When to Buy Stock Parts or Go Custom

Using aftermarket or custom parts on your vehicle allows you to really make your vehicle your own, but there are some potential problems with them. In some cases, Original Equipment Manufacturer parts (OEM) are actually the best options for your vehicle. If you’re having trouble choosing between custom and OEM, here’s what you should know.

Why OEM Parts?

OEM parts are great for one big reason: you know what you’re getting. These parts come straight from the manufacturer, so you can be absolutely sure they’ll fit on your vehicle and will work well. Another bonus to using OEM parts is that your warranty will still be valid. But the only problem with OEM parts? They’ll never make the car perform better than it has before. If you want to upgrade your vehicle’s performance, OEM parts don’t make the cut.

Why Custom Parts?

People buy custom parts to take their car to another level, whether that means better performance, a flashier look, or a more amped-up sound system. Custom aftermarket parts are designed to push the limits of your vehicle’s performance, and they work best when paired with other custom parts. If you’re happy with your vehicle’s performance and appearance, you don’t need to add custom parts to your vehicle.

When to Do What

Think of your vehicle as a series of systems. This allows you to break down the process of deciding when to use custom vs. stock parts. These systems have several parts that all work together to help the car complete a function. Examples of these systems would be the brake system and the drivetrain. You could replace any part of the system with a custom part, but you probably don’t want to.

If you’re going to put custom parts in your vehicle, you want to replace the whole system. That way, you don’t have a custom part and an OEM part working together. Custom parts are meant to make your vehicle’s performance better, and if mixed with OEM parts, the added strain from the custom parts can cause problems.

Try to balance your vehicle as well. You don’t want to have an engine that’s too powerful for the suspension and brakes to handle.

Hubler Can Help

Trying to decide what to make custom, or why, involves some big decisions. Hubler Automotive wants to help. The service and parts departments can help you make the right decisions with your vehicle, and their custom vehicle specialists can help you with whatever you need.

Posted in Accessories, Accessories, Buying, DIY, Lifestyle, Maintenance, Shopping and tagged , , , , .