I just changed my brakes in my '03 1500 series Avalanche today. Much to my chagrin there was very little if anything left on the pads and rotors. I was running on luck, not my way to go. The last time I changed these I was talked into using the "CHEAPER" parts, made in the ROC. Well today I spent more than $400 to buy new rotors and pads. I used all Raybestos and Moog parts that had Made in USA on them. I took the advice of the one who knows all about Moog and Raybestos, the great Bob Rizzi .... Thanks for the sound advice.
I am also doing my '70 SS over from frame off and refuse to use anything not Made the USA whenever and where ever possible. I pulled my 12 bolt , axles, backing plates and contol arms off and after almost 40 yrs. they were still in great shape. A great testimony to the American made metals.
The parts I have replaced today were cheap metal imports and they showed it after 25k miles / 2 years. When my life depends on it, I want the replaced parts to stand up to what they are designed and rated to do. In a previous post, there were discussions about paying too much for a product, that price doesn't ensure quality, well here it sure does. This latest episode of imported junk metal / parts that means only one thing.....You get what you pay for.....Again my point to anyone who never grew up when the car you are working on was built....when you go cheap, you get cheap and that could mean your life.
GOD BLESS THE USA, what's remains of it, and its hard workers.

great post,can i ask what parts store or supplier you used?

Gary,

I will send you a PM.

Roland

thanks

Well said Roland. I agree 100%.

USA made first.....Chinese made as last resort.:yes:

Totally agreed upon with one exception... I did the same as you.. Made In the USA where I could, but those "junk" China made parts are suppose to meet or exceed the specs given by the manufacturer, otherwise great post.

Raybestos state on their boxes of drums and rotors : MEETS GOV'T STANDARDS J431 -G3400/ grade of steel, O.E. required for proper cooling and safety . CHINESE COMPANIES DO NOT STATE ON THEIR BOXES. Raybestos as well as Wagner are now informing the consumer to be aware of the safety factor involved in purchasing brake products. Both companies use offshore manufacturing but they must meet their rigid standards. Bob Rizzi

Guys, my problem aside from the anti American sentiment that buying these things gives me is that the metal is junk.......meets or exceeds standards is a bogus claim. If the reports and / or pedigree of materials, heat etc, etc. were available I believe that the documents would have been falsified to take their share of the market. They do not have QA / QC programs or prodedures to be followed. I have been QA / QC and know about material documentation and what it means. Cheap labor is one thing but the metals not having enough carbon content, heated too much or not enough creates a condition for failure of the junk metals when you don't expect it. An example is Crosby clamps and shackles that have been deviously duplicated to look real. Only a trained eye can pick up the differences and they fail at 65 - 70% of rated values. Again I state, you get what you pay for, pay cheap, and you get cheap. That is not a rocket science to figure out.

God Bless America, whatever might still be left of the greatest country in the world.

Roland.....in NY

Cheap prices $$$/Cheap parts agreed !!!!! Bob Rizzi

I couldn't agree more! On a seperate note, we need our superior products to be affordable worldwide in order to keep this country on top. There is no way to survive without exporting our great products. Just my two cents. BTW I went through basically the same deal on my 2001 Chevy 1500. The cheap rotors kept warping within a few months of installation. Luckily those cheapies had warranties to I just kept taking them back. Obviously I had more time than money back then...
Tom

Tom,right on the money that is why Moog, Raybestos, Wagner (all in their boxes) and name brand products should be used on all restorations,personal cars and trucks. No matter how good a car looks and sounds it has to stop and steer properly or you are in big trouble>>>>>> Bob Rizzi

To bad everyone dont think that way :(

Creight, as the great Bob Rizzi states, a basic concept for driving is you have to steer it and stop it.........there are those who speak with forked tongue on here and want you to believe the imported Chinese crapulance is an acceptable substitute for Moog, Raybestos, etc. etc. No way can any imported metals have the stregnth or durablility of American made metals, hence the imported is junk. Again, I state, "You Get What You Pay For, buy cheap, get cheap" I wouild ask the most frugal, who buy the imported Chinese, would they buy connecting rods or crankshafts made by taiwan motor works or buy American made..........think about it, not a rocket calculation.........I am old school and proud of it. God bless the USA, whatever remains of it......

