them.

Pgaski, services is different than retail, apples to oranges but sounds like you are a respectable businessman. :tu:

Digging up a kinda-old thread...

Over the past month I ordered about $700 worth of parts for an 87 Chevy Sprint rebuild (40mpg vs. 15mpg in my Tundra). Of all the parts, only 2 didn't fit - the receiver/dryer and the front wheel bearings. RockAuto gave me a hassle about returning them, requiring a VIN, the number on the parts and on the box, waiting while they look them up in the catalog, etc, etc. They came back with some BS about how the catalog says they should fit - well, they obviously don't. Best I could get out of them was return shipping paid - I had to eat the original shipping, and find a FedEx drop off to return them. Wasted a good hour at least...

I had also ordered a few parts from Amazon. The clutch kit was the wrong size. Took me all of 2 minutes to report it on their page, print a new label, and leave it outside my door for the UPS guy to pick it up the next day. I will be giving all the business I can to Amazon in the future - plus most parts have 2 day free shipping! (with my Prime account).

Anybody want to know why Amazon has grown into the giant it is? Read the previous paragraph - customer service = repeat business. (also i.e. Pgaski ^^^)

I feel I gotta chime in on this. Not that I want to defend RockAuto, but I have had nothing but good experiences there. I bought most of my brake upgrade parts through them and haven't had any issues. However, I have had an issue with a set of front brake rotors being the incorrect item (for my Lexus RX330). As it turned out, RockAuto was innocent of any wrong doing on that. I bought a set of Raybestos Advanced Technology rotors and they didn't fit. E-mail RockAuto about it - along with the info I found on the casting of the rotor itself. They went the extra mile and contacted Raybestos - and it turned out the box had the wrong label put on it. I damaged the rotor during the install, but they took it back and shipped new ones. In a strange twist, the newest rotors didn't fit either...and I was not happy. Contacted RockAuto and they put me into contact with a honcho over brakes at Raybestos and they determined that there had been some massive screwup at Raybestos' own facility somewhere where packaging was done. I finally got a set of rotors - shipped directly from Raybestos.

In my case, both Rockauto and Raybestos stepped to the plate on customer service. My wife is a bit nervous about buying from them again, but I have no qualms. They were quick to ship and reasonably priced.

It's like everything else mentioned here - customer service means repeat business - whether you are a dealership or aftermarket parts house. Quality of the parts is a factor, too. I had no reason to not trust in the parts I was ordering - I knew what I was getting. I was saving enough money by going to them that I knew there could be a tradeoff. In my case, it all worked out.

I feel I gotta chime in on this. Not that I want to defend RockAuto, but I have had nothing but good experiences there. I bought most of my brake upgrade parts through them and haven't had any issues. However, I have had an issue with a set of front brake rotors being the incorrect item (for my Lexus RX330). As it turned out, RockAuto was innocent of any wrong doing on that. I bought a set of Raybestos Advanced Technology rotors and they didn't fit. E-mail RockAuto about it - along with the info I found on the casting of the rotor itself. They went the extra mile and contacted Raybestos - and it turned out the box had the wrong label put on it. I damaged the rotor during the install, but they took it back and shipped new ones. In a strange twist, the newest rotors didn't fit either...and I was not happy. Contacted RockAuto and they put me into contact with a honcho over brakes at Raybestos and they determined that there had been some massive screwup at Raybestos' own facility somewhere where packaging was done. I finally got a set of rotors - shipped directly from Raybestos.

Had almost the exact same issue with some Raybestos pads for a Volvo ordered from Rockauto. Box had the correct part number, but the pads were wildly different from what I was removing from the car. Was pretty pissed that the best they would do was send out a replacement via ground shipping. Very lackluster customer service.

Also, some of their parts are good, some are total junk. I've had good luck with Raybestos-branded parts, like ball joints, brake stuff and tie rods. Sometimes its OEM looking or high quality Made in Japan stuff, which is great.

However, I ordered a CV boot kit to rebuild an axle. Absolute junk. And of course it's one of those things where you have to disassemble a pain in the dick part that's greasy and funky to find out the boots aren't quite the right diameter or shape. The clamps were also junk, and the retaining clip included for the inner joint was useless; about 1/4 the thickness of the stock clip. Sent pictures and a detailed email, best I could get out of them was take it all apart again, return it on my dime, eat the original shipping and be left with what was a decent used OEM axle that is now worthless because you stock garbage parts. Filed a credit card disupte and got my money back.

Had issues with engine mounts, A/C components and quite a few other parts, too. I don't bother with Rockauto much anymore. Shipping is usually exorbitant and completely ridiculous in how it's calculated. Depending on the combination of items, I'll see it change from 2-3 warehouses to 1 or 4, etc. I always try to order parts from the same warehouse, but it seems there's a lot of margin built into their shipping rates, and if there's any way to get you to pay more for shipping, they'll do it.

Amazon is the best, just wish they had more selection and a more usable catalog. Returns are hassle free, and a few times they just let you keep the part rather than return it. Been thinking about getting an ARB bumper from them, which somehow they would ship 2 day with my Prime membership. Nuts.

