Should I Install An Aftermarket Clutch On My Toyota Truck?
When buying a replacement part for your Toyota, you might think that an aftermarket part is a viable alternative. This is almost never a good idea. Even if it looks the same, a non-genuine part is never going to offer the same level of quality and performance as an OEM component.
When it comes to complex parts like your clutch, choosing to go aftermarket can cost you more time and money. The Car Care Nut goes into detail on this topic as he explains what happened to a customer that didn’t fit an OEM clutch to his 1997 Toyota T100.
Why Would You Consider An Aftermarket Part?
- Assumption that aftermarket parts are cheaper
- Expecting that an aftermarket part will do the same job
- Apparent lack of OEM parts on older vehicles
- Modifying the vehicle from its original specifications
In the majority of cases, people choose aftermarket parts because they think that this is the cheaper route. As the Car Care Nut explains in his video, some aftermarket parts can actually cost more than an OEM equivalent. In the case of this Toyota T100, every original clutch component aside from the flywheel was cheaper than the aftermarket item.
Aftermarket parts are often generic items built down to a price. They do not need to meet strict Toyota manufacturing standards and do not come with a Toyota parts warranty. An OEM part is built to the exact same specifications as the original part fitted to your vehicle. This ensures that it will fit and work exactly as intended. Fitting an aftermarket part may see you replacing it far sooner, costing you way more time and money.
"The clutch that was previously replaced on this truck was only 1,000 miles old."
- The Car Care Nut
In certain cases, there may not be an OEM part available for very old Toyota models. This is what the owner assumed was the case with his 1997 T100 truck. As the Car Care Nut explains, you must to check the pricing and availability of an OEM part before resorting to an aftermarket solution.
Unfortunately, the T100 owner didn’t do this and assuming that no OEM part was available, had a racing clutch fitted instead. The result was a very grabby clutch pedal and a truck that was almost undrivable.
"If you are doing it for drag racing applications, this is the clutch you want to go with."
- The Car Care Nut
Clearly, this part was completely unsuitable for an old truck that was only ever intended for street use. If you are looking to modify your Toyota for track use or something that it wasn’t intended to do from the factory, then that is the only time you should consider these kinds of components. And before you do that, check out Toyota’s extensive range of TRD performance parts that have been factory tested and come with a TRD parts warranty.
"When it comes to clutches, always go OEM because the last the longest and work exactly as they should."
- The Car Care Nut
OEM Parts From Olathe Toyota Are Guaranteed To Fit And Work Perfectly
Image Credit: The CarCareNut
The Car Care Nut recommends OEM replacement parts. As this video clearly shows, using aftermarket components can end up being more expensive than choosing OEM. His client ended up with a nearly undrivable truck, thanks to fitting the wrong parts.
"This customer, within a thousand or two thousand miles is paying for two clutches. It is not fair."
- The Car Care Nut
Don’t let this happen to you, choose genuine OEM Toyota and TRD Performance parts from Olathe Toyota Parts Center. Check out some popular parts for the Toyota T100 here.
As part of a Toyota dealership centrally located in Kansas City, we carry a huge supply of parts. We back every part we sell with a manufacturer warranty. We ship quickly to both the East and West coasts. Use our free online VIN lookup to be sure you're ordering the right suspension components - and order today.