USA MADE PARTS? HANG ON TO WHAT YOU HAVE!

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dibbons

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Copy of 2011 letter I found on another forum:

Scott,

Brake rotors are no longer manufactured in the United States or Canada for aftermarket consumption. The “domestic” brands you may be familiar with (Raybestos,Wagner, Bendix, Centric, Motorcraft, Delco) are all manufactured in China/Taiwan. The plants and foundries that used to manufacture for aftermarket in the US and Canada have discontinued production. In addition, the European brands (Brembo, ATE, TRW, etc.) are sourcing a significant portion of their aftermarket rotors from China and Taiwan. Even Mexican rotor manufacturing is practically nonexistent today.

Centric Parts owns StopTech and Power Slot. All Centric Premium, StopTech SportStop, and Power Slot rotors are designed and engineered in-house, then Centric supervises strict manufacturing processes in Asia. They specify their own casting and manufacturing technologies. All parts are double disc ground, balanced, match the OEM vane designs and are E-coated (electrostatically applied black finish to all non-swept surfaces). Most competing brands do not offer all these OE features and benefits. Here’s a link to some additional details: The Centric Advantage - all brake rotors are not created equal

In my experience, this question about country of origin is generated by people concerned about one or both of the following:

1. They want to avoid parts manufactured in certain countries for quality reasons.

2. They want American made parts for patriotic reasons.

Depending on your goal, there is good news and/or bad news. The good news is that country of origin is not a reliable indicator of brake rotor quality. The bad news (from the perspective of patriotism) is that American-made brake rotors and drums no longer exist. Some vendors claim USA manufacturing, but they're selling foreign-made blanks machined (slotted and/or drilled) in the USA. Centric rotors, by the way, are machined in the USA.

We sell nothing but brakes, often to professional and amateur racers, and our experience with Centric, Power Slot, and StopTech rotors has been nothing but positive. We believe they manufacture the best aftermarket rotors in the world.

If you let us know the year, make, and model of your vehicle and the types of brake products you need, we will be happy to provide you with part numbers, pricing, and availability. If you have any special requirements, (e.g., towing, racing, etc.) please let us know and we'll give you specific product recommendations to meet those needs.

Sincerely,



David Zeckhausen
President, Zeckhausen Racing
(800)222-8893 x1
Zeckhausen Racing

source:
No More USA Made Rotors and Drums - Chevrolet Colorado & GMC Canyon Forum
 
I suspected. Chinese parts usually have manufacturing flaws and quality issues. Does anyone remember the pot metal socket sets where the socket would strip and break before the bolt would? China's scam is to make things that do not last and sell you ten parts to span the life of 1 USA made part.
 
What I don't understand is why we trade we a communist country in the first place, especially after all the cold war "fears" and propaganda. There are plenty of democratic/free countries in North and South America where low wages are still the norm (if low wages and low production costs are your bottom line).
 
What I don't understand is why we trade we a communist country in the first place, especially after all the cold war "fears" and propaganda. There are plenty of democratic/free countries in North and South America where low wages are still the norm (if low wages and low production costs are your bottom line).
The price of cast iron is the same around the world. Labor is about 10-15% of part cost. Production cost is what drives the price. Regulations in NA are very costly compared to other third world countries. 65'
 
Lets call a spade a spade, behind every crappy offshore product (regardless of country of origin) is a US "based" country. Add the EPA, Union greed, and politics and you get what we have today.

In what industry in the USA is does anyone focus on taking care of each other? None, it only ever comes down to one thing: Profit. We screw each other and it will never end or be righted.
 
Hum.
Let's say your Chinese rotor falls apart and you die.
Can your wife sue the Chinese firm and win?
IDK.

Let's say your rotor was "made in the USA".
I'm guessing your wife stands a better chance of getting money.
 
