I guess we are back to the original question, are Motorcraft parts from the dealer worth the premium price or can aftermarket parts do just as well and save money. Back in the 70's, I would have said yes, but not any more. There are a lot of aftermarket parts that are just as good, or better, than the originals. Ever since this push to farm out parts to third party vendors started, you get a lot of stuff made in places without the quality standards we have come to expect. Even so, if it's too cheap, I would avoid it. The basic rule of you get what you pay for still applies. Over the last 5 years, I have gotten a lot of dealer parts that don't last as long as the original. Those of us that like working on cars and keeping them alive for 20-30 years begin to pick up on the change.
True on some levels but you just can't assume you get what you pay for and avoid the cheap things. By paying more and assuming you're getting better quality, you don't always.
This is exactly where research and especially Word of Mouth and forums exactly like this are your best resource.
The problem I have is people are so combative today that they won't even accept someone's description of their experiences in these areas as having actually happened.
People who have just an opinion on something with no real experience in the matter oh, like people who have never actually purchased a caliper or replace one themselves which there are many on these forums... Will try to negate other people's comments who have years of experience doing these things in person.
But, fortunately, a person can read through and ask questions and come up with their own better decision.
I'm into it right now with a guy over on the Lincoln forum because in his opinion it's bad advice to listen to me or anyone else who says the top thin metal alternator bracket that connects the one small 6 mm bolt to the alternator to the two small 6 mm bolts into the intake manifold, which was plastic on the original design. Doesn't need to be there.
I'm sure he only buys motorcraft oil and only puts Motorcraft Parts on his car and probably only takes it to the dealer. I doubt he's ever replace an alternator in his life but he opines repeatedly, that it wouldn't be there if the much more intelligent engineers at Ford didn't think it needed to be.
I simply made a comment to the original poster that the bracket was unnecessary anyways and most people don't install them or off in the end up in the trunk or at least not installed and it didn't make any difference one way or the other.
This is based on my experience of well over a thousand Fleet Town Cars and a good number of 5.4 + 6.8.
But, he dreamed up in his mind all sort of possible scenarios where he says the vibrations from the alternator and belt could cause the alternator mounting tabs on the bottom to crack or break off so therefore this extra support of this 1 6 mm bolt which is smaller than a drinking straw in diameter it's supposed to be needed.
He then goes on to make up a story that the vibrations are what caused the original plastic intake to crack which is absolutely false.
So he basically fear-mongers people into making them think they need the bracket or they might have it and alternator failure.
And by failure he only means it breaking the mounting ears off.
He has zero experience in any mounting ears breaking off alternators, because there is no experience this because basically doesn't happen.
But, as I said, people are combative and want to make up things when they don't have their own experience to have witnessed it for themselves.
I often get accused of being the same way or always having to have the last word. This is not the case. I don't have to have the last word but when I know I'm right, I'm right! I will continue to repeat my word over and over when someone tries to tell me it is not accurate.
That's not having the last word. That is standing up for what you know to be true.
