I got my tie rod ends a week or so ago, "Germany" printed right all over the box. One little sticker on the side that read "Pr. of China". I boxed them up and they'll be on the way back in a few days. For one I find this a deceptive practice. Yes, it states that it was made in China but with all the Deutschen written all over it you barely notice. Number two, I'm not trusting China with my steering. A starter maybe, but not something that when it fails all hell breaks loose. I have to say though, the lady at FCP Euro was great. I'm currently out of printer ink so she's printing out all the paperwork herself and is going to mail it to me. Also not one question asked when I said I wanted to ship them back.
Anybody have a part that's positively at least Brazilian?
71 standard tie rods
-
Steve Arndt
- Posts: 7420
- Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2001 12:01 am
Re: 71 standard tie rods
I would just go through aircooled.net if I were you. Guaranteed to get the right stuff, and the good stuff.
Steve
My Baja Build
My Baja Build
-
Marc
- Moderator
- Posts: 23741
- Joined: Thu May 23, 2002 12:01 am
Re: 71 standard tie rods
Meyle is a German-based company that outsources production to other countries, including China. Similar in concept to TRW, which is headquartered in Michigan but has plants around the world. If you think that the only "good"/"right" stuff comes from OEM manufacturers in Germany and want to hold out for that, you may be waiting until someone unearths a dusty pile in the back of a warehouse somewhere - there is no such current production to the best of my knowledge. Meyle components have proven to be of decent quality (so far) and I'd trust a part that carries their brand name regardless of the country of manufacture over a counterfeit that says it's made in Germany - the maker of the latter has no reputation of their own to protect...those are the cheesy parts which've sullied China's reputation.
Last time I checked, TRW's tierod ends were coming from Brazil (at least the ones for ACVW applications).
Last time I checked, TRW's tierod ends were coming from Brazil (at least the ones for ACVW applications).
-
heliarc
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:22 am
Re: 71 standard tie rods
I'm not holding out for German or even OEM manufacturers, though that wouldn't be half bad if I could find it. I just want something that wasn't made by a borderline slave worker under armed supervision by a country that cheats. We buy plenty of their poop but they don't buy much of ours at all. This is a matter of what I feel to be safe, and a matter of principle. Noone at Meyle is going to notice this but I refuse to buy Chinese. And yes, I've had to hunt much longer for something that I needed and many times just plain had to do without.
Brazil, Taiwan, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Japan, whatever, as long as it isn't Chinese. I'll sooner adapt Golf joints so I can at least get something decent than go Chinese.
Brazil, Taiwan, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Japan, whatever, as long as it isn't Chinese. I'll sooner adapt Golf joints so I can at least get something decent than go Chinese.
-
heliarc
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:22 am
Re: 71 standard tie rods
Ok, I have to dig this thread up in order to give it closure. I went to my local NAPA dealer and they found me Italian made tie rod ends. They were reasonable about it and they're a good fit. I think it was a three year warantee.
-
Ol'fogasaurus
- Posts: 17881
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:17 pm
Re: 71 standard tie rods
One of my stepsons friend owns a NAPA store and he has bent over backwards for me on the lastest rail I am working on and my other projects.
It must be understood that when a company outsources to another country (or even in this country) there are specs given in the contract. It is up to the outsourcing company to make sure that the specs are met or surpassed.[u/]
China, like so many other countries in the past has learned the hard way that their tradition of doing things the way they want/the cheap way does not work in the world market. Soon their labor prices will get to the point where they aren't as competable is they were and the outsourcer company will move their business on and we will go through this again. Its been this way since the end of WWII or even before.
A good percentage of China's products (such as airplanes and now an aircraft carrier) have come a long way and (maybe) are as good if not superior now which is both good and bad. America also has had to (re- ?) learn a lot of things so it is a double edged sword.
Lee
A schister is a schister no matter where they are from.
It must be understood that when a company outsources to another country (or even in this country) there are specs given in the contract. It is up to the outsourcing company to make sure that the specs are met or surpassed.[u/]
China, like so many other countries in the past has learned the hard way that their tradition of doing things the way they want/the cheap way does not work in the world market. Soon their labor prices will get to the point where they aren't as competable is they were and the outsourcer company will move their business on and we will go through this again. Its been this way since the end of WWII or even before.
A good percentage of China's products (such as airplanes and now an aircraft carrier) have come a long way and (maybe) are as good if not superior now which is both good and bad. America also has had to (re- ?) learn a lot of things so it is a double edged sword.
Lee
A schister is a schister no matter where they are from.