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Where Is Everyone Buying Drivetrain/Axle Parts Now?

Sean

Sean

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ECGS seems to have the most usable site (though even they are limited in what they carry compared to 7-8 years ago online).

Looking mostly for gears, axles/ujoints, lockers, bearing kits, pinion yokes/flanges, etc. for Dana 60, Ford 9" and 14B.

WTF happened to Randy's? Finding parts on their site now is like looking for a needle in a haystack!
 
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ECGS,Down to fab,C&M gearworks, and dennys has everything broken down good. Find the part number I need from either. Then shop around.
 
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mobil1syn said:
youre 100% on point and i am not sure what the answer is to be honest.

for general items, yes. amazon is convenient as hell, but i have been making more of an effort to buy locally if i can. was just having the conversation with the dude at napa about this over the weekend.

for specialty shops its about creating a local culture. while you may miss out on that marginal 15% who are going to buy the cheapest no matter what, you can develop relationships and leverage that 85% to keep you in the game.
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Last year I was looking for Dana 35 axle shafts. $700+ from Napa, $250 from RA for the same parts. I'll pay a markup for same-day convenience, and to support local...but not 300%.
 
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Summit is one of my go tos, not always the cheapest, but fast and free shipping. Great for returns, exchanges also.

Ecgs is great, like people mentioned, call them and they will answer questions and can do or get more than is on the website.

Dave's offroad supply will sometimes price match iirc.

Heard some bad horror stories about just differentials, and couldn't get anyone on the phone when I was looking to regear my 4runner axles the easy button way. Hard to spend 1000s of $ whith a company who can't answer the phone.
 
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subybaja said:
I'll pay a markup for same-day convenience, and to support local...but not 300%.
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100%

I'll pay a bit more to get it locally and today. Not when it's more than double or "we can order that for you and have it in a week". Go suck start a shotgun, I can order it from my phone right now and have it here monday for half the cost.

Buying odds and ends for my current project and ran into this a lot this week. Bolts for $4.29 each local or online for $1.58 for the same bolts from the same company... fuck local.
 
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mobil1syn said:
and thats why your local shops are closing or dont carry product
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Agree and disagree.

Needed a sbc starter, Napa had nothing in stock. Staring at the parts guy for 2 mins with absolute disbelief and walked out.

Driving around town looking for misc parts and get the old "we can order that for you". Well me too, and it's dropped at my door; probably cheaper.

Still have some go to local places but most of the time I'm simply handing them a part number. Extra fries please.
 
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Sean said:
ECGS seems to have the most usable site (though even they are limited in what they carry compared to 7-8 years ago online).

Looking mostly for gears, axles/ujoints, lockers, bearing kits, pinion yokes/flanges, etc. for Dana 60, Ford 9" and 14B.

WTF happened to Randy's? Finding parts on their site now is like looking for a needle in a haystack!
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Until ECGS screws me over, they will be my go to if they have my parts. I have been pleased with them over the years
 
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I like to deal with Summit when I can. Their customer service is above and beyond and shipping is fast. 9 times outta 10 I can find what I want there even if it's obscure parts.

Daves offroad supply, I buy as much as I can from him related to off road. He's great to work with and he's a genuine good guy.

I'm not really a Amazon shopper but friends use it alot and have gotten some deals.

Local is great but most are stuck bound to corp hell now. Autozone will sell you china bearings for the same price as Timken USA bearings from Summit. Napa is double the price of everyone and selling crappy Dorman shit reboxed with their logo.

I feel like the after market supply chain is getting smaller.and it's driving prices up. Less people are into modding vehicles than ever it seems. Giant companies making sub par products are making bank because they have it, not because it's good. Yeah I'm looking at you Yukon and Dorman...
 
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ECGS. They have always been super helpful on the phone with me when i have a technical question. I also have very brief windows of time to wrench on my rigs, and ground shipping is usually next day for me from their shop so that makes it pretty much a no brainer for me.
 
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Gravy said:
Agree and disagree.
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i dont think its black and white but a combination of things.
  • the shear amount of variation in vehicles on the road and the fact that OEMs have gotten away from simple part interchangeability between models
  • online competition
  • the amount of people actually fixing their vehicles or performing basic maintenance
  • auto parts store people being more than yr, make, and model people
 
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Whatever happened to WayneHartwig? Last seen here May '22, no FB in 5 years.

Last post on his blog May 22 also.
irate4x4.com

Yukon, Reid Racing, Detroit, etc parts CHEAP!

Sorry, ***NO ARB*** ***NO AUSSIE*** **I will meet or beat any shipped price** Best prices and service on Yukon, Reid Racing, Auburn gear, etc. So whatcha lookin' for? Drop me a PM and I'll get back to you ASAP!!
irate4x4.com irate4x4.com
 
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No clue but I remember there was a handful of diff and axle guys from the old forum that disappeared. I looked for awhile for someone, really anyone else that machined shafts for 50* steering and Branik is the only one now. Nothing against Branik, I just figured that had to be someone else doing it.
 
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ECGS is end all be all d60 and 14b parts imo. Everything is right there, easy to navigate, fantastic customer service, and its all spicer, koyo, or timkin rebuild parts for the same price or cheaper than china stuff at the auto parts.

I hate dealing with local stuff cause they "can get it" but dont usually have it and its always more expensive plus the complete waste of drive time, etc just to spend more money than ordering it online.
 
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Wfoyota said:
ECGS is end all be all d60 and 14b parts imo. Everything is right there, easy to navigate, fantastic customer service, and its all spicer, koyo, or timkin rebuild parts for the same price or cheaper than china stuff at the auto parts.

I hate dealing with local stuff cause they "can get it" but dont usually have it and its always more expensive plus the complete waste of drive time, etc just to spend more money than ordering it online.
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Same. I get let down evreytime I try to buy parts locally. Shit when I was in the Chicago suburbs I couldn't find shit anywhere for Toyotas. Evrey parts store interaction: "I need a metric brake fitting", "here's an adapter":mad3:
 
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"We don't carry it, but I can order it"

No shit, so can I and there's a greater chance it won't be wrong when I do it. I gave up on the local small auto parts store after them "ordering" stuff twice and never hearing from them again. They're good for making hydro hoses and certain things, but if they say they have to order I'm out.

I get it's easier said than done, but maybe if brick and mortar places carried more stuff, they wouldn't be going down hill. The places around here with lots of shit on the shelves seem to do fine.
 
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Yup.

My local stores can beat the internet on speed but you pay dearly for it. Sometimes it's worth it. Usually it's not.
 
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