The price of cast iron is the same around the world. Labor is about 10-15% of part cost. Production cost is what drives the price. Regulations in NA are very costly compared to other third world countries. 65'

The price off cast iron differs very wildly around the world, as does the quality. Production cost varies with that, and THEN you have all the regulations and expenses. But there's also factors like economic manipulation, national subsidies, exchange rates, etc.

Lets call a spade a spade, behind every crappy offshore product (regardless of country of origin) is a US "based" country. Add the EPA, Union greed, and politics and you get what we have today.

In what industry in the USA is does anyone focus on taking care of each other? None, it only ever comes down to one thing: Profit. We screw each other and it will never end or be righted.

OSHA and labor regulations drive far more in manufacturing cost than Unions do!
 
Are Raybestos PGD84M still made in Canada? I bought a set about 8 years ago and just put them on last month. Best pads I've used so far for stock 73+ brakes. They're bonded not riveted.

*edit* BTW the Raybestos 11.75" (made in China) rotors are god-awful:
Raybestos 11.75" / 7038R = junk?! | Moparts Question and Answer | Moparts Forums

I went through 3 sets, none worked, paid to have the last set machined. No idea what to do after these wear out.
 
The OE rotors on my 2000 Dakota were crap, warped at 22K, warped again at 45K, put Chinese part store rotors on and ran them for 60K. The OE pads were excellent, I ran them to 105K

At 105K the Chinese rotors were developing problems, the pad wear surface was starting to crumble apart. I bought Powerstop rotors and Wagner premium pads for the truck. At 210K the pads needed replacing and the rotors got a light cleanup cut. The truck now has 237K on it and doing fine.

About 4 years I was lucky enough to find a pair of Powerstop rotors for the KH brakes I was going to put on my 67 Cuda.
I tried to buy some from Summit and was told Powerstop had discontinued production on rotors for the KH brakes. Someone on here advertised a new in the box pair and I was able to pick them up, sure work nice.
 
It's nobody's fault but our own. Everybody wants it cheap as they can get it. I hear it everyday. "What's the cheapest brake pads yall got?" "You ain't got none cheaper?"

Cheapest brake pads. And they're ridin their family around in that junk.

Americans want it all, want it now and want it cheap as they can get it. Other countries are steppin up and takin advantage of it. We're lettin it happen.
 
I had a cast iron part that broke. Talked to a very good hometown machinist that said he could weld cast. Turns out it was very inferior Chinese cast and after trying he said there was no way he could repair it.
Yote
 
"It's nobody's fault but our own. Everybody wants it cheap as they can get it. I hear it everyday. "What's the cheapest brake pads yall got?" "You ain't got none cheaper?"

The Chinese have the ability to make good parts just like anyone else. What it comes down to is that they will make parts based on what they get paid for. If cheap is what Wagner, Raybestos etc. want, cheap crap is what they get.

"Americans want it all, want it now and want it cheap as they can get it."

This is part of the Walmart mentality. Sell cheap junk. Junk breaks. Sell more cheap junk. Repeat over & over.

"Other countries are steppin up and takin advantage of it. We're lettin it happen."

It's not so much that other countries are steppin up. It's all about profits. Does anyone really think stock holders really care about how crappy the product is or where it comes from, they just want record profits. These companies realize that making good, durable parts is bad for the bottom line & since they're all doing it, they have us (the consumer) by the short & curlies.
 
A mechanic told me the same thing. He said why do you think rotors surface rust after sitting for one day in the rain, they never used too. All made in China with substandard metals.
 
What would car enthusiasts pay for American made brake pads and rotors? Maybe there is a large enough demand from us car guys to have a small company make them.
 
Are Raybestos PGD84M still made in Canada? I bought a set about 8 years ago and just put them on last month. Best pads I've used so far for stock 73+ brakes. They're bonded not riveted.

*edit* BTW the Raybestos 11.75" (made in China) rotors are god-awful:
Raybestos 11.75" / 7038R = junk?! | Moparts Question and Answer | Moparts Forums

I went through 3 sets, none worked, paid to have the last set machined. No idea what to do after these wear out.
There is a place in Walton KY called IBS, Industrial Brake Supply, that relines brake shoes. I sent some odd ball shoes for a military truck to them a few years back. They did good work and were reasonable.
 
