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Noticed how much thinner replacement panels are now compared to 15 years ago
I was working on a 2005 F-150 the other day, fitting a new fender from a major parts supplier. Holding it next to the old factory one, I could see the metal was maybe 20% thinner. Back when I started in this trade around 2008, the aftermarket stuff was usually pretty close to OEM in gauge. Now it feels like they are shaving weight anywhere they can to save on shipping costs, and you can hear it when you tap on the panel. The new panel also had way more flex to it, which makes me worry about long term durability for customers. Has anyone else noticed the same thing with recent replacement parts from different brands?
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eric_carr3d ago
Actually I've been seeing the opposite lately. The cheaper economy line stuff from some brands is thinner sure, but the mid tier and OEM replacement parts have actually gotten better in my experience. I picked up a capa certified quarter panel for a 2012 Civic last month and it was actually thicker than the factory piece I had sitting next to it. The stamping quality was cleaner too with less warping around the edges. I think a lot of it depends on where you buy from and which specific part number you're getting. The big name parts suppliers have been upgrading their tooling and QC because they got tired of returns and bad reviews. Maybe you just got a bad batch or an older part from before they improved their process.
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