First Brands Group files for bankruptcy.

[ProjectBazza]

If you've never heard of them you're not alone, but they're the parent company for some pretty common names....

Some links:

Auto Parts Supplier's Bankruptcy Spells Potential Trouble for Loads of People Who Own a Car, Truck, or SUV

Do you repair your own vehicle or use an independent shop? Your repair costs and time without your vehicle could both increase thanks to First Brands Group's bankruptcy.

www.motortrend.com

Lenders put up $4.4 billion to avert liquidation of Trico, Fram parent company

A broad group of lenders to the troubled parent company of the Trico and Fram brands “have worked at lightening-speed” to provide $4.4 billion of Chapter 11 financing.

www.autonews.com

First Brands files for bankruptcy, revealing billions of dollars in liabilities

U.S. auto parts maker First Brands filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after disclosing liabilities exceeding $10 billion, marking the collapse of a company whose rapidly deteriorating finances have shocked debt investors in recent weeks.

www.reuters.com

 

[abdywgn]

did a quick scan and my take is "they" don't want you to be able to fix your own vehicle.
I'll read more later and may change or modify my opinion.

 

[gary h]

I Bought Raybestos Wheel cylinders from Rockauto recently.In the R/A Picture they are stamped Made in USA. Well the ones i received were made in China. Other than Rebuilding my own I see no other choices. NOS,NORS stock exists but How long have they been on the shelf.

 

[ProjectBazza]

did a quick scan and my take is "they" don't want you to be able to fix your own vehicle.
I'll read more later and may change or modify my opinion.

Hmmmmm......

"They" don't want you to, or people these days just don't/can't? (I'm talking the younger generation here.) If the former, I never thought I'd see the day where we (car owners) would have to fight for our Right to Repair, much like John Deere owners.

Interesting perspective, Bob!

 

[YY1]

"Right to Repair" fight from consumer electronics...

...comes to vehicles.

 

[67Dart273]

"Our" gobt allowed these mergers, these megaglomerates to form

 

[RustyRatRod]

Hmmmmm......

"They" don't want you to, or people these days just don't/can't? (I'm talking the younger generation here.) If the former, I never thought I'd see the day where we (car owners) would have to fight for our Right to Repair, much like John Deere owners.

Interesting perspective, Bob!

I don't believe it's a big conspiracy. I think it's like you say. We have possibly two complete generations that don't and can't fix anything automotive......and don't give a damn about learning. So the markets react accordingly. We're in a minority now. A small one that's getting smaller every day.

 

[67Dart273]

The Giant Car Parts Company That Owns Fram And Raybestos Just Filed For Bankruptcy - The Autopian

"In addition to owning Fram filters and Raybestos brakes, the group also owns brake brands Centric, Carlson, and International Brake Industries, towing equipment brands Bargman, Bulldog, Draw-Tite, Fulton, Reese, Tekonsha, Wesbar, and the towing division of Westfalia. It also owns windshield wiper brands Anco, and Trico, holds the licence for Michelin wiper blades, owns remanufactured parts giant Cardone, lift support brand Strong-Arm, and the LED division of Philips, along with Airtex, Autolite, Carter, Luberfiner, Hopkins, and Petroclear."

 

[missing linc]

Coincidence that I got an e mail from Rock Auto yesterday about 'wholesaler closeout' parts?
Hmmmmmm

 

[RedFish]

Not so many owners worked on these cars themselves back when they were new. Was a time when a man started as a sweeper in a local textile mill. When they taught him to fix looms or spinning frames, whatever, he got only those tools required for his job. Lift a cars hood and they were clueless.
I've always been mechanical inclined but,,, raised the hood of a 2025 Camry not long ago and closed it without a full minutes look. I ain't about to touch it.
edit Forgot to click post here and meanwhile had additional thought. Hasn't been so long since our Ace Auto Parts was bought by NAPA. I tend to believe that auto racing and not auto repairs helps NAPA tremendously. I'm sure they put much coin back into the sport.
We don't know until we see it but if racing continues to die, will NAPA someday be absorbed?

 

[junkyardhero]

The Giant Car Parts Company That Owns Fram And Raybestos Just Filed For Bankruptcy - The Autopian

"In addition to owning Fram filters and Raybestos brakes, the group also owns brake brands Centric, Carlson, and International Brake Industries, towing equipment brands Bargman, Bulldog, Draw-Tite, Fulton, Reese, Tekonsha, Wesbar, and the towing division of Westfalia. It also owns windshield wiper brands Anco, and Trico, holds the licence for Michelin wiper blades, owns remanufactured parts giant Cardone, lift support brand Strong-Arm, and the LED division of Philips, along with Airtex, Autolite, Carter, Luberfiner, Hopkins, and Petroclear."

fram is whatever, but the real eye opener here is Cardone, airtex, autolite, raybestos, centric & carlson.

cardone remans everything for everybody and airtex makes like, all the fuel and water pumps. crazy.

