True. In fact, AC Delco was an award-winning Toyota supplier of AC
system parts for their trucks. Lately Toyota's started using some
(IMO) cheap stuff like Bridgestone tires instead Michelin, NBK brake
pads instead of Akebono, Bando belts instead of Gates, etc.
Cost savings in a major factor. But for typical maintenance items
people can do better for less.
Sure, maybe there are people who use only Toyota gas in their tanks,
Toyota air in their tires, and even drive on Toyota roads only. Not
me. ;)
On Aug 19, 12:08=A0pm, Steve <n...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> It depends... Toyota, like most carmakers (GM being a remaining
> exception, and even its getting rarer as they continue to spin off
> former divisions like Delphi), doesn't make its own waterpumps,
> alternators, starters, A/C compressors, oil pumps, wheel bearings, and
> other accessories. Carmakers all tend to spec very good parts from the
> original vendors when they build the cars, but over the years after a
> given model is built, the contract for producing replacement parts gets
> re-negotiated, so there's NO guarantee that the same supplier that made
> waterpumps for 96 Camrys when they rolled off the assembly line is
> making the waterpump you get at the Toyota dealer for a 96 Camry today.
> In fact its very likely the same vendor that NAPA uses.
>
> And in some cases when a carmaker under-specs an OEM part and there's a
> rash of failures, the aftermarket suppliers respond with improved parts
> faster than the OEM parts supply chain does.
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