NAPA parts-different grade parts?

Does anyone know exactly what the difference is between the two grades of parts NAPA sells? Is the lower grade made in china ****? Is the higher grade made in the USA out of something better than old beer cans? I want to spend once, not twice. Thanks!

 

not sure, I just buy the better stuff. most of the good suspension parts I've gotten so far have been moog

 

I don't buy much there anymore but it used to seem like the better stuff just had a better warranty. NAPA doesn't make anything as far as I know, it's all outsourced and their sources change so a line that used to be good can turn to **** and the box still looks the same.

 

It's all depending on the part, ie: suspension, filters, ignition. Each line has different suppliers for the economic line and the premium line. Example our Gold filter is a Wix filter made in Gastonia G.A., our silver or Proselect can be Gastonia but also be out sourced. True some Golds are not Gastonia mainly because they out sourced to the original supplier i.e. Bosch, which isn't a bad thing. Ignition is Echlin aka standard made here in Texas. As for our suspension pieces, check out our ball joints in the napa chasis line. They are grade a number 1! Little more money but the construction is tops. Solid cnc ball socket and kevlar housing, the direct fuel injection of ball joints. Hate to say but it's not the "cheap China" **** you gotta worry about the really bad stuff is produced in India, Vietnam, Bosnia and other ex-ussr countries. Hope this helps. Pm if you want a straight forward answer on specifics. All in all the premium line of NAPA is the best you'll find in the industry, but hey I work for them.

 

IMHO Napa is about the best of the national parts stores.

You get what you pay for.

 

Worked at a Ford dealer that had a NAPA store also. As the price goes up so does the quality. Cheap stuff-China. Most expensive-maybe US. We used to laugh about parts w/different prices on the same item. Sometimes it would end up the good/expensive part was made in Mexico. Imagine that, the good stuff from Mexico.

 

I like NAPA, but I've had a LOT of trouble with Standard Ignition stuff, which has gone overseas.

 

Seems like there was a long thread about this a few years ago.I usually buy from O'riellys for what its worth.Other day i bought sum tailights for my trailer from Napa and they were in a sealed "NAPA" bag on their shelf .Went to tractor supply yesterday for sum welding rods and saw the exact same tailights (and i mean exact same part # and all) on their shelf.Only difference were they were 4 bucks cheaper per light ...

 

I have dealt with Napa here for more than forty years their main distribution store here has gone to hell big time. I went there recently and could hardly hear because of the loud television,featuring Oprah! The people there are sarcastic and act annoyed when everything is not a late model easy to locate item. The female staff there is really arrogant.When I made a complaint to management on their web site I got no reply. After I was told they did not have a seal for a1957 Olds I found it my self on their web site in 5 minutes... f--- Napa

 

That is most paces anymore. If they can't run the VIN and get a part number, they are lost. Then they wonder why their jobs are being lost to the internet.

How many good old local speed shops are left?

 

i worked at a offroad shop for 16 years..the ONLY suspension parts we used where napa fleet tuff. their ball joints , tie rods and idler arms are the only thing that will last on a lifted truck with big tires...their cheaper stuff is about as good as moog..ive had good luck with everyhting ive got from them...
the store i use(west tulsa) is a REAL parts store..the guys behind the counter know their stuff and have all the old stuff in stock...

 

They have different suppliers ,Like one guy mentioned for suspension .Moog is the more expensive and falcon is the cheaper ,,,,,,,,,,,

 

In the last few years I've started using our local NAPA store when I've wanted to get the better stuff. Their staff is not as good as the old time parts outlet I've used for years but light years ahead of the national chains where if it's not in the computer they look at you like your from outer space.

Frank

 

On the rebuilt item, generator, alternator, starters etc. the cheaper priced unit only have the bad part replaced. The part is tested and if it works they sell it. The more expensive parts are totally rebuilt so they cost more.

On some of the items they sell new for very little more than the rebuilt item and they carry a lifetime warranty and you don't need a core. My new alternator cost less than $2.00 more than the rebuilt unit.

The best NAPA store just recently closed in Gulfport, MS. I will miss them a lot. The other NAPA stores are no better than the regular parts store. Counter help is helpless.

 

Joe, if you like NAPA, there's a store in Pearl River, LA that has a couple of guys (James and Leonard) with a lifetime each of NAPA experience. I highly recommend them.

Bob

 

Bob, thanks. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

 

question for you: are the all new starters better than a rebuilt factory? I gotta wonder if the windings on the new armature/stator? and all are as good as the original.

My thought is its offshore and not as good.

Can't prove it though, If someone knows the real I'd love to hear it

FWIW I've spent pshew $150 on each of the last 2 starters I bought. Now I bought a $15 rebuild kit and I'm going to build a junkyard one because I'm confident it'll be better than either of those were.

 

I like NAPA also. Our local store here, guy is local, keeps and knows how to use books for part numbers and hard to get parts. The other stores seem to rely on their computers far too much and the counter people...well, its hit or miss. Mostly miss around here.

