Crap Parts

[StokeyStag]

I know we can't name and shame suppliers of poor quality parts and that we have an excellent thread in the Club Business section on suppliers recommended by members but thought that we could at least have a thread on dodgy parts we have brought (without naming names) so that others are aware of what to look out for.

My starter for ten is 2 so called rubber items, brought and fitted 3 - 4 years ago as part of an ongoing restoration. In that time the car hasn't travelled a mile and has been stored away from UV light.

The picture tells its own story - all 3 exhaust hangers were in similar condition and were the bushes on the rear shocks.

Somebody somewhere needs shooting or at being condemned to drive an MG for life.

Mark

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[MandM]

external door weather strips that are so thin they tuck in when you put the window down as stay that way, fur felt inside with no fur , don't touch the glass
alternators that fail after 5 mins or the end of the pavement, water pump seals that have to heavier rated springs, steering racks that leak after a few thousand miles, cam cover gaskets that are to thin so don't seal. thermostats that don't open at the stated temperature, timing gears made of cheese, power steering hoses that don't fit, needle valves that don't seal, carb diaphragms that are to thin, front strut gaiter that fall apart after a short while, master cylinders that leak in a few months, brake pads that are so roughly cut they don't fit,

[Philip Wardle]

Incredibly frustrating. About 30% of what I've spent on parts over the years has been wasted on rubbish, especially in pre-Internet years when it was difficult to get advice on the best source for a given part. That's why this forum is such a benefit, someone will usually have the inside story.

Mind you, forcing someone to drive an MG for life is an extreme punishment, maybe to be reserved for the worst offenders

[trunt]

Now try paying through the nose to ship them as well..

Hey, I have an MGB - well sort of.. My son has adopted it. I'm off to Connecticut to fire it up for the summer, he also has tail light issues I need to fix, probably grounding. The only new rubber things it has used in 12 years were the brake hoses.. they didn't last long.

My Stag is 0.001% MGB...I used an old cutoff panel for a weld patch as it was the perfect shape..

[Philip Wardle]

Traditionally there was always friendly rivalry between Triumph and MG of course. One of my best friends ran an MG restoration business as part of his traditional village garage, he's now retired in Fuerteventura. My Stag is 0.001% Ford, it has a few 70's Mustang fixings but only where you can't see them, like door card clips.

[MandM]

As said by Terry, If the suppliers were made to pay the customers postage costs for sending the CRAP part back they wouldn't send out crap, the postage has cost me a fortune and why is it always PLUS VAT ON THE POSTAGE

[trunt]

I got stiffed on a diff bearing clearly listed as Timken.. it wasn’t. It took them months to correct the listing. They acted as if they were doing me a favour.

[mjheathcote]

I did a nut and bolt restro on my Stag in the 90's, gulp, this year will be 30 years since if was finished.
Fortunately nearly all parts were still new old stock, and all the rubber bits are still okay today.
I wouldn't want to do the same full resto today.

[STypeR]

All excellent point above.
The Triumph spare parts situation can only be described as a scam.

I scratch my head every time I see Gary Mavers receive magnificent quality parts for his two classic Rolls Royce Corniches on his YouTube channel, 'Classic Obsession'.
All these beautifully produced spare parts that he uses seem to be from a UK sourced supplier. Sure, the show's a product flog as well for these suppliers (and he rarely mentions price cost) but at least the classic RR owners can say that they 'buy quality and buy once'.

We have to buy junk and buy many times; yes, with sales tax and postage thrown in.
That's why at the moment I've focussed on the labour part of my restoration and not buying anything (new)..

[mole42]

This is an excellent, timely and useful thread. Since I became Chair of the National Committee I have spoken at length about parts quality and availability, indeed it is a tabled agenda item at most Committee meetings - the minutes are available to members on the SOC website. Any information is useful, both negative and positive and in addition to posting on here I’m happy to receive email at chairman@stag.org.uk with particular issues. I will not be able to help with individual grievances, but building a comprehensive, accurate record of the problem helps us plan the future. However, a respected parts supplier told me “most of these cars are toys, so parts that last 5,000 miles could be 10 years old by the time they wear out”, and I’ve also heard of owners buying the cheapest part irrespective of quality.

