[blozbnob]

Since I've been back, I've seen the same comment several times, and said the same myself a few times, that you should NOT be cutting corners and buying cheap Pattern Parts for certain items. We know from experience that the cost saving is not worth the risk.

It's getting boring, reading and writing the same thing, it seems that people find it easier to ask the same question than read some of the past posts

So, can I suggest we make a "sticky", listing where we, as a Club, WOULD recommend buying ONLY Genuine Toyota parts

If I started a list for this sticky, it would be:

New Cylinder Head
Head Gasket
Head Bolts
Water Pump
Thermostat
Cam Belt and tensioner
Brake cylinder repair kits

Feel free to add, delete, or argue on this

Ta, Blozzy

[Kirsten]

Great idea Eddie I have made this a sticky

[pheasant_plucker]

I work in the Automotive manufacturing sector. You don't really believe Toyota manufacture things like Thermostats, Head castings, Gaskets etc, etc Do you ??? Things like this are sourced from external satellite companies from the cheapest bidder.

Gerry

[Father Ted]

But I would presume Toyota have quality control procedures which these satellite companies have to comply with.

[blozbnob]

pheasant_plucker said:

I work in the Automotive manufacturing sector. You don't really believe Toyota manufacture things like Thermostats, Head castings, Gaskets etc, etc Do you ??? Things like this are sourced from external satellite companies from the cheapest bidder.

Gerry

Well, as a starter for 10, we believe the head gaskets are specifically modified for Estimas, in that the hole sizes are enlarged at one end to improve cooling to prevent cracking between 3 and 4 pots. At Toyota, you HAVE to give them the engine number to make sure you get a properly modified one. Other suppliers often think as long as it will fit over the studs, then it will be OK and we have seen these suppliers supply a gasket which they say is "definitely right", but it's actually wrong.

Weve recently had pattern studs stretching out of limits.

Then, why do we have a record of thermostats sticking if they are all the same

Cheap Heads come from China (and other places I guess). We've already heard today of a bolt not fitting, and do you really believe that the Chinese manufacture to Toyota's spec before they sell them on eBay? I think not.

All in all, if the club is to give recommendations, then they should err on the side of safety

I think Father Ted is close to the mark.

I understand that there may be other cam belts which we could approve, but we've yet to get input on this from others.

Maybe instead of limiting it to recommending Toyota parts, maybe it can be a list of recommended suppliers for specific parts, but I believe that it should only be on the basis of long-term results, not just "I fitted one once, and it fits". A difficult one this, but we will see:)

Bob's experience will be invaluable on this, hope he posts on this

[Cader]

i'd add shock absorbers to the list they're about a tenner more than the ebay copies but last alot longer & if your cheeky you could always negotiate a "discount" from toyota worked for me 10% off if i bought the pair

[E5TMA]

Cader said:

i'd add shock absorbers to the list they're about a tenner more than the ebay copies but last alot longer & if your cheeky you could always negotiate a "discount" from toyota worked for me 10% off if i bought the pair

Could this be something the club could look into as a member benefit..............

I`m 99% sure the Lexus club get discount off dealer parts...

[blozbnob]

Cader said:

i'd add shock absorbers to the list they're about a tenner more than the ebay copies but last alot longer & if your cheeky you could always negotiate a "discount" from toyota worked for me 10% off if i bought the pair

Good one, Cader, and thanks Mike, but could we perhaps start another thread on discounts. I'd like to concentrate on getting to the bottom of pattern parts first in this thread.

Discounts could grow and grow as a topic.

[WELSHVIKING]

SADS

[ex-ctr]

pity ARP [head bolts]and COMETIC [head gaskets]don't do parts for these but KYB make much better rear shocks that standard toyota ones [im looking at getting a set of four /front and rear sent over from the USA, they don't list the lucida but the previa 4wd van so they shoud fit:sofa:]and there must be others out there, i know theres bad items but there are good ones also

[blozbnob]

I think ex-ctr's post raises a few issues

There is the question of wether we are concerned about recommending quality

or should we concentrate on helping people to avoid buying rubbish quality, eg copy heads perhaps,

or should we concentrating helping people to make sure they get the right bits, particularly head gaskets. For instance, can we be sure that Cometic know it is important that the holes are a specific size? (If they made them )

So in this last instance (taking in good faith that they are good quality) we can't easily be sure we could recommend them.

Difficult, ain't it:shrug:

That's why my gut feeling is to recommend only those parts which we KNOW (to the best of our ability) give us the best chance of success. Remember we should be giving the best advice to our non-technical members without confusing anybody.

Therefore I think we should still be saying

" With these important parts, ie the list, the safest option should be to buy genuine Toyota parts from Toyota (?), and we strongly recommend that you take note of the comments available on this forum if you choose to purchase parts from other suppliers" or summat like that:doh:

We can't include everything, nor should we be excluding things. People may have limited funds and cheapness may be important to them. Some people may have a liking for other parts in which they have confidence (eg KYB)

[ex-ctr]

my KYB's have come and there great value fror money:)

[Herpquest]

What's the difference between 'Pattern' parts and 'Patent' copies? Surely Toyota will keep some control over the quality of parts made to their 'Patent'. Your opinions please?
Eric

[Daffy]

Father Ted said:

But I would presume Toyota have quality control procedures which these satellite companies have to comply with.

I wounder where the quality control was when the heads were made?????