So far, what I've installed from NAPA, has not failed or left me stranded. Something to be said for that.

 

You do mean Gastonia North Carolina don't you
I have been to the WIX plant in Gastonia NC.

As for the NAPA parts, the preminum line does seem to be better than the other chain store brands as a general rule. I usually shop @ Car Quest ... because at the store I shop at the counter help is a LOT better and more knowledgeable. Car Quest is closed on Sunday and earlier in the evenings so I go to NAPA when the Car Quest is not a option. The state warehouse ( store ) is close to my home.

.

 

I won't bother posting N A P A's economy lines . The price variance just dosen't justify their usage .

Filters ; NAPA Gold , NASCAR and premium
Tools ; NAPA
Ignition ; Echlin
Wire ; Belden;
Paint; NAPA, Krylon, Martin- Senior ( Scherwin & Williams
Suspension ; NAPA, Moog , TRW
Bearings ; Motion Indistries , TRW,
Brakes ; Raybestos, TRW
Engine parts ;NAPA, Sealed Power
Gaskets; Felpro, sealed power
I hope this helps future N A P A buyers ............... scrubba

 

I think Napa is the best out of the parts stores, but I still think some of the stuff they sell is junk, mostly their electronics. I bought an ignition module last year for an OT 88 Chevy truck for about 100$. It failed in a couple days, had to get another one. Then just yesterday, I bought a reman'd PCM for my OT Dodge truck for 300$, the old one wouldnt fire an injector and didnt like to be in O/D gear. I put the new one in and it didnt even work! My boss had to run it back to Napa to get my old one back just so I could drive home from work. Needless to say I was ****ing pissed!! As for 'hard parts', theyve been pretty reliable, no complaints I can think of there. I do agree that you have to spend the extra money to get the better quality parts in most cases.

 

My best friend worked for a Napa store here in the valley for years and was a go to" parts guy for a lot of people. He didn't like to sell the second line of parts but a lot of people don't seem to want to pay for first line stuff especially when they think they can get parts cheaper somewhere else.

As several others said, buy the top line stuff and you are usually getting parts equal or better than what anyone else sells. Buy the second line and you are often getting stuff equal to what the discount parts houses sell.

 

Premiumn ch***is line is Dana, 2nd is Moog
II ignition is Echlin, 2nd is Standard Ignition

The premium rebuild starter/alt line is the best, new are offshore import.
Other rebuilt products, PS pumps, wiper motor, computers are now A1 Cardone, the same supplier to the others and half *** at best! Not pround of this fact but honest!

I wish quality was still a factor for some of these lines to be pround of but for example, the A1 Cardone is A-Z quality, not the old NAPA I'm sad to report.

We still have a few quality lines (Wix for our Gold Filters) but the bean counters are hurting us and they don't even listen to the guys on the front lines hearing the feedback, so sad! What we hear is NAPA is a big ship and slow to turn, which we reply like the ***antic or what!?? Quality folks! Can you hear that?? Please give us quality products to sell instead of some of this junk being out only choice!!

 

I drive past a couple of Checker stores to go to a Napa, and its ten miles further. The people there know what they are doing and actually have parts for my old F-250, if not in the store at least elsewhere on the island. Buy the more expensive stuff, its true you get what you pay for.

 

duce roadster: my bad little to early in the morning when i wrote that I appreciate the catch though. scrubba you nailed it!

 

a friend rebuilt alternators and the competetion on the cheep ones used most parts over if they worked
he put in all the parts new and quite a few new components failed and then he discarded the rebuilt , we usuall bought them and fixed them he mad a dollar or two on each rebuilt a tough way to make a buck
he did not sell to napa as far as i know

the bearings sometimes were sent to china or taiwan and the races reground and oversize balls installed and a small sample of grease
they really get a deal on bearings when they buy a lot not many $$ go into a rebuilt unit

 

I spend about 50k a year at NAPA. Had to stop buying their brake pads. China! Had to file almost every set to make them fit. Have been using Bendix and Wagner with few problems. The store owner wanted ot stop stocking the better ch***is parts and wheel hubs bearings. I said fine I will buy elsewhere then. He eliminated the cheep stuff instead.

 

If i was out of my town and need somethin i would go to napa. But i dont anymore. See i bought a big truck rear hub nut socket from them, they charged me 180 dollors, i figuerd that must be what they cost. Then i saw the same one at my real cool mom pop style place (that has better stuff, better stuff, hummor, and used to be a junk yard) had one. I was floored when they told me the cost was 80 bucks. What the hell kinda mark up is that?

Hint. My employee found out that if he tells the napa guy the parts are for the border patrol we get a 10-20% discount. hell give it a try in varying forms.

 

Operating a store is very expensive. They have to make a profit.

Were the sockets the same brand?

 

After having owned my own parts store for a few years, all i can say is you never really know where something is coming from. I competed with Napa and Kragen then, now I buy from Napa unless Krackheads can do me better on price. I'll buy national products at either.

Devin