 

[4spdragtop]

HOLY COW!

The Giant Car Parts Company That Owns Fram And Raybestos Just Filed For Bankruptcy - The Autopian

"In addition to owning Fram filters and Raybestos brakes, the group also owns brake brands Centric, Carlson, and International Brake Industries, towing equipment brands Bargman, Bulldog, Draw-Tite, Fulton, Reese, Tekonsha, Wesbar, and the towing division of Westfalia. It also owns windshield wiper brands Anco, and Trico, holds the licence for Michelin wiper blades, owns remanufactured parts giant Cardone, lift support brand Strong-Arm, and the LED division of Philips, along with Airtex, Autolite, Carter, Luberfiner, Hopkins, and Petroclear."

 

[bcschief]

The Giant Car Parts Company That Owns Fram And Raybestos Just Filed For Bankruptcy - The Autopian

"In addition to owning Fram filters and Raybestos brakes, the group also owns brake brands Centric, Carlson, and International Brake Industries, towing equipment brands Bargman, Bulldog, Draw-Tite, Fulton, Reese, Tekonsha, Wesbar, and the towing division of Westfalia. It also owns windshield wiper brands Anco, and Trico, holds the licence for Michelin wiper blades, owns remanufactured parts giant Cardone, lift support brand Strong-Arm, and the LED division of Philips, along with Airtex, Autolite, Carter, Luberfiner, Hopkins, and Petroclear."

Speaking of Cardone I was trying to buy a reman electric power steering assembly for the wife's 09 Mercury Mariner and Cardone has a part number listed with all the big brand parts stores, but the part is unavailable with any of them. Ended up buying a used one on Ebay and hope and pray it works. I mean 09 is not that old, I could buy a power steering box for a 63 Valiant now that's getting old.

 

[junkyardhero]

Speaking of Cardone I was trying to buy a reman electric power steering assembly for the wife's 09 Mercury Mariner and Cardone has a part number listed with all the big brand parts stores, but the part is unavailable with any of them. Ended up buying a used one on Ebay and hope and pray it works. I mean 09 is not that old, I could buy a power steering box for a 63 Valiant now that's getting old.

i just had to do a rack on an 00 ranger and it took nearly a week for the parts store to track one down and get it to me. pretty wild for sure.

 

[MMissile]

26 model-years old. Not shocking.

 

[bcschief]

26 model-years old. Not shocking.

My first car was a 61 and that was in 74, a 13-year-old car in 74 was old. Car styling had changed dramatically in 13 years.

 

[ProjectBazza]

Speaking of Cardone I was trying to buy a reman electric power steering assembly for the wife's 09 Mercury Mariner and Cardone has a part number listed with all the big brand parts stores, but the part is unavailable with any of them. Ended up buying a used one on Ebay and hope and pray it works. I mean 09 is not that old, I could buy a power steering box for a 63 Valiant now that's getting old.

I hate when that happens! I run into this daily at work (with Lennox, Trane, and Carrier parts), so when it happens to me on my auto parts, I have a pretty think skin…..

 

[jos51700]

Paging China, China to the white courtesy phone. China to the white courtesy phone, please.

 

[junkyardhero]

26 model-years old. Not shocking.

the ranger shares the same rack with explorer, mountaineer & B series mazda across a 6 year span, so we're not talking a small group with limited production.

i didn't, and wouldn't expect to be able to roll into the dealer and grab one new but to not be able to get one in the greater LA area i was a little taken aback.

 

[toolmanmike]

We bought a Cardone rack for our Challenger build. I think Tony went through 3 before we switched brands and got one that worked.

 

[barbee6043]

26 model-years old. Not shocking.

I bet the gov ment and a zillion others would like for everyone to drive vehicles that are 4 years old to NEW! Maybe 3
Or live close enough to walk or ride a bic to work?

 

[abdywgn]

Or live close enough to walk or ride a bic to work?

you mean a 15 minute city? anything you can reach in 15 minutes.

 

[barbee6043]

you mean a 15 minute city? anything you can reach in 15 minutes.

Maybe where we are headed!! Everyone lives in a condo or barracks and Mickey D and work is a 10 minute walk! No need for agriculture, meat raised in a test tube and artificial grains!!
But getting back to the subject, maybe these parts co. are going broke due to poor quality for China??? Too many returns, parts failures, etc???

 

[abdywgn]

when a friend worked at GM, Turbo 400 drums would come in by crate loads from China. he said half of 'em would be scrapped. asked why bother then. if you want to sell your product here, you need to make some of that product in our country. and then after awhile, government takes over factory...

 

[Outlaw525]

Before I retired in April, I worked many years (28) directly with the multiple owners of the Raybestos brand - Dana, Affinia, BPI and finally First Brands Group. IMO from personal experience dealing with the First Brands Group, this is the result of poor senior leadership and greed. Unfortunately, there are many good people that work for them that will be seriously affected.