Yeah, I agree on the shipping and multiple warehouse thing. They nailed me $25 for shipping on an order they split between 3 warehouses, and all of it together would have fit into one large USPS Priority box. Also, the manufacturer's boxes that each individual part comes in were pretty beat up....Looked like they got run over by a forklift or something.
I guess there is a reason why they can offer parts cheaper than any where else...

That is unfortunate to hear. I have purchased a lot of parts from them in the past couple of years to replace the crappy parts on my wife's 07 Impala. I have replaced a water pump, belts and hoses to upgraded rotors, pads, struts and suspension bushings all around. Now granted I usually always go for the more expensive and higher quality parts. Just goes to show you generally get what you pay for. Stick to the good brands TRW, MOOG, Sealed-Power, Monroe, Dana and Gates just to name a few. That is the one thing I love about Rock-Auto is that they usually have more than one option for most modern applications. You could buy a cheap part or quality parts. I have always received parts pretty quickly but can't comment on their return policy. I try to do part research before I order just to make sure I don't have any problems.

This thread caught my attention because I am in the market for new front axle shafts for my 2001 AC and was looking at Rock Auto who only wants around $50 vs. OEM Toyota which go for around $350.

What is the low-down on Cardone parts?

Go local for axles. They're so easy to replace that it's not worth the expense of a "new" Toyota axle. Local Autozone or Checker (whatever they call them now) are fine. If you break one, you can get a replacement anywhere and have it swapped out in 30 min.

Plus, you only ever have to buy one and then you can replace both axles for life.

Cardone and A1 Cardone are one of the parts manufacturers I usually go with. The last thing I bought from Cardone was a water pump for the wife's 07' Impala. The new part from them was less expensive and much better quality than the chinese crap chevy is using these days.
Like JDMHN8 says though it is probably best to get axles locally so you can get your core and don't have to pay shipping if you have a problem with them. I have replaced several sets and if you are going reman there is always the chance you will get one with the wrong splines or length. If you don't have a good choice from your local people buying quality new ones might still be the way to go.

Duplicate post..

I 2nd going local for axles....UNLESS you find a SCREAMING deal that saves you the cost of shipping as well as being much cheaper than local retail. (ie a site that offers or has a sale with free shipping.) Also, some places will send you a pre-paid shipping label to send your cores back at no cost to you. Dont go with anyone not offering that either.

Not sure about the Cardone ones, but I can tell you to stay away from GSP brand that AdvanceAuto sells. They're crap. Boots are thin, joints felt kinda loose, and I had one fail after just 5K on my 99 Taco. Afterwards, i googled and found a bunch of threads about how bad they were. :(

Salty- make sure to closely inspect the splines on [B]any[B] replacement axle that you buy. I've found that smashed splines are fairly common on axles sourced from "cheaper re-builders". Nothing will take the fun out of a good deal on axles when you had to spend an hour with a file, just to "redress" the splines, prior to installation.

That's unfortunate you had bad luck getting parts from RockAuto, Pgaski. But like our drunk friend said, its the manufacturer, not the retailer that had defects on their product. I don't have much experience with RockAuto yet, I've only just recently bought centric brakes for my truck and my girls civic (drums, rotors, pads, shoes) and have no problems with their quality and performance. I'm in agreement that their return policy is crap and I hope I never need to use it. Maybe you're just one of those customers that gets all the bad apples they have to offer.

I 2nd going local for axles....UNLESS you find a SCREAMING deal that saves you the cost of shipping as well as being much cheaper than local retail. (ie a site that offers or has a sale with free shipping.) Also, some places will send you a pre-paid shipping label to send your cores back at no cost to you. Dont go with anyone not offering that either.

Not sure about the Cardone ones, but I can tell you to stay away from GSP brand that AdvanceAuto sells. They're crap. Boots are thin, joints felt kinda loose, and I had one fail after just 5K on my 99 Taco. Afterwards, i googled and found a bunch of threads about how bad they were. :(

My local Autozone has them at a good price. What about them?

My local Autozone has them (GSP) at a good price. What about them?

I'd suggesting steering clear of them as well. I bought new GSP (not remanned) axles for my wife's Maxima from Advance Auto and one or both of them thumped & vibrated likely from a bad CV joint. We were selling the car soon so I didn't bother removing them and taking them back.

I'd suggesting steering clear of them as well. I bought new GSP (not remanned) axles for my wife's Maxima from Advance Auto and one or both of them thumped & vibrated likely from a bad CV joint. We were selling the car soon so I didn't bother removing them and taking them back.

OK, where would you suggest (Other than OEM from Toyota. Too expensive,)?

OK, where would you suggest (Other than OEM from Toyota. Too expensive,)?

Not sure I can recommend any particular brand. That was the first time I ever replaced an entire axle on any vehicle.

I thought of going w/ the Napa rebuilt units but I despise the lack of customer service in my local Napa store. No AutoZone's around me so I didn't look at their rebuilt or new options.

One of my tricks is to look up the part here: Toyota Wholesale Parts - Authentic OEM Toyota Parts direct from Village Toyota Parts | Village Toyota Parts (http://www.villagetoyotaparts.com/) and then I ask my local dealer to do a price match since Village is an actual Toyota dealer. This has worked out great for me on a number of occasions; although you will have to pay tax, at least you don't have to pay shipping.

-Wes