[STypeR]

We're being conned and we know it. The scammers that are organising this, know it too.
I've bought many of these new parts over the last several years; a stockpile for when I'm in need of them during the restoration.
Many still sitting there for several years that I have yet to use. If these are faulty they will be impossible to return..
Can't wait to see how they perform..

After thousands of pounds spent, I refuse to buy anything more at this point.

Here are some minor ones below. Some are truly on a SCAM level. All intended for my new item stockpile.
Happy to note (if need) be from where they were purchased:

Steering column internal friction washer/grommet 153040. Full of air bubbles in the moulded part. Do not buy this part.
Bonnet support rubbers 619551. Disintegrated when I went to install on the vehicle. Do not buy this part.
Felt front window tracks 717081 and 717080. Completely wrong profile. Glass refuses to move. Will have to buy again and pay the postage again. Do not buy this part.
Hood cover door top rubber seals. 62714 and 627153. Completely different profile and hardness to the factory provided rubber. Have installed onto the hood frame but as the doors are not on yet unsure how they will perform. Probably do not buy this part.
Body side marker rubber gaskets.150652. Ripped open the packet recently. Completely different profile and shape to the original. Oversized for a start. Tried to trim it to fit but gave up. Do not buy this part, it is a true scam part. Going in the bin. Not sure what to do now.. May have to make my own.
Rear and front bumper 'TRIUMPH' insert badge. 627564. One stone chip on it and its a throwaway. Do not buy this part.
Sunvisor rubber holders. 624201. Too soft to use. Not sure what to do here. Many would have no option NOT to buy this part.
Original style carburettor plastic linkage, Auto. 155445. Break after a short while.
Front/side flasher amber lamp covers. 519885. Bought with a family member who also has a Stag. His have faded (lost amber colouring) to be now a nearly clear lens. The same fate awaits mine in the Australian sun. Do not buy this part. Source second hand.
Door handle gasket. 718250. Deteriorated after a year. Do not buy this part. Make your own in the correct material.
Door handle set I had to return back to the UK due to poor chroming. Remanufactured to a high standard and I was told it should've have passed quality control. Fair enough, but I did not receive my full postage back for someone's mistake..

There are many more parts to list but I'm running out of puff.
We have a long way to go getting this right.

[MandM]

Forgot to add Inlet manifold gaskets

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also this is a water pump seal I was sent

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[jbuckl]

Good parts can be asked about here before buying.

Assuming ends up being a mugs game that we all have too much experience of.

Good example is road springs.

So many here only find out after fitting…. Because they assumed and bought and fitted, then noticed, then asked.

With springs that’s quite a bit of work.

Use Chris Witor for springs.

Another example is water pump seal.

Oem part is available, but it’s £45 posted. (Revington / pioneer-Weston)

Many trust the cheap one that fits the cage but gives a tight turning pump. Then potentially causes £££ of damage.

[MandM]

Oem part is available, but it’s £45 posted. (Revington / pioneer-Weston)

Many trust the cheap one that fits the cage but gives a tight turning pump. Then potentially causes £££ of damage.


no longer available

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[Philip Wardle]

I've learned that I should search for previous threads on this forum (and other likely forums) to see if the part-of-interest has been mentioned, although I admit it can be time consuming and I might still need to post a query in a new thread. Neverthess still worth doing for parts of high value, parts for which carriage is expensive, or parts that involve a lot of work to install / test / remove again.

All anonymous rubber parts, o-rings, gaskets, seals, pipes and gaitors are suspect, e.g. incorrect materials, nearest metric size substituted for the correct imperial size, closest available profile substituted for the correct one. All cheap fixings are suspect owing to poor quality threads, poor plating, or incorrect length rounded up or down. All panels of unknown origin may need time and effort to adjust and fit. Any spring from the smallest in a non-return valve to the largest in your suspension may have incorrect length and rate. And a part you bought from a given supplier that was ok last time may not be correct next time because they have changed supplier.