I have to tell you about a hinge rebuild kit I bought about 6 moths ago and just assembled yesterday. I bought it from one of the bigger name resto houses and didn't ask much about it. I put the hinges together and I might be afraid to hang a door on them when the time is right. You can't ruin a pin set or the ferrules, but boy is the roller and spring assembly junk. The lower end that has a socket head screw and washer to hold it in, well the washer bent under hand tightening...Again, my point is imported JUNK......I went with what was available and I got one snuck in on me..........You get what you pay for, Buy American, Buy quality..........

Roland,most trim and various parts are made in the "new state of china" GOODMARK has them available at least there is some quality control there ( glad my 66'/68'/70' all have original hinges I wonder why they lasted so long? ) BOB RIZZI ~~~~

P.S. YOU COULD ALWAYS USE A DUKES OF HAZZARD DOOR ENTRY !!!

Only if Daisy is jumpin in with me........hehehehe

Roland,go to Rare Parts site "hit" 1) Quality 2)Quality Control 3) Past Tests / This is an AMERICAN COMPANY THAT TAKES PRIDE IN WHAT IT SELLS !!!! Bob Rizzi

My 2000 Suburban has 155,000+ on the original front pads, the rears needed to be changed about 20,000 miles ago--I thought it was strange the rears went first, but I see more cars today doing the same thing.
BTW, at 100,000 miles I removed the fronts and measured the thickness; they were .680" whereas new ones are .720"---I might have to change them in another 15-20 years!!

Made in the USA.... Made in the USA .... And GM and their parts company Delphi Automotive was put under, why for making quality products with American workers.Your truck should have it's own Reality Show !!!! Bob Rizzi

I am still a believer that if you can find American made metal for whatever the part, you will find a superior product. you get what you pay for.........
AND the great Riz KNOWS..........

Very will put and I too wish everyone would think that way... I know I have been a lot more lately.

The sad part is- 1. Products made in USA are hard to find, not even automotive items... anything. I see a lot of manufactures advertising "Assembled in the USA" now, meaning the parts are all built overseas and they assemble the final product here. 2. Many USA companies can not compete with the Chinese prices.. it is sad. Many people will purchase Chinese items because of price, we are also guilty of it. However when it comes to my car I purchase only American made products and usually from shops similar to UMI since I understand what it takes to operate.

On a side note... all UMI Performance products are built right here in Pennsylvania USA :)

Ryan, thanks for the re, I am very glad to hear that your products are American made, you are a stand up company.

Roland in NY

I used all Dana/Spicer parts for the steering and suspension rebuild of my GTO. Most of the stuff is made in USA, but little things like bushings I got boxes that also said Mexico and India. I like how the idler arm has "MADE IN USA" proudly cast into it. I should put some white paint on the letters so it is easier to see. :)

I think Spicer got taken over by McQuay-Norris and is now sold under the Raybestos brand name.

This thread is like another:
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294316

We can see that there are people who value their lives at about $1K or so. We are selling ourselves out.

There are some links in the thread referenced above from the Camero forum about suspension stuff breaking, not fitting properly and having poor materials used in the construction of metal components. There are also Ebay listings for whole front end kits for $400! A arms, ball joints and all!

Do you expect good steel for a suspension at $400?

Ron

Ron, thanks for the re. My point exactly, my life is very valuable to me so I want the best metals in my vehicle that I can get and if it costs a little more, well I am worth it. This is the point of view also of many members that understand the concept of ypou get what you pay for. How can anyone consider spending $400.00 on a front end and getting good metals, bushings, etc. can't happen. Stuff made in the ROC, Thailand, India just cannot be under any quality controls, it is strickly make it look like the original American made and mass produce. I like my parts on the order of ARP's, Moog, etc. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Ain't that right Riz?

Roland, etc. etc. since 1965 when I built my first Chevelle I was told by the best do it right, no other way but the right way.... I can proudly say I built a 10 second Chevelle in the 1960's with all name brands that are still around today:Moog,Raybestos,Monroe AND YES CHEVY H.P. As the man said "The times they are a changing" Yes the automotive aftermarket is being flooded with roc parts, that do not stack up to our standards but the answer is to find and use companies that are reliable and who make products that are safe and made to last. IT IS YOUR CAR,YOUR INVESTMENT AND YOUR LIFE. Bob Rizzi

All parts made in our shop, hood hinge rivets and door hinge rollers are made in USA. Some people still have pride in what they sell.

