Can I Use Aftermarket Parts on My Semi Truck?

You’ve just been gobsmacked by handling a big rig breakdown, and all you can do is stand there and goggle at 25,000 pounds of dead weight. A single tear falls as you wonder whether to resuscitate your rig or write a eulogy. An agonizing sigh escapes as you cringe at the presumed expense.

Thoughts of alternative hustling options burst into your mind, but none of them seem as fruitful as your trucking venture. Then it hits you: aftermarket products might save the day, but can you use them?

Can You Use Aftermarket Products on Your Semi-Truck?

Absolutely. You can use any well-fitting products to repair your semi. Whether they’ll resurrect your truck is the question you should ask. It’s not always mandatory to buy OEM parts to get a quality experience, but you must pick your products wisely.   

1. All parts are not of the same caliber. 

A copycat of an original item isn’t always better, even if it’s much more affordable. Many bootleg aftermarket manufacturers emulate the original equipment and engineer their products to perform like the authentic prototypes. But the DNA doesn’t quite match, and the copied versions sometimes miss the vital components that give the engine life.

You’ll save a few dollars, but your semi will have the same problem a month later. Worse yet, your truck will reject the aftermarket product and not run at all. 

Then your business’s reputation will suffer because you chose to cut corners and pinch pennies. That’s not to say that all aftermarket products are no-gos, but you must be mindful when you shop.  

2. Aftermarket purchases require research.

You can find high-standard aftermarket parts if you invest time in researching the available products. The top factors to consider are:

Build Status

You need to know whether the part you’re buying is remanufactured or rebuilt. A rebuilt part is the same as the original with an inserted or repaired component. A remanufactured product is a completely disassembled and reassembled piece. 

Consumer Reviews

Consumer reviews are the most reliable resource for gauging product quality. Read as many of them as possible and get information from at least three different sources. 

Minimum Production Standards

Find out the minimum production standards in the country where the manufacturers craft the parts. That will set your expectations of their quality. 

Warranties and Guarantees

Find out if the aftermarket manufacturer offers any warranties or guarantees for its products. If the company backs them up with confidence, you can feel a little more at ease. 

3. The vehicle’s age matters. 

The truck’s manufacture date should factor into your purchasing choices. Pricey OEM parts are more suitable for newer vehicles and sturdy older vehicles because of their precise match. Their perfect fit can almost guarantee long-lasting functionality and performance. Thus, the additional expense is well justified.

Aftermarket products might be more appropriate for a truck if you don’t expect it to live much longer. In that case, spending a heap of money doesn’t make sense when measured against the vehicle’s expected life span. Quality aftermarket items can get your rig up and running for the last lap while you prepare to purchase a newer model. 

The most effective semi truck repair tips and tricks are: 

• Research before you buy
• Compare the products
• Check the origin

Using those strategies will help you get the most out of the aftermarket products you buy for your rig.  

Categorised in: Semi Truck Maintenance

This post was written by admin