If you decide you want a truck as your primary means of conveyance, then perhaps you need it for work. There are also plenty of other benefits of having one. You have the space to drive several individuals around at once. You can load up on groceries or other supplies, and you have plenty of features to get you over uneven terrain or to keep you stable on slick roads.
If you’re going to get a truck, you need to know how the most crucial parts of it work. There are certain parts that trucks have that cars do not. You can stop by a local truck parts supplier if anything ever needs to be replaced, but your knowledge should probably be more substantial than that if you want to keep your vehicle in optimal condition.
With that in mind, we’ll take some time right now to talk about truck parts and some of the most common questions new owners ask about them. This information should come in handy as you get used to being the owner of one of these miracles of modern engineering.
Is It Ever Acceptable to Get Used Truck Parts?
One thing that you may notice once you’ve bought your truck and start using it on a daily basis is that when a part wears out, the replacement might be pretty pricey. Some parts will cost hundreds of dollars, while others will cost thousands.
You may not be eager to pay that much, and you might start thinking about used truck parts instead. It brings up the question of whether used truck parts are a viable alternative to brand-new ones.
The short answer is that sometimes it’s acceptable to buy used truck parts and to install them in your vehicle. That depends mostly on what it is you’re trying to replace.
Used truck parts that are carefully tested prior to installing them are sometimes okay. If you go that route, then the ones you might install are the alternator, transmission, power locks, mirrors, and windows.
What Parts of Trucks Most Often Need to Be Replaced?
If you get a truck for the first time, you might also want to know which parts of it are most likely to need to be replaced first. While that varies to some degree, there are some particular ones that are often high on the list for needing replacement.
First on the list is almost always tires. However, that is not unique to trucks. Cars will need frequent tire replacement as well.
The brakes will need replacing relatively often too. The clutch is another area you will want to pay attention to. The battery may need to be replaced every 3-5 years, depending on how much you are using the vehicle. The mirrors might need to be replaced if you’re working on construction sites or driving the truck in areas where rocks and other debris can fly up and crack them.
What Parts of Trucks Are Not Present in Cars?
Trucks are generally larger than cars, but that is not the only difference between them. Some truck owners want to know if there are parts that trucks have that cars don’t or if trucks are in any way built differently than cars.
The construction is most of what is different between trucks and cars. Trucks have what is called a “body-on-frame” construction, while cars have a “unibody” construction. Also, trucks have much heavier and more robust suspension systems than cars. This is to handle the weight of the truck and the bumps in the road.
Trucks generally have beds, which cars do not. They also have doors insulated with foam or other material, which is not the case with most cars.
What Parts of Trucks Are the Most Expensive to Replace?
Truck owners also frequently want to know what parts of their vehicles will potentially cost the most to replace. The engine has to be considered at the top of that list. If your engine fails, then you’ll need to replace it, and that will be an expenditure of thousands of dollars.
The transmission is an expensive part of the truck and will cost you thousands to replace. Repairs will often cost between $1K and $2K, while an entire assembly replacement will be more like $2K-$4K.
The airbags are also quite pricey. If they deploy, that will often damage them, and replacement will be in order. Expect to pay from $3K to $5K in such an instance.
What Truck Parts Need to Be Replaced the Least Frequently?
Assuming you don’t get in an accident, there are some truck parts that you can expect to last for many years, or perhaps you will never need to replace them at all. The chassis frame likely won’t ever need replacement. The leaf springs that are in the suspension system can easily last 20 years or more.
The engine block also won’t ever need replacement, unless the vehicle is totaled and wholesale damage occurs. All of these parts should be in perfect shape when your truck rolls off the assembly line and should still be okay after many years of even the heaviest use.
What Truck Part Companies Are the Most Trustworthy?
You might also want to know what truck part companies are the most reliable if it does turn out that you need to replace something. Just like in any industry, there are some names you might hear about that are almost always reputable and trustworthy.
Wilwood, FindItParts, TruckPro, and TamerX are all industry names with sterling reputations. You should also do fine with truck parts from S&S, Diesel USA, Automann, and Kalmar Ottawa.
Some of these make commercial truck parts, which will not be useful to you if you own a truck as a personal conveyance. If you don’t drive a commercial truck, most consumers swear by Napa Auto parts or the ones at Autozone. They generally only carry the most reputable brands, and they have helpful employees as well.
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