Are knock offs worth it?

I totally get the idea of you get what you pay for but, sometimes the payoff is more than worth it. When there's intricacies in the product or complex manufacturing methods being used, it's, effectively, always best to go with the original. On the other hand, there's places where it isn't real detrimental to go with a knock off. There's a reason many people, possibly even you, go to Harbor Freight to buy stuff. Also, we can all name instances where the knock off is every bit as good as the original and with the original, you're simply paying for the brand name; Yeti vs Cabelas/RTIC comes to mind.

All that being said, what do you all think of these knock off UCA's vs those from the likes of Camburg? I'm interested to hear what people think.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1999-2006-...-Upper-Control-Arm-For-2-4-Lift-/181845136530

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Silver-Upp...Toyota-Tundra-1999-2006-2WD-4WD-/272106249586

 

Absolutely not. You need to take into consideration what these suspension manufactures put into the R&D to insure that the camber, caster, etc specs are all within tolerances. Would you trust Harbor Freight control arms on your truck? Use them once offroad and replace them.

They might look the same but I guarantee you, they are not the same.

 

Anything that is critical (such as suspension components, tow related items, wheels/tires, etc)l, I would definitely not cheap out. If something like that breaks, you have much higher repair bill. If it's window decal, I wouldn't mind cheap stuff.

 

FWIW I got the SPC arms for my truck on a Black Friday sale last year for right around $425.

 

Oh the Irony of your Sig Quote and this thread

 

Maybe on noncriticle parts. my cheapo LEDs working great for interior lights

 

I wouldn't do it. $300 isn't worth having a failure on a control arm.

 

I rarely buy HF tools... and if i do, it's a "if i use this more than once, I got my money's worth" case. Similarly, I wouldn't buy something 'life-critical' from them, such as a chainsaw or such. Generally, if the continuation of my heartbeat depends on something, I usually go with the best... that theory's worked so far.

 

We have a local member that bought, as he refers to them "TC arms" - they are knockoffs. He was sold on them being the "same specs" as TC....yet cant really get a good alignment done with them.

Buy once, cry once.

 

That's a great price and SPC's aren't knock offs. They are a very well built UCA made here in Colorado.

 

This thread has no relevance with the OP's username.

 

I get what you're saying but, the likelihood a knock off is going to be practically useful has less to do with R&D than it does complexity to reverse engineer and replicate. It's probably true the two are linked to a high degree. The amount of engineering and mechanical parts that goes into an UCA pails in comparison to, say, a shock. People make steering components and suspension links from scratch all the time at home with great results. That kind of stuff isn't complex. I'd put UCA's in that category. On the other hand, there is little to no one making shocks in their home garage because of their complexity.

 

That's a smoking deal.

 

Good to know. Thanks for the reply.

 

MRT Motorsports, they had 20% off last year. Not sure if they'll do the same this year. They were super easy to install, took all of 45 minutes for both sides.

http://shop.mrtmotorsports.net/spc-performance/spc-control-arm/25485/i-1760656.aspx

 

I buy lots of tools from Harbor. Ball joint separator, step drill bits, things like that. I won't buy a torque wrench there, nor any other tool requiring precision.

 

That's a good deal, even without the 20% off. It's a bit puzzling the "Specs" don't match the "Product Description." The "Product Description" mentions classic mopars and lower control arms.

 

They might work OK.




Or they might not. So the question is: “Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”

 

I'd definitely stay away from Harbor Freight coil spring compressor knock offs.......

 

Here's a proper reply.

 

Same here. Arm’s lenght at closest. And ends pointed towards the neighbours I don’t like.

 

Yea I thought the same when I ordered them, but the part numbers matched what SPC called for and I got the correct ones.

 

I just emailed mrt about BF and they responded almost immediately:
“Hey Chris,

Yes we are! We are currently finalizing our discount list and will be mailing it out as long as posting on our site. If you have some items in mind that your looking at, shoot them our way and we can run the pricing for you.

Thanks!

Chas”

 

I'm in! Can they also get the Archive Garage shackle flip kit and some Brute Force Fab sliders in, so I can one stop shop AND get 20%off?!?!

 

I wish! UCA’s are the only thing on my list that they have.

 

X2....until they carry Archive Garage and Brute Force Fab.....

 

TC uppers are still cheaper through toytec unless they provide a bigger discount for BF. We shall see.

 

I was looking at those also
Total Chaos is 800$ No way, way out of my range.
300$ is barley doable for me