Replacement Parts Rant

[JeffW]

All

Sorry in advance for the rant, but after only having the Stag for less than a year I am getting more and more wary and disheartened of ordering ‘new’ replacement parts as I have had nothing but grief. Examples below, all stated by various suppliers to fit my Mk II:

- radiator: bottom bolts in slightly different position so don’t match aperture.
- heater valve: 3 ordered from different suppliers, all too big and don’t fit in aperture.
- cigarette lighter: different sized connectors at back so incompatible.
- interior light switch: different wiring so incompatible. Original broken so left with 50% lights working.
- wiper switch/stalk: completely incompatible. Position 2 doesn’t work, intermittent equals off and wipers won’t park.

I am not singling out any supplier as I have bought from all of the major ones. I have returned most parts with warnings to suppliers that they do not fit but had little response.

Feel free to add to list or ignore me. I love the car immeasurably and truly appreciate all the help forum members have provided me over the last year. Just wish these replacement parts were better made!

Jeff

[Phil S]

l have a different story. one of my stop/tail Led's failed so l contacted Gill at better car lighting, after profusely appolagies he has sent 2 replacement next day delivery FOC.
so some suppliers are very good and go that extra mile.
Phil

[dasadrew]

Jeff, I really like your idea of listing the inadequacies without the Supplier (as that always ends in tears). I'll add a few to the list to give people a "heads up" whilst ordering and to know where the traps might lie.

Drew

[JeffW]

I agree Drew, it would have saved me a lot of time and hassle had I known so hopefully this list can help others to be wary and try and fix/refurb the original part!

[Mopo]

I reckon 75% of new replacement parts don't fit properly or don't work. Suppliers say it's to keep the cost down but what's the point if they are crap. Best Bet is to find good quality used parts.

[Phil S]

Perhaps we need a good and bad santa list of supplier parts?
Phil

[Kithmo]

Is this a general trend or could it be, in some cases, that some cars have been modified to fit previous non-standard parts and so now the proper ones don't fit ?
Just askin'

[JeffW]

I can only speak for mine but everything I have been replacing has been original. It’s just very disappointing that they would put cost before quality and fit-for-purpose. I would happily pay more for a quality and guaranteed part!

[Lingen]

Jeff.
Very depressing, and not acceptable really. I know that it is out of the question to "Name and shame" on the forum for obvious reasons. However, I can't see why there can't be somewhere on here where unfortunate owners can list parts/components that have been unacceptable, for whatever reason, but NOT say where they came from. If the reason why they were useless is identified, then members could check this list prior to going shopping, and then get their supplier to confirm that what they are about to buy is fit for purpose, and not one of the dud variety..
Just an idea.
Mike.

[dasadrew]

I reckon 75% of new replacement parts don't fit properly or don't work. Suppliers say it's to keep the cost down but what's the point if they are crap. Best Bet is to find good quality used parts.

That's a very large percentage and, although it's unfortunately caused you grief, it would be great if you could list those parts - maybe with a comment on what was wrong but without personal opinions regarding suppliers.

Thanks in advance

Drew

[dasadrew]

...
- radiator: bottom bolts in slightly different position so don’t match aperture.
- heater valve: 3 ordered from different suppliers, all too big and don’t fit in aperture.
- cigarette lighter: different sized connectors at back so incompatible.
- interior light switch: different wiring so incompatible. Original broken so left with 50% lights working.
- wiper switch/stalk: completely incompatible. Position 2 doesn’t work, intermittent equals off and wipers won’t park....

some additions:

- confirm radiator bottom studs. I've had 3 different radiators and none have fitted without fettling the valance holes
- Water Pump brass cage too large and needed turning down on lathe. Supplier even mentioned that this might be necessary!
- T-Bar plastic light lens internal webs need fettling so that the bulb contacts will fit
- Locking tabs for camshaft sprockets. 5 years ago they were too small with wrong bolt size holes from at least two suppliers. This dimensional inaccuracy has now been corrected but the metal is so thin and brittle that two tongues broke off when bending them over to lock the bolts
- Main beam / Dip light stalk. There seem to be more wiring configurations than Stags made! Expect to have to possibly re-wire one or two connectors
- Carburettor float chamber gaskets - some are so wide that they are in danger of blocking movement of the float
- steering rack hydraulic pipes need some serious fettling to fit (LHD rack)
- cylinder head half-moon seals. Head casting thickness varies greatly and seals need trimming to ensure that they do not "splay- out" on thicker web castings (probably also the case for originals)
- wing badge inserts need quite a bit of filing to get them to fit into the chrome housing. Same for front grille badge (seems to apply also to original parts)
- rubber grommets and plaugs seem to be "nearest metric equivalent" which is often insufficient. Keep originals and clean up with white spirit.
- bonnet release cable threaded end piece too small so it just turns and turns in the bracket under parcel shelf instead of engaging in the "D" shaped holes
- stainless steel wheel nuts - diameter far too small offereing no location function for wheel position

