Hi all,

The saying used to be "avoid buying gaskets or anything made of rubber" from factors.
Whilst the independent factors trade associations keep banging on about the fact that they sell OE quality parts, in many cases this simply isn't true.
Any good technician will know this. Most aftermarket exhausts just don't fit properly. Many of the igniton components, unless they are from a maker like Bosch,are often very poor quality. Most of the CV boots,steering rack boots and suspension bushes sold by independent factors don't come close to OE.
Even some of the companies that make OE seem to have a line of 2nd quality 'universal fit' parts such as wiper blades that often don't come with the correct fittings.
As for gaskets, well I can't think many independent brands that I would trust not to give me the big headache 'the comeback job'

Tom W