Has anybody bought parts from Rock Auto?

Only RockAuto related issue I've had was I ended up buying the same parts twice because I started ordering parts before I had full assessed how toast my diff was. Definitely my fault though.

If it means anything I have 5 of their magnets on the fridge next to my AutoZone schedule.

I have about a dozen magnets. Got a duplicate TR3 that I'll trade! :)

I've also had good experience. Only clinker I got was ordering a fan belt that was a "private label closeout". It was so old that it broke when I bent it. It was only $5 including shipping, so it went in the trash.

I order all my air and oil filters, wipers and other consumables from them. Also rotors and pads, etc.

Needed a fuel pump for my truck, and they had a brand new fuel tank with pump installed for about $30 more than local places had for just the pump! On a 20 year old truck, it was a no brainer.

I ordered it at 4:30pm on a Monday, and it was on my porch Thursday at noon.

I used to, but Amazon prime has slowly taken over. It's the shipping. And with prime it's here so fast....

Joey

I used them when it was my only choice, for a power steering hose, for an LS F-Body.

So I use both. I will say the search on Amazon is horrible, the number of fba sellers selling garbage has grown and it seems like the ebayfacation is happening. If you can find what you want the shopping is fast and the service is impeccable.

So interesting side note, I interviewed with the Amazon automotive retail team when I was looking for a change internal to Amazon. These people had no clue about the automotive market, no idea what cars were, didn't know how to fix cars, and weren't receptive to my ideas to make the automotive sections more friendly to people who actually buy parts. Since they knew I had auto experience from my engineering days they were impressed and wanted me to join. I wasn't interested. They really weren't interested in the consumer, just how much they could squeeze suppliers to lower costs on whatever parts the suppliers told them would sell. I wasn't impressed and declined the offer as it would lead to frustration.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Discount code Keep an eye on shipping prices.

This, they drop shipped some stuff from a different vendor and the shipping charges were outrageous. They could have stuck the parts in a padded envelope and mailed them for $2, or sent them Fed Ex for $15

I've bought from them a couple dozen times - I have a good collection of magnets. You do have to use some care when picking brands - some are much better than others and worth the price. Also shipping can get expensive when you're picky about the brand, but it usually still works out cheaper than the local NAPA.

Never had a bad experience. The only negative is that some brands just rebadge from the same suppliers - I've gotten different parts from the same brand with the same part number. At the local parts counter I can look before I buy.

Pretty much the only way I buy parts unless it's something hard to find.

Everything depends on the database.....

The only problem I've ever had was one that appears to be a database error. On some Toyota models with the 4AGE engine, they list a valve spring... the spring is NOT for a 4AGE, but a 4AC....

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,1987,mr2,1.6l+l4,1276781,engine,valve+spring,5792

They are Ok, as long as it's NOT for your daily driver or if you have the time to send the part back and wait for the correct one to arrive when mistakes are made on their end (or yours).

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I paid EXTRA $$ for two SKF brand wheel bearings (over the no name AutoZone crap) When they arrived, one was SKF as expected the other was the same China crap as AutoZone. Yeah they said they would refund the $$ but I needed it the next day(Friday) to do weekend repair. To get it when I needed it, I would have to buy other one again AND pay for Next Day shipping (big $$) I have NEVER used them since.

I use them. I believe that their success is more a function of the local stores being so bad rather than rock auto being good.

I have bought from them a number of times. I also use their catalog to do reverse lookups to see which vehicles share the same parts for when I go hunting at the pick-a-part.

I've used them at least a dozen times, with only one wrong part. It was a seal that the part number was one digit off from the right one. They sent me the correct one free and never asked for the wrong one back.

I've had great luck with them. In many, many orders over the years, the only issue was a brake grease packet had a leak and leaked onto a pad. They sent a new set of pads, with no issue.

I plan most of my work ahead of time and try to pre-order everything. Amazon Prime is becoming a viable competitor, but they don't seem to have the breadth and depth of inventory that Rock Auto has.