Drew

[Andy S]

I’m with Jeff on this. So much of what I buy is of inferior quality.

A recent example is the viscous fan coupling fitted last year. It’s started wobbling all over the place and is doing nothing. It’s totally useless and the mechanic looking at my car asked if I had fitted a used one.

The one that made me laugh the most was the ‘Tailored’
Stag Boot Mat. Which fitted so badly I’m wondering if there is another car out there called a Stag.

I think we should list poor parts and see if others have had positive experiences and let them share with the rest of us which supplier they used.

Andy S

[Ctwidle]

Perhaps forum etiquette might permit a variation to the “name and shame” idea. How about a “name and compliment” when a part from supplier “X” is well and truly fit for purpose? I am perhaps fortunate to know a couple of suppliers here in Aus who have been servicing and providing parts for Triumphs (and my MG) since Adam was in short pants and know just where to get their stock from. Just a thought.
Chris

[JeffW]

some additions:

- confirm radiator bottom studs. I've had 3 different radiators and none have fitted without fettling the valance holes
- Water Pump brass cage too large and needed turning down on lathe. Supplier even mentioned that this might be necessary!
- T-Bar plastic light lens internal webs need fettling so that the bulb contacts will fit
- Locking tabs for camshaft sprockets. 5 years ago they were too small with wrong bolt size holes from at least two suppliers. This dimensional inaccuracy has now been corrected but the metal is so thin and brittle that two tongues broke off when bending them over to lock the bolts
- Main beam / Dip light stalk. There seem to be more wiring configurations than Stags made! Expect to have to possibly re-wire one or two connectors
- Carburettor float chamber gaskets - some are so wide that they are in danger of blocking movement of the float
- steering rack hydraulic pipes need some serious fettling to fit (LHD rack)
- cylinder head half-moon seals. Head casting thickness varies greatly and seals need trimming to ensure that they do not "splay- out" on thicker web castings (probably also the case for originals)
- wing badge inserts need quite a bit of filing to get them to fit into the chrome housing. Same for front grille badge (seems to apply also to original parts)
- rubber grommets and plaugs seem to be "nearest metric equivalent" which is often insufficient. Keep originals and clean up with white spirit.
- bonnet release cable threaded end piece too small so it just turns and turns in the bracket under parcel shelf instead of engaging in the "D" shaped holes
- stainless steel wheel nuts - diameter far too small offereing no location function for wheel position

Drew

Thanks Drew, your list frightens me! I can confirm high pressure steering hose fettling and rubber grommets and plugs being way off.

Thanks also to everyone else for their responses. I am heartened that it is not only me suffering from poor quality new parts.

I forgot a couple:

- replacement screws, nuts and bolts rarely fit and the postage is too much to be economically viable to return.
- footwell courtesy lamp: white plastic lens has nibs that are supposed to lock into bulb holder. New ones just fall apart as the nibs are too small. Crazy glue only option.

I am happy to put together a PDF document or Excel sheet for a sticky if the Forum moderators/SOC thinks this is useful. It could have sections such as Part/Compatible or Incompatible/Fix or Better Option (ie find a used original) etc. I do not want to shame any supplier but I can’t see any harm in stating in the Fix or Better Option section ‘use X part from X supplier as this has been checked and confirmed on <Mk 1 / Mk 2> cars’.

If if this is not of interest to the SOC no worries at all. Just trying to save some hassle for others!

Jeff

[Guest]

Great idea Jeff. I spent already a lot of money on useless parts.

However would a list comply with the new European Data Protection laws?