Rockauto SKP Front Lower Control Arm JUNK

16434 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by radrick01, 3 d ago

chevysquid

Discussion Starter · Sep 2, 2020

Ordered/Received Rockauto SKP Front Lower Control Arm. Long story short, on install, noticed the ball joint spindle digging in to the CV joint. Of course, the castle nut screws all the way down to the bottom of the threads way below the cotter pin hole. Took it all back apart and started comparing with the OEM I took out. It was very different. Verified all the part numbers to what I ordered vs. what I rec'd. All matched.

Then, emergency purchased a Dorman OE lower control arm from Advance Auto Parts. OH MY GOODNESS! What a difference between the two. Not only is the shank on the spindle much fatter like original, the part is very differently engineered. The welds look like they were done with someone who welded by hand and just learned yesterday. Sheesh! Here's some pics:

SKP on Left, Dorman OE on right

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garbec01

· #2 · Sep 3, 2020

Sad!

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repairman54

· #3 · Sep 3, 2020

I use Moog stuff, and not the ones in the economy section myself. Less chance of getting ''junk''.

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chevysquid

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 3, 2020

repairman54 said:
I use Moog stuff, and not the ones in the economy section myself. Less chance of getting ''junk''.

I totally agree. I keep thinking I'm going to get rid of this car so I'm trying not to put a bunch of money in it. Sometimes going cheap is not the best decision.

I'm having trouble making the decision to change cars as I truly do like my 2011 Equinox. Currently at almost 230,000 miles. Maybe it would be interesting if I made a post showing a table with the columns: Part replaced, mileage, warranty or not, etc. It's definitely been a journey.

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rednox301

· #5 · Sep 4, 2020

As always you get what you pay for.
Congrats on your 230K miles on the road, I wish that everyone has that same luck.

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chevysquid

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 4, 2020

rednox301 said:
Congrats on your 230K miles on the road, I wish that everyone has that same luck.

A bunch of corrective maintenance combined with some luck. Most of the luck pertains to not ever being stranded on the side of the road.

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repairman54

· #7 · Sep 5, 2020

That's how I judge my vehicles. Not that I have to fix something but rather not having to be ''on the hook''.

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Colt Hero

· #8 · Sep 5, 2020

Not sure exactly what I'm supposed to be looking for in these two pictures.

Are you saying the SKP just had a threaded shaft that was too long? It comes up from the bottom and strikes the CV boot above?

And the welds were bad on the SKP or the Dorman? This sentence confused me. Sounds like you were praising the Dorman, but then criticizing its welds ... but you meant the SKP, correct?

" Not only is the shank on the spindle much fatter like original, the part is very differently engineered. The welds look like they were done with someone who welded by hand and just learned yesterday".

I always thought Dorman parts were junk, but I guess it depends on what it is?

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JayTee2014

· #9 · Sep 5, 2020

Dorman. . . I've had some good parts form them .. and others not the best. Depends.
I also bought some Moog sway bar links for our previously owned 2005 Malibu. They were the correct part number, but no matter how I tried, the zerk grease fittings either left them inaccessible or they touched and hit other suspension parts.
If I left the grease fittings off. . . then they would have been ok. But that's why I bought the Moog brand.

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repairman54

· #10 · Sep 6, 2020

For me Dorman is the last resort for major components and especially electrical. Sometimes you get lucky as they just source their parts from suppliers that may have been the ones who made OEM or other brand names also. Especially the offshore stuff.

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Crankme69

· #11 · Sep 6, 2020

Moog AC Delco almost every brand is being outsourced...dam shame but with most failures today many times it's the last part I replaced. It's a conspiracy to get us to buy new vehicles!

JMHO!!!!!

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christopherlompoc

· #12 · Sep 7, 2020

Doorman products are bad I ordered some camshaft bolts, had to send those back.. They didn't even match made in China and looking used. Totally sealed.

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terrainnewby

· #13 · Sep 10, 2020

I purchased the economy ultra-power brand. Placing them side by side they were just about identical to the oem. I have about 5k miles on them with zero issues. The originals lasted me about 140k until they failed inspection. The boot on the ball was completely opened.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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radrick01

· #14 · 3 d ago

I did not really see any differences that would concern me. Was it not as pretty?

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