TenToeTurbo wrote: I have bought from them a number of times. I also use their catalog to do reverse lookups to see which vehicles share the same parts for when I go hunting at the pick-a-part.

PartsAmerica (AdvanceAuto and 3 other chains) used to have the best free interchange database on the web. OreillyAuto bought out the other 3 chains and one of them owned the database, so Oreilly has it now. I seldom buy anything from Oreilly, but when you look at parts online, there's a tab called "compatibility" that lists other vehicles that use the same part. Just in case you don't know, AdvanceAuto absorbed the old Western Auto brand, and recently merged (purchased) CarQuest. AdvanceAuto, Autozone, OreillyAuto all carry the same stuff.

I also buy from RockAuto anytime I have the luxury of planning ahead for a job.

I've used them before, and will do so again. Even with shipping to Australia they can be very well priced.

I have bought numerous parts from them. Only issue I had was getting a rear anti-sway bar link for my Miata. Only needed one. The catalog had the right and left reversed. No issues with returning but the replacement was wrong too so I just ordered the other side and got the correct one. Ended up replacing both just because I had both. Never could get them to fix the catalog. Have ordered from them since then and no issues. Will most likely order from them again.

According to my refrigerator, ive used them 25 times but thats just the magnets I remembered to keep. Only one return and that was my fault, still no problem to swap them out.

I've used them quite a bit, and in general I am quite happy with my purchases. I have noted some issues with parts listing and interchange if you are picky about OE fit. I would say that on Toyota stuff it probably pays to have some experience/idea of what you are looking for. Since my car is a 1985 Corolla, I select the specifics of my car through Corolla, such as DOHC 1.6, coupe, (which is RWD with a stick axle, BTW) and then their catalog still shows me all kinds of parts for my car like CV joints, front driveshafts, rear brake drum parts (even though the twincam coupe were all 4-wheel-disc brake,) rear door trim, etc, etc. I know that Toyota had two Corolla platoforms, including FWD models, but if they are going to show everything "Corolla" as fitting cars built on two completely different platforms, why go through the charade of selecting a sub-model?

I recently ordered a starter, and it fits, as-in it bolts to the bellhousing, plugs into the harness, and engages the ring gear...but...even though I used the part number of the old starter, it doesn't fit in the same way. I unbolted the old starter and snaked it out between the header, the firewall, and the steering column. I searched via the part number on the starter, ordered one and ended up with a considerably bigger one as a replacement. I tried to install and couldn't get past the header. It ended up requiring that I remove the headers, distributor, and had me contemplating pulling the steering column as well before finally wiggling it in there. Yes, it "fits," and it does "interchange," but man, what a hassle!

But the prices are good, the shipping is quick, and the shopping is easy, so I can't really complain.

When I was racing I used them weekly for front end parts and wheel bearings as I would carry at least 4 extras for other racers to buy from me at the track after they got bent up...

I've only had one problem with a part and they shipped me a new fuel pump next day delivery at no extra cost. No, it didn't cover the 12 hours labor to redo the job but the job got done and quickly.

Still use them today, in fact, I bought a load of parts last week for my Cobalt that sounds like there's a Cessna under the hood from a bad wheel bearing unit.

I buy all my parts from either Rock Auto, Advance (with the 30% off code and store pickup) or Amazon Prime. I've ordered countless times from Rock Auto. Like others have said, watch the shipping. Group parts together to get them to ship from the same place to avoid massive shipping costs.

I will usally try my local small store to keep my money local, I try to avoid the big 3 Box Stores at all cost, Then its Rock Auto at a last resort.

They are based out of Madison, WI so they are (semi-)local to me!

They are the first place I look, but I usually use their parts listings with a grain of salt. It's helpful to look at the other vehicles that use the part to determine if it's the upgraded version of a brake rotor or not, for example.

I'll usually check Amazon afterwards to see if my Prime can get it shipped cheaper, however.

I've bought from them many times with no problems. The prices for my Plymouth Champ parts were so low they were comical. I bought parts I didn't need yet just because they were so ridiculously cheap!