Not Made In China - Where is it made?

[Rally Pack 2000]

Im forever trying to source parts that are made with better quality standards that the cheaper rubbish thats made in China. So I thought I would start a thread where you can ask about quality alternatives made in other countries. A lot of the Firstline stuff seems to have gone Chinese.

Had a steering track end fail this week after only three years. So in my first post, anyone suggest a good Tie Rod End not made in you know where?

Feel free to post on this thread if you are searching for good alternatives.

[Dave Knight]

@Vista Estate mentioned there was an issue with the Fastline fuel pumps however, I think that’s been sorted. I’ve jinxed it now haven’t I, I’ve not long put  one on mine! 
 

A colleague at work used a 3-D printer for a part on his 96 BMW M3. I’ve seen a few stories like this about parts. Maybe that’s the way forward. 

[Rally Pack 2000]

I have been told by a seller that the Apec track ends are Made in Europe. he didnt specify where exactly so I wrote the company and will post again when I get a reply. They seem less expensive than the QH ones too. I use to love QH parts as my go too after market product they were always exceptional quality, however now that they merged with FirstLine basically selling the same parts in different boxes I am reluctant to continue to support them. Firstline Chinese cables are the worst I would never recommend them.

[Miniliteman]

Does your car have the std Mk2 TRE's or the RS2000 (green) type?

[Rally Pack 2000]

5 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

Does your car have the std Mk2 TRE's or the RS2000 (green) type?

Yes very easy to get caught out by that. Australian struts made by Armstrong have the large spring platform of European RS struts but have integral steering arms that take regular tie rod ends.

[Miniliteman]

What about FEBI / Bilstein? (made in Germany?). Gartrac always sold quality parts ask them where their TRE's are made.

[Rally Pack 2000]

On 05/10/2025 at 03:30, Miniliteman said:

What about FEBI / Bilstein? (made in Germany?). Gartrac always sold quality parts ask them where their TRE's are made.

I didnt know Bilstein made their own to be honest! I have been asking a few different companies where they are made and most are being really coy and evasive about it. The usual line is they they are made to original equipment standard. If that were true their Chinese rubber boots on them wouldn’t only last a couple of years. I think thats where the weakness lies in the Chinese ones. The metal parts may seem ok its the rubber boots and the Chinese cant make decent rubber pure and simple. Add that its squashed down when fitted it seems splits within 12 months and then the next year or so the weather gets in till it destroys itself.

Anyone know the Motorcraft part number for Mk2 Escort Tie Rod Ends?

[Rally Pack 2000]

I just saw Burtons listing theirs made by SKF? They are normally quality items and made in Europe aren’t they?

[Miniliteman]

SKF makes quality parts. But in today's world you never know where it is actually fabricated.

Motorcraft partno. is 5021411 / EBG2 . (Google Motorcraft EBG2)

[guido]

18 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

I just saw Burtons listing theirs made by SKF? They are normally quality items and made in Europe aren’t they?

for example , i have a Epiphone Sheraton Guitar made in Korea, under licence of Gibson, and they are good at quality. 

[Dave Knight]

I bought some rear bearings from SKF, not cheap but quality items. 

[Rally Pack 2000]

We were talking about TREs in this thread and notices this on Ebay? Does something seem odd about this listing?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/235875677264?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20220405142716%26meid%3Df546cf85bbd64503bab6ee8286460fdc%26pid%3D101506%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D277508667172%26itm%3D235875677264%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4481478%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWebWithV11WebTrimmedV3VisualRankerWithKnnV3AndUltBRecallAndCassiniEmbRecall%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p4481478.c101506.m1851

[Miniliteman]

TRE's are not handed?

Edit: the RH on the bag means RH thread.

Edited November 22, 2025 by Miniliteman

[Rally Pack 2000]

3 minutes ago, Miniliteman said:

TRE's are not handed?

Edit: the RH on the bag means RH thread.

Ahhhhhh that makes more sense! Arent they all right hand thread?

[Miniliteman]

1 hour ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Ahhhhhh that makes more sense! Arent they all right hand thread?

On some (newer) cars one has RH and the other LH thread I believe.

[Rally Pack 2000]

I just got some QH Track Control arms and I vaguely remember someone mentioning that some control arms are made in Turkey? The left and right appear to have been made in different places. The bushes are slightly different and one Side has a really tight ball joint and no securing wire on the rubber boot which is already coming off. Would this be one of the Turkish ones you guys talked about? If i remember they didnt get a favourable mention?

[Rally Pack 2000]

Im sure some may wonder why I am a harpee about avoiding Chinese made parts all the time. These control arms I bought locally for the equivalent of 25 quid each three years ago and the tie rod ends were 10 quid each all made in China. I couldn’t get bushes at the time that were cheaper than the complete arms themselves so went with it. But three years on only a weekender cars that pretty appalling. Chinese rubber as perishable as ever! On one tie rod end and one control arm the ball joint had failed completely. Since I got those the quality of Tie Rod Ends has dropped even further with only these alloy things with square ends available! Thanks to @Miniliteman for supplying me with some originals instead. I think you are lucky in the UK and Europe as you have more access to European aftermarket made parts where, since we no longer make anything here ourselves,  companies here always turn to China to replace anything and everything. As long as it lasts a year they dont care about any longevity beyond that.

[Johnny Boy]

If its just the rubber boots that failed, they are readily available. 

[Rally Pack 2000]

5 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

If its just the rubber boots that failed, they are readily available. 

I ordered some bushes with intent to reuse them but with the ball joint gone on one they both went into the bin.