the best car parts store?

[Hickrocket1258]

Re: the best car parts store?

Got Napa and Pepboys around me in a decent radius. I would prefer the Advance, but that is 30 minutes from me unfortunately. I only do little things from Pepboys. I used to work there a long time ago and well wasn't too happy with me getting fired for some stupid story they got mixed up.

[VF1Skullangel]

Re: the best car parts store?

Auto Zone and Checkers since they are down the street from where I live. Advanced is also good and thats up the street from where I life.

[4thgenowner]

Re: the best car parts store?

Napa.

[vanbibber]

Re: the best car parts store?

For me neither 1 r expensive. I get all my parts at cost. LS1 Calipers. 27 bucks a pc lol. Were also a dealer of Blistien, magnaflow, kyb and a couple others. Def as its advantages

wtf mate? what kind of deal can you get on Bilstiens? im going to order all my suspension shiz around the end of the month and the only thing i havent found a good deal on is shocks.

[silvachris1]

Re: the best car parts store?

Being an exparts salesman, I go to the one that has counter people that know what they are talking about, not one of those that has young punks that think that they know what they are doing. And one that has a lifetime warranty on stuff with nation wide parts exchange program.

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I choose Napa when I can. It's worth if for me to get the right part at Napa for 30% more, than saving a little bit and bringing the wrong part back to Advance 2-3 times while the car is on stands. Took 4 tries to get front rotors for my mom-in-laws 05 Camry from Advance and finally gave up. Had my wife stop at Napa and they got it right on the first try. Problem was in Advance's system, they were showing the wrong size. They were toooooo big for the car, and definitely not for the back... (fronts are veined, rears are solid).

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: the best car parts store?

For me neither 1 r expensive. I get all my parts at cost. LS1 Calipers. 27 bucks a pc lol. Were also a dealer of Blistien, magnaflow, kyb and a couple others. Def as its advantages

Mike, can you hook a brother up with some calipers? :poke:

For cheap parts, I go to Federated (when the are open) or local parts store (they are open longer and weekends). I order tons from summitracing.com.

[Opontee]

Re: the best car parts store?

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I choose Napa when I can. It's worth if for me to get the right part at Napa for 30% more, than saving a little bit and bringing the wrong part back to Advance 2-3 times while the car is on stands. Took 4 tries to get front rotors for my mom-in-laws 05 Camry from Advance and finally gave up. Had my wife stop at Napa and they got it right on the first try. Problem was in Advance's system, they were showing the wrong size. They were toooooo big for the car, and definitely not for the back... (fronts are veined, rears are solid).

Thats the nice thing about used to be in the parts business, I know what I'm looking at. I have had to actually tell them the wrong year of the car for the right part.

[silvachris1]

Re: the best car parts store?

Thats the nice thing about used to be in the parts business, I know what I'm looking at. I have had to actually tell them the wrong year of the car for the right part.

Ha, yeah. I had to do that with parts for the 99 Camaro I used to have several times at Advance. First time I replaced the transmission filter was the funniest. The first 2 they sold me were about 2" too large for the transmission pan. They actually had the part I needed listed as for a 96. I had to bring mine in for a comparison. I hope they got it corrected.

First time I ever did anything with her Camry and I didn't even have the wheels off when I picked up the rotors.... My mistake I guess.

[96RS Alex]

Re: the best car parts store?

RockAuto.com is my store for decent prices, obscure parts availability and no long lines.

I go online when I know I need a part soon. I always inspect for trouble before a long week of commuting therefore saving me grief and headaches while stranded on a highway. Shipping takes within 2-3 days to my front door. Go online for a 5% discount coupon.

For example, I looked up a radiator today for my '88 IROC Z28 it listed for $88 altogether plus shipping total. Autozone.com charges $120 plus tax. Not sure what I'd save there for a core charge but I went ahead with that plus hoses, thermostat, gaskets & serpentine belt. I still saved money through RockAuto vs Autozone.

Interesting story I will add about Sears Automotive. I had a 3 yr old Die Hard battery from the IROC and visited them for a battery checkup. 20 minutes later the young employee said it's still good. In disbelief, I told him to recheck with me being present at the battery tester and it failed the electronic check in front of us. He apologized for that and I walked out with a free Die Hard battery.

FYI: Autozone does not recharge Optima batteries because they are of the gel type even though they sell them. You get a free battery if it's within warranty just to let you know. I found a dead Optima in my V6 trunk I used to add to winter traction and forgot it was still there 6 months later. LOL

Two free batteries in one day. Can't beat that! :D

[T-Mill]

Re: the best car parts store?

Just got into an argument with a guy at autozone about my balance shaft... I was trying to get freeze plugs and one of the questions that popped up on the computer was w/ or w/out balance shaft, and I said w/ bc originally my engine came with one but then told the guy that it didn't anymore and then the guy behind him said, "you can't just remove your balance shaft..." I proceeded to tell him that this was the second engine that I've removed it from without any problems and he told me "well... no problems yet" lol oh well I was more annoyed bc they didn't have (and couldn't even get) my freeze plugs...