Exhaust manifold gaskets & manifold nuts

[Adam_NAclubman]

Would I bet better off going to a Mazda RipOff... sorry Spare Parts Desk or to a Repco to get an exhaust manifold gasket? Every time I've gone to a Mazda dealer they've had to order whatever it is in, even belts, but Repco seem to keep heaps of weird stuff in stock. Would there be any difference in quality between them?

[SuperMazdaKart]

spose they're saving every cent they can by not stocking parts that don't move much.

i enquired about a front crankshaft oil seal at a dealer days ago, $60 ordered in! i don't think so!! bought one from mx5parts.co.uk for $10 AU.

you could also buy sheets of the cork gasket stuff, then cut it out to much the gasket your replacing.

[Adam_NAclubman]

$81 off the shelf at Repco

[manga_blue]

I bought an NA8 one from Mazda last year. Good quality (stainless sandwich), excellent fit and about $25 from memory. It pays to be a good club member.

[Adam_NAclubman]

Ok, sounds like I got ripped on the gasket then lol


Exhaust manifold nuts... Are they specific to our studs or are they all pretty much the same? Repco or do I have to go to Mazda?

[Speedyblue]

you could also buy sheets of the cork gasket stuff, then cut it out to much the gasket your replacing.

Cork wouldn't last long as a manifold gasket, but you can get the proper stainless sandwich stuff in a sheet. It'd be a bugger to cut to shape though so you'd be better off just buying the right one to start with. I find that repco are usually dear as sin for most parts and usually use autobarn or super-cheap auto's, but I'm usually buying nissan stuff so it's pretty common...

[Mr Morlock]

Q was- is OEM the same as aftermarket? Gaskets which are cut / punched are generally not expensive to tool up. Soft materials ( such as cork or foam gaskets) are made from dies inserted with printers rule and can be made and supplied to a manufacturer in a few days. You will find that any part which is expensive to tool up ( eg an OEM headlamp)will be inferior as a copied product as the maker will take many shortcuts. Burson's appears to me to be a more serious supplier of replacement products for OEM and you can always talk to the salespeople for some feedback . Someone mentioned studs or nuts. My advice be careful as many fasteners offered as non oe are not the best quality. OE fasteners are made to spec- your local bolt joint and certainly Bunnings can be second rate rubbish. Ultimately we all use some non OE parts many without problems ( eg oil filters) but you do need to consider what you are buying and how critical it might be.