Rock auto vs parts geek

I’m replace the clutch master and slave cylinders. Sourcing the Aisin has not been easy. I’m torn between two online vendors, both in the same ballpark of like $100 shipped. My question to everyone is which vendor y’all prefer and does anyone have any discount codes? Not many weak link in the Toyota manual transmission experience, but these things happen at 216k. Thanks

 

Personally if you could find the parts from the dealer I would; I’ve heard good things about RockAuto but as a mechanic I’ve always been skeptical if they’re legit parts or not

Seems that Aisin has gone down in quality over the past two years or so which is why I’m saying to try and find it at the dealer if possible; and if you google RockAuto discount code you can find anyone’s code to put in the “How did you hear about us” section in your cart and you’ll get 5% off

 

Rock Auto always has 5% off codes and great pricing, with guaranteed authentic inventory.

Summit Racing has better shipping options and customer service, good pricing, and sometimes has coupons, with guaranteed authentic inventory.

I've heard good things about Parts Geek, but have yet to shop with them (been shopping with Summit & RA for more than two decades). I don't know if/how they control their inventory chain to prevent knockoffs.

I know for a fact scAmazon/fleaBay/WallyMart and many other online vendors don't bother with product authentication, and I've gotten knockoffs more than once from each one of those three.

 

Juggling my vehicle collection is the classic 8/10 dilemma . To bad that awesome sale is over on Toyota parts online, I got a bunch, then discovered this issue. The lbjs and front brakes are all need oem . Never ends. Thanks yall

 

My toolbox is covered in rockauto stickers from my old cars over the years. Hardly ever had an issue, and when there was, they were really easy and polite to deal with for returns. Never tried parts geek.

 

Sounds like an easy decision then, yall rock

 

I prefer parts geek. They seem to get orders right more often.

Had rockauto send me the wrong spark plugs and one time two left struts. Neither time they made any effort to expedite fixing their mistake.

 

Never had an issue with RA outside of FedEx losing/breaking packages. Returns, warranties etc are pretty painless. Second to Toyota parts online (during holiday sales) its my go to place.
Plus I look forward to the magnets...

 

With rock auto you get magnets

 

You collected the magnets? That's neat. I have one of those magnets, currently using it to test for ferrous metals in my recycling side side hussle.

 

Wish I had taken a picture.
The Aisin water pump from rock auto was identical to the original equipment on 4Runner except the one from rock auto had the Toyota words ground off.
You could tell it had been 6 letters nicked off. Usually copy rights prevent OE from being sold by other than Toyota so the go around is to take those words off.

 

They do the same with Denso coil packs if you don’t buy them in the Toyota box. And possibly with the Hitachi MAF, if I remember right.

 

Them doing that goes way back.
Even When I worked as a mechanic 30 odd years ago.
Salesman said that was a requirement. Even though it was OE part wasn’t legal to sell from other than dealer if the letters were still on it.

 

My Aisin water pump from RA was legit and yes, the Aisin was ground off. I always check with RA for parts first and the few times I've had to send stuff back for a refund, they've always been good about it albeit thorough in their questioning. Usually I just settle for store credit because I know I'll be ordering more stuff from them.

 

are you saying specifically from Rock Auto?

 

Yeah. See my above post.

 

I’ve actually sometimes seen that with parts store Denso coils when we buy them at the shop; but it’s rare

 

It’s not RA specific, it’s something Denso, Aisin, Advics, and any others making Toyota’s OEM parts has to do on any of their parts being shipped to anyone that isn’t Toyota. They technically make the parts for Toyota, but they can’t sell them with Toyota logos on them, else people will find out and potentially not pay the premium pricing thru Toyota. If you’re just now learning this yourself, it’s proof the mandate is working. Smarter companies like Fujitsu and Sumitomi (Sumitomo?) and potentially a few other brands use stickers IIRC, rather than casting branding into the parts.

 

I used Rockauto exclusively in the past with much luck till my last order (a year ago) when I was fixing up my dads Tacoma. Bought a timing belt kit. Due to work, I had to put the job on hold for a couple months and when I got around to it, found the box and instructions were correct but parts were for another vehicle. Guessing someone returned the kit and substituted cheaper parts in to get one over on Rockauto. They most likely didnt check the contents at all or well enough. I called and the phones are unmanned there now. Returns online are not taken after a short amount of time. Some reddit users have had similar experiences. Bummed to see the down trend in this company as they have a lot of options for parts. Seems like the economic squeeze has put them in a tough position like many other businesses. I got screwed outta a couple hundred dollars. Not gonna kill me financially but kinda soured my taste for Rockauto TBH.

 

Yeah they do have a short time window for returns. I have a spare H2O pump because I missed it but eh....now I know.

 

No I absolutely knew they made parts for Toyota, but the quality control for Toyota branded parts from Aisin and Denso is higher with Toyota’s branding on it, than with your normal Aisin and Denso from a parts store; which is weird why they would take their higher QC stuff and sell it cheaper, but it’s probably a surplus

 

Yeah that’s really annoying, only problem is you’d run into the same issue at a parts store or the dealer, they’re only gonna let you return stuff for x number of days; it’s nice being commercial cause they normally give us leeway since we’ll leave parts sitting until we get a chance to return it and that can be over a month

 

Having used both, I can only recommend rock auto. My one and only parts geek order: they sent the wrong part, then I had to pay return shipping (on their error). Once they received it it was "lost" and they couldn't refund it. It was a cheap part so I quit dealing with trying to contact them. Never doing that again.

I have never used RA's return service so can't speak to that. But I've been ordering from them for like 15 years. Try to tack on stuff like wiper blades and a 6 pack OEM oil filters if it ships on the same truck.

 

I've had to file claims with RA a few times. Every time it was painless, it just wasn't instant, I couldn't talk audibly to a human, but I was more than satisfied with the process once they acknowledged my message (which is always within 24hrs). The most recent two:

• Carrier ruined a 130A alternator, broken pieces, etc. but still technically "functional". They let me keep the part. I had another in my hands within ~48 hours. Used pieces from another alternator to repair, had two good working alternators
• Dorman drop-shipped the wrong door lock actuator (1 of 4 was wrong). I was 10-12 weeks past the order window before I got a chance to open it and install the parts, only to find it was the wrong part. Despite being outside the return window, they still accepted the return, paid the return shipping, and had another part shipped and in my hands within 72 hours, no cost to me.

There's at least one more since I've had my 1st gen (6ish years), but my memory is fuzzy. I'd need to dig back through emails. But all that to say, I rarely see mistakes, and when mistakes happen, they are on it, and I haven't paid a dime. That said, sucks you can't have personal interaction for returns, just "email and wait", but they've always been cool as hell about everything.

I do prefer just paying the little bit extra and ordering from Summit Racing. Doesn't hurt there's one I can sometimes pickup from same-day about 25 minutes south of me, but on larger stuff, like the rear bumper I ordered, free ship +$9.99 for "oversize" shipping on an item that large, and I didn't have to drive an inch, and you get a human immediately on orders, great website that makes it easy to do painless returns ... I love it. But RA is right up there with them, which is why those are really the first two vendors I recommend if you want legit, verified parts.