Willie

Again, what I say is "you get what you pay for". Nobody wants to pay more for a product than you have to, but when it comes to the 2 most critical tasks in the use of an automobile, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO STEER IT AND STOP IT, after that everything alse is a gimme. The imported crap breaks under stress caused by heat and vibration. Read a failure analysis when you hear of a catostrophic failure and it generally leads back to a part and the lineage of the part and that leads back to inferior parts which lead back to products imported without any QA/QC program watching how the metal is made, how much carbon is in the steel etc, etc.
And if that isn't enough infomation, look at the money and job crisis in the greatest country in history, No jobs to be had, factories closed down, manufacturing base is gone.............Buying this crap only degrades this country even more and the next concept for all of you that like to go cheap.....

THE JOB YOU SAVE MIGHT BE YOUR OWN........ buy AMERICAN made products.

Roland,When it comes to auto parts "TAKE YOUR LIFE SERIOUSLY" Bob Rizzi~~~~

Roland,When it comes to auto parts "TAKE YOUR LIFE SERIOUSLY" Bob Rizzi~~~~


lol oh, I completely disagree with this.

When it comes to auto parts I take my life with a grain of salt....I often request the weekest parts of the most impossible to prove origins with the specification that I am looking for a throwaway piece that may snap on the first entrance to the apex. Preferably a part with manufacturer installed surface rust and that require you correct taper issues with JB weld.... and rubber durometer somewhere between chewing gum and silly putty.

I personally want to question whether I will live or die with each stab of the go pedal or on the entrance and exit of each corner. What fun is there in knowing whats under you is rock solid and will hold up? :D;)

I don't know what PO's me more... Cheap Chinese, "reverse engineered" ripoffs, or "American" companies that have their products manufacturered overseas with little to no QA/QC ( cutting corners all around; labor, materials and quality)...

Tony,Let me tell you how bad it gets. I borrowed a hand driven portable band saw over the weekend to cut some metal for my body carriage. What I found out after using this DeWalt band saw is that it stated in bold letters, made in china, DeWalt, it really agravated me. You'd like to be a fly on the wall of my shop to have heard what I had to say. I couldn't believe what I had................Buy American made products whenever you can. The job you save may be your own.......................
Roland in NY

Roland, do not feel bad I just set 2 mouse traps one "MADE IN THE USA " the other "made in china" the chinese POS exploded in my hand !!! I think I heard the mouse laughing. BUY AMERICAN !!!! RIZZI~~~~

ROC does it again !!!! Google in : Drywall Information Center they cannot even make safe sheetrock and they are going to make a top quality auto part Bob Rizzi~~~

Riz, right on the money. That story came out in the news a couple of days ago. For those who really like buying the imported stuff from ROC that is copied from parts and pices here, PLEASE read about the sheetrock that the chepo builders have been installing. The gypsum has a high concentration of acid in it, thus reacting with copper plumbing, electrical materials made of metal and the fumes are getting people sick. Sooooooo what does sheetrock have to do with Chevelles you ask.......In 2 words, QUALITY CONTROL, they have none, here again, this proves it. You never heard about this from American made sheetrock. MY POINT is "you get what you pay for" and this is especially true with the parts you restore your car with. Buy as many American Made products that you can, we have SUPERIOR products. In the ROC there is no quality control programs to ensure their products are what they say they are. BUY AMARICAN, whatever is left, wherever you can. When you buy Amaerican it might just save your job someday. God Bless The USA.

Roland in NY

Give em hell Teddy, I mean Roland.... RIZZI~~~

Could this all be related to the importing of products being too cheap and easy? Im not all that political but it seems that there isnt enough of a tax against imported products of any kind so american companies have no real reason to actually want to make them here. I have heard that the cost of payroll to american workers is a factor here as well. But I cant say for sure what is the reason for this or that. But it just doesnt seem to be any real push being made to really get companies to actually stay in the USA for production.

There also isnt any real laws or enforcement towards products entering this country that are direct copies of american made products.

It just seems to me that the noose could stand to be tightened quite a bit against the encouragement of having products produced overseas.

I just recieved my ARP catalog and for anyone that may think the imported crapulance is worthwhile buying, Please read what they publish. This is all about quality and control of the quality materials. You do not have ot be a metalurgist to understand what good metal under a quality control / assurance program can turn out with proven reliability.

Buy American, the job you save may be your own. God Bless The USA.

Roland in NY

Roland,ARP? I THOUGHT IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY I SENT AN AARP CATALOG HA ! HA ! (MADE IN ROC) "RIZZI"