Rebuilding engine parts has become a cottage industry in many places around the world, be it China or Mexico or Indonesia, etc. It is not like years ago when the part would most likely be rebuilt locally, here in the US, at a shop that you could visit. Years ago, you did not hear of guys repeatedly exchanging their rebuilt part. Years ago, you did not hear of guys finding pure junk parts inside of the rebuilt part. Rebuilt parts are a huge industry today -and it is an industry that has largely left the US for the same reasons that many other jobs have left. Of course there are still some rebuild shops left in the US -but you have to find them. You have to be aware of the issue and you really need to ask about the pedigree of the parts you are taking. And, of course, there are some off-shore rebuilds that turn out ok. But in general, you need to know the track record of the rebuild shop or the brand. If you must go with a rebuild, do your research. The goal is to reduce the risk of needing another replacement. The warranty is fine as far as that goes, but you do not want to have to need the warranty. It is a sad fact that if something is rebuilt in China or Vietnam, it is not going to be of the same quality as something rebuilt in the USA or Japan. Nowadays, there are companies that used to have good reputations and they are riding those reputations while moving offshore. So the list constantly shrinks. And it is getting harder and harder to find a rebuild anything in which you can have confidence. Money is the name of the game these days and product quality has become a function of just how much money stockholders have to earn. An alternator is one example of a part that you should not save money on if your truck is your only vehicle. That is my opinion. Yes, it is a bias. All opinions are biased. Let the Lord judge me when the time comes.
