Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'm shopping around for front suspension components for my 2001 GS430 and many brands I've never even heard of make cheap replacement parts, that are cheaper than buying directly from Lexus. Are they bad or is the quality difference negligible?
Is there a stark difference in build quality? I'm wondering what are the exact differences between off brand parts and OEM parts in general.
From my understanding, nice aftermarket parts that are intended to be better than OEM spec tend to be made from stronger and lighter materials, and depending on the part, can be adjustable.
Is it worth paying more for direct-from-manufacture OEM parts?
Thanks for reading. :)
Edit: Thank you everyone for the in-depth responses. You guys and girls really helped me get a better idea of the varying quality of parts and how a lot of parts are outsourced from different brands. For example the spark plugs in the GS are made by Denso or NGK.
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