It's not so much that other countries are steppin up. It's all about profits. Does anyone really think stock holders really care about how crappy the product is or where it comes from, they just want record profits. These companies realize that making good, durable parts is bad for the bottom line & since they're all doing it, they have us (the consumer) by the short & curlies.

You hit the nail on the head right there....

Companies too focused on today's bottom line, not building a loyal customer base with quality and reliability....

It's all about corporate profits and making money so they can give the CEO millions of $$$$ in bonuses....
 
"Americans want cheap", well the wages don't match the cost of living. For most people, when their car is down, they don't have money for the unexpected emergency. They want cheap, because they really can't afford to maintain their daily driver to begin with, so they drive it till it is really broken, and that's when it gets expensive.
 
Lets call a spade a spade, behind every crappy offshore product (regardless of country of origin) is a US "based" country. Add the EPA, Union greed, and politics and you get what we have today.




In what industry in the USA is does anyone focus on taking care of each other? None, it only ever comes down to one thing: Profit. We screw each other and it will never end or be righted.

Yup. Biggest prob is wages. People screwing together a part with 4 screws on a line think they should be making 40 bucks an hour with benefits.

There is a reason our electrical union has worked itself solely out of commerical and into industrial only. We do make great money and benefits as non union and they always want more more more.
 
I was thinking about starting a separate thread on this a few weeks ago.
But I'll post it here.
My high use daily driver had a shimmy at high speed hard braking on the interstates.

Then I was test driving the car after some front end trouble shooting,
I NOTICED that as I continue to hit the brakes hard, it gets worse.

AH HA. The light bulb goes on.
The pads are so shinny they are like mirrors.
(Did I put the "wrong" type of pads on years ago?)
IDK
Now I don't do a lot of stop and start driving in this car.
Mostly interstate so I can be excused for not noticing this sooner.
I have no idea how long these brake pad have been on or where I got them.
But I went to Auto Zone and got some different ones.

The ones I put on from Auto Zone are riveted and have copper looking bits in them.
Problem fixed.
My rotors ARE NOT warped. But check out the heat.



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Yup. Biggest prob is wages. People screwing together a part with 4 screws on a line think they should be making 40 bucks an hour with benefits.

There is a reason our electrical union has worked itself solely out of commerical and into industrial only. We do make great money and benefits as non union and they always want more more more.

Hey, those are hard screws.
Obviously someone is willing to do it for less.
"How low will you go" is what I always heard.
Sounds like a race to the bottom.
Who's next?

He said screws.

who.jpg
 
Hey, those are hard screws.
Obviously someone is willing to do it for less.
Sounds like a race to the bottom.
Who's next?
"How low will you go"?

He said screws.

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I know people need to make a living. But those silly high wages for monkey work are why this stufff has left. Then again...cost of living and all that.

Glad my parents drove education into my brain.

We like to laugh at the drywallers and mudders and tapers all the time. They always complain about how bad they have it. although most seem like crack heads anyways. Red seal trades fellas. Dont get into a trade that isnt a red seal. Haha.
 
The last I knew dry wallers got paid by the sheet as in how many sheets can you hang in a day. The thing is, when I was in the trades, we would frame it, roof it, then hang the drywall. You pretty much have to do more than just hang drywall, or you would be out of work eventually. I do agree that "Monkee workers" are not top dollar, yeah it may be hard labor but it pays accordingly, as in the case with getting paid by the sheet, if you want top $$$ you better hustle
 
Only some are by the sheet here. By the sheet seems even worse for quality as those guys dont give a **** at all about anything. But they are fast and it gets done...
 
Are we saying the Chinese should hang our drywall or are we saying the vehicles drywaller's drive should have American made brake rotors on them when they buy crack?

I'm confused.
 
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