aftermarket vs oem parts replacement

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Joined
Jan 15, 2016
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Location
Ventura.Ca
My question is are aftermarket part such as Whiteline sway bars and bushings upgrades to improve handling and steering better than oem? My goal is to improve handling. I have already bought Bilstein replacement shocks. Or better put in general, aftermarket vs oem, I know from online shopping oem part are much more expensive.
 
on this board you are going to be told go OEM or go home on most parts.

I say it depends what you are using the truck for. If its a mall crawler then it might pay to use aftermarket. The LC/LX have a rep of being very dependable so the factory parts are well built. If its an easy thing to swap out then sure why not give a cheep part a try. But if you are talking an aftermarket water pump then if you add in the cost of an early replacement its just not worth it.
 
^ ditto ^
 
There's not much aftermarket I'd use on a 100 other than add-ons and lift/ shock parts. TMC did a good job of engineering everything.
 
So my goal for my wagon is to make it my all around can do rig, from family trips to Disneyland and Ski resorts,Towing Travel trailer to high elevation camp grounds( Tioga Pass,Mt Whitney,Yosemite,etc). to just driving on un paved roads , bad roads or harder to get to places. I agree that oem is the only way to go on timing belts,water pumps and critical components but for such things as bushings,shocks,brake rotors maybe rear springs is there an improvement? And I'm talking Whiteline,Eibach,OMU products. thanks
 
I would stick with OEM on most bushings, unless poly would be better in the situation. For stuff like springs and shocks, aftermarket can be good, based upon what you buy. For the situations you describe, OME coils and TB's would work good paired with a nice set of resi shocks (fox, icon, bilstein), and you'll probably want a new UCA setup. But in the case of suspension or other add-ons, aftermarket is good as long as it is quality.
 
OEM bushing will absorb the bump and vibration better and provide more cushy ride. For your application for sway bar, whiteline poly bush and thicker sway bar should help for handling if that is your goal.

And again it depends on the condition of your other suspension parts and mileage. If your truck has high mileage and is an older 100 then you may have to check your other suspension parts such as front upper/lower control arm bushs, upper/lower ball joints, steering rack bush, inner/outer tie rods, diff support control arm bush, rear UCA/LCA bushs. If some of those items are bad, then new shocks and sway bar will not be enough to achieve your goal.
 
Are there better options for improving the braking on the 100? better pads or have to do the rotors and pads to see a difference?
 
Are there better options for improving the braking on the 100? better pads or have to do the rotors and pads to see a difference?


New or turned rotors (within spec) and good pads make all the difference. I don't like slotted or drill rotors. Seen to many of them warp and crack.

I've been using Akebono Pro Ceramics for a couple of years now on various vehicles and highly recommend them.

J
 

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