Chinese clutch kit or not? - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

johndoe · 2010-11-25, 02:04 PM

Finally noticed my Napa clutch kit was a Chinese made
product after sitting in my garage for over a year. I relayed
my concern with the guy behind the parts counter and said
they are just as good as oem. He did say if I had the receipt
I can return the set.

Background
kit is going in a 98 Forestor all stock, i am not looking for
any performance upgrades on the car just reliability.

My hunch is the guy at Napa is on the pipe?

Dean · 2010-11-25, 05:08 PM

All the best Japanese parts come from China.

It is probably fine and much less expensive than OEM. If you don't have the receipt, put it in, if you do, price out the OEM before even considering returning it.

johndoe · 2010-11-25, 06:10 PM

I do have the reciept guess I will see what they want for oem.

Thanks for the response

AtomicLabMonkey · 2010-11-28, 06:50 AM

Chinese-made does not necessarily mean it will be crap. You generally get what you pay for there, just like here. Even the OE replacement parts you get from Subaru might be made in China. The problem with parts store replacements is that depending on the brand, they might not be manufactured to the same kinds of standards as OE parts. So it can be hit or miss.

johndoe · 2010-11-28, 11:38 AM

Thanks for the insight I appreciate it.

ScottyS · 2010-11-29, 10:29 AM

I actually put a NAPA clutch in my turbo Legacy when I swapped to a cable transmission - a clutch for N/A cars. I started building the HP up over the next 20,000mi and (once properly broken in, heheh), it has never given trouble. I could get it to slip if I spooled and dropped the hammer in 2nd, but I don't drive it like that. I recently had a look at it, and the clutch is still fine, after the 20k.

I very well may go back to the hydraulic tranny on the next motor swap, but I can't say that the NAPA clutch was worse than expected, or even bad.

johndoe · 2010-11-29, 04:29 PM

After much deliberation I will be keeping the Napa kit.
I have been looking at the kit in my garage for so long
it's allmost like family.

Thanks for the help

2010-11-25, 02:04 PM	#1
johndoe n00b Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dayton Posts: 6 Car: 98 forester	Chinese clutch kit or not? Finally noticed my Napa clutch kit was a Chinese made product after sitting in my garage for over a year. I relayed my concern with the guy behind the parts counter and said they are just as good as oem. He did say if I had the receipt I can return the set. Background kit is going in a 98 Forestor all stock, i am not looking for any performance upgrades on the car just reliability. My hunch is the guy at Napa is on the pipe?

2010-11-25, 05:08 PM	#2
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	All the best Japanese parts come from China. It is probably fine and much less expensive than OEM. If you don't have the receipt, put it in, if you do, price out the OEM before even considering returning it. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2010-11-28, 06:50 AM	#4
AtomicLabMonkey Nightwalker Real Name: Austin Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oshkosh, WI Posts: 4,063 Car: '13 WRX YGBSM	Chinese-made does not necessarily mean it will be crap. You generally get what you pay for there, just like here. Even the OE replacement parts you get from Subaru might be made in China. The problem with parts store replacements is that depending on the brand, they might not be manufactured to the same kinds of standards as OE parts. So it can be hit or miss. __________________ "None of you seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you.. you're locked in here with me."

2010-11-29, 10:29 AM	#6
ScottyS EJ205 Real Name: It is real! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: RNO Posts: 2,367 Car: 1998 Impreza Wagon, 1991 Legacy Turbo Sedan, 2003 Nissan Xterra Class: tvFree Yes, I'll fix it for you. Again.	I actually put a NAPA clutch in my turbo Legacy when I swapped to a cable transmission - a clutch for N/A cars. I started building the HP up over the next 20,000mi and (once properly broken in, heheh), it has never given trouble. I could get it to slip if I spooled and dropped the hammer in 2nd, but I don't drive it like that. I recently had a look at it, and the clutch is still fine, after the 20k. I very well may go back to the hydraulic tranny on the next motor swap, but I can't say that the NAPA clutch was worse than expected, or even bad. __________________ "Trend Number One is that people aren't getting any smarter." Dogbert Last edited by ScottyS; 2010-12-08 at 02:31 PM.

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2010-11-25, 06:10 PM	#3
johndoe n00b Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dayton Posts: 6 Car: 98 forester	I do have the reciept guess I will see what they want for oem. Thanks for the response

2010-11-28, 11:38 AM	#5
johndoe n00b Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dayton Posts: 6 Car: 98 forester	Thanks for the insight I appreciate it.

2010-11-29, 04:29 PM	#7
johndoe n00b Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dayton Posts: 6 Car: 98 forester	After much deliberation I will be keeping the Napa kit. I have been looking at the kit in my garage for so long it's allmost like family. Thanks for the help