Ok, I'll byte, so where/how exactly do you determine where to buy all your stuff? Don't leave us hanging.

 

I buy 99.999% of everything from RockAuto and I tend to buy the cheapest parts I can. I have had great luck with everything and I save a ton! My Mazda 6 is full of no-name China parts and I have been putting them in my Durango as well. I have put over 40K KM on my Mazda and I am VERY hard on that car. I used RA brakes and shocks (cheapest) in the Durango, no issues and they are performing great to boot!

EDIT: I just realized I did not even answer the question. Honestly, I forgo brand names no matter where I buy parts and I tend to go with the cheapest possible.

 

Just got off the phone with Cardone and Amazon, and apparently I get a mostly do-over. I called Cardone and said, 'Amazon said I should call Cardone'. I had not called Amz though, thought if I said I did that might get Cardone to handle it directly, less ping-pong. Getting no joy on that initial Cardone call, I called Amz and told them Cardone said to do so (truth this time). Amz said, nope, should be handled by Cardone, but since you're a Prime member and the problem started within 1 yr of purchase, we'll give you a partial refund and free shipping back. I paid Amz $161 and the refund is $130. That $130 is in addition to the $90 rebate I got last year, so returning this one would basically put $220 in my pocket with no core available for any new purchase.

So, I'm trying to decide what to do next. The options are...
1) If I can figure what seal it is, I can hopefully swap it, since the top of the rack at the steering wheel input is somewhat easy access as is.
2) Swap in another full unit, but which one (am leaning toward a local purchase, likely O'Reilly or NAPA). I have a week to get the Cardone unit to UPS for shipping to Amz.

[EDIT: I bought a rebuilt unit from NAPA, along with a filter. It was more bucks and I'm disappointed in how Cardone handled this, so I decided to go local. More bucks, but less stress.

 

Good choice. For the most part, I prefer to source parts of that nature locally, so if there IS a problem, I can walk into the store, and speak to a real human being, that generally has english as their FIRST language.....

 

I buy these type of parts locally too. Advance sells the Cardone racks as rebuilt and new units, however new is a ridiculous $560 while rebuilt is around $190 after core charge. You do get limited lifetime warranty though, so if it goes bad at any time, you get a replacement. Back in the day, I used to have a 30% discount code with them and I made out like a bandit for years with the free ship to store deals. Better prices than Rock Auto by far, at the time. Nowdays, the best I can get is 25% whenever they offer it (they have it on now). You should see their faces when I pull out a 5 year receipt and ask for an exchange. LOL

 

I've been buying from the local advance store for decades. They know who I am when I walk in the door. Even new people.... (which I find somewhat disturbing.....) They have my computer records dating back to the first spark plug I bought there..... So, saving receipts isn't a requirement, but, it does make life easier.

I don't get quite that much of a discount.... (usually 10 to 15%, "Smiling customer discount", because I always ask for it. ) But, I still find their pricing is usually better than RA, as I don't have to pay for shipping, and of late, they have been price matching RA... Convenient.

 

Yeah. If you have a login, you will always have a receipt available for online purchases. I still PDF that and any in-store receipts, which I organize into folders by car. All my maintenance records are digitized with details, dates and mileage noted in the file name. That means no wondering when something was last done, no searching for faded receipts if warranty is needed and no paper clutter.

 

It's a whole different world buying parts up here in Canada. I am American, moved to Canada 15 yrs ago. I worked for Autozone for 3yrs as a manager before we moved up here. I was in total shock when I went into an autoparts store and found out they mark everything up at least 30%, usually more. Also, some things cannot even be sourced in Canada that are readily available in the US. It's a real **** show.

I do prefer to walk into a store as it makes returns far easier, but I have done a few with RA and never a problem. I't usually not worth the trouble to ship cores back as they make you pay return shipping so I tend to only buy new when I can.

 

Cardone unit is out, NAPA rebuild is in, new return hoses done, with filter added. Rod end adjustment has steering wheel centered when going straight and toe adjustment done to spec. Oh, and no dripping so far, yay. Only thing left is to put the Cardone into the NAPA box and ship it out (on their nickle). Side note...this used to be easier, birthdays take a toll (had #73 last week).

 

I hear ya. I'm *only* 58.... but, the MS complicates matters in a major way.... I just can't do that lay on the floor, get up, grab tools, lay on the floor, get up, grab something else...... any more. Not to mention I can't work above my head either...... I start to lose feeling in my arms.... so, about 5 minutes at a stretch is the best I can do.......