Aftermarket Parts
In the automotive industry, the term Aftermarket Parts can refer to any parts, accessories or pieces of equipment that are sold to the consumer after the vehicle is initially purchased from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Whether it’s a replacement part that needs to be installed after an accident, custom wheels and rims for looks, or high performance parts (such as a turbo kit) to improve speed and power, the car aftermarket encompasses a wide range of products that allow drivers to customize their vehicles.
One of the most popular portions of the aftermarket parts industry is the Car Audio segment – which includes the purchase of audio components and equipment to customize a vehicle’s sound system. Since most mass-produced vehicles come with only a basic car stereo setup, many audio enthusiasts will choose to upgrade their sound system with aftermarket car audio components such as advanced head units, high quality speakers, powerful amplifiers and booming subwoofers. Car owners who are interested in improving the audio system in their vehicle have a large variety of manufacturers and components to choose from.
Another area that car enthusiasts often turn to in order to customize their vehicles is the Performance Parts market. Performance parts can include any type of part or accessory that improves upon the performance capabilities of the car’s OEM parts. From engine performance parts such as turbochargers or superchargers that can improve power and performance, to exhaust systems and catalytic converters that can improve speed and acceleration, performance parts can greatly improve a car’s overall capabilities and features.
Car owners that are interested in enhancing the look, feel and aesthetics of the interior space in their car will often look to purchase aftermarket Interior Parts. Custom floor mats, auto gauges, shift knobs and steering wheels are all examples of interior parts that can either help spruce up a car’s interior or replace parts that have become old and worn out. Interior auto parts can be purchased either at retail stores or through dedicated online distributors.
While these are a few of the most popular aftermarket part categories, they are by no means all of them. The car aftermarket is as broad and varied as the types of cars on the road. So if you’re looking to purchase aftermarket parts for your car, start by doing some research to find out more about the types of parts that you are interested. Our extensive database of expert articles and advice will help explain each topic and allow you to sort through the wide selection of goods to find the parts and accessories that you need.
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Why You Should Buy 6.5-inch Car Speakers
Posted on April 17, 2015The first thing to do is to think about the possible limitations of your car’s sound system, and determine what is best for you. There are many places to find car speakers—the Internet, custom audio stores, manufacturers, etc. All of these options offer in-depth specifications regarding their available 6.5-inch car speakers but here are a […]
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How a Drivetrain System Works
Posted on October 7, 2013Automobiles are complex machines and you may have found yourself wondering at one point or another what exactly a drivetrain is and what the drivetrain parts are. This article will help give you a basic understanding of what the parts of the drivetrain are and how they work. Engine and Transmission The engine is what […]
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The Best Car Stereos Money Can Buy
Posted on October 7, 2013Your stereo is the centerpiece of your car’s audio entertainment system and can be one of the most important aftermarket decisions you make when you are customizing your car. If you’re in the market for a car stereo and want to get the most for your money, you’ll want to get a general idea of […]
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What Kind of an ECU Upgrade Does an Intake Require?
Posted on October 7, 2013An ECU upgrade is generally not required for a diesel engine, but an upgrade may be necessary if the intake creates a dramatic difference from your previous settings. All vehicles are different so it’s always good to check with the manufacturer of the intake system you purchase and let them know your make, model and […]
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Is a Cold Air Intake on a Diesel Engine More Efficient than on a Gas Engine?
Posted on October 7, 2013You really don’t need to perform an ECU update when you install a cold air intake in a diesel. Most diesels use a turbo, and turbos circulate their own air supply which provides consistent warm air into the engine. Because a cold air intake cycles air through the engine in a similar fashion, your ECU […]
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What are a Few Backpressure Reducing Exhaust Systems?
Posted on October 7, 2013The word backpressure, in an exhaust system, is the amount of reverse pressure, or resistance to flow of the exhaust gases, imparted by the various exhaust components. The less backpressure there is in your exhaust system, up to a point, the better your engine will work. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this. […]
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Do Street Racing Tires Increase or Decrease Your MPG?
Posted on October 7, 2013Street racing tires have different rubber compounds and tread designs than standard passenger car street tires. High performance tires are designed to increase high speed stability and cornering capability. Street racing tires generally only affect the fuel mileage you’ll receive, because most people will tend to drive their car harder if they have high performance […]
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What Does a Performance Exhaust Header Do to Gas Mileage?
Posted on October 7, 2013A performance exhaust header takes the place of your car’s original equipment exhaust manifold. A regular exhaust manifold is very restrictive to exhaust flow. Restricted exhaust flow limits the amount of horsepower that your car’s engine is able to produce. Performance headers are designed to maximize the amount of exhaust flow from the cylinders into […]
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Does Having an Intake and Exhaust Improve Your MPG?
Posted on October 7, 2013Every car’s engine requires intake and exhaust manifolds. Your car’s engine is basically nothing more than an air pump. This means that the more air you can flow in and out, the more efficient you can make it, and the more work you can get out of it. Replacing the stock intake and exhaust manifolds […]
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Is there a Way to Program an ECU for Better Gas Mileage?
Posted on October 7, 2013Everybody is looking for ways to get better gas mileage from their cars. As gas prices climb towards and above $4 a gallon, this search for better mileage is reaching into ECU program modifications. There are a few different ways to accomplish this. You can program the ECU to allow more air into the cylinders, […]
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What Does Running Too Lean Mean?
Posted on October 7, 2013If your engine is running too lean, it isn’t burning enough gas for the amount of air that is being drawn into it. When your engine runs too lean, it also runs too hot. When your engine runs too hot, it runs less efficiently. Running too lean can also cause the exhaust valves in the […]
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Who Makes a Reliable Electronic Fuel Injection System?
Posted on October 7, 2013The first electronic fuel injection system was installed on an Alfa-Romeo in 1940. The first electronic fuel injection system that was available commercially was the Electrojet system, developed for the 1957 Rambler Rebel as an additional option, by the Bendix Corporation. Since then, there have been many different makers of fuel injection systems that are […]
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When are 5 Point Harness Seat Belts Necessary?
Posted on October 7, 20135 point harness seat belts are the fanciest and safest type of seatbelt available for your high performance vehicle or race car. However, they’re expensive and they require special mounting procedures. The question of whether or not to use them for some people lies in how they want to use their car. If you’re going […]
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Does Car Amp Placement Matter?
Posted on October 7, 2013Car amp placement is extremely important. Because the amp puts out so much heat, it needs to have proper cooling and ventilation around it at all times. Improper ventilation can lead to your amp overheating and shutting the sound system down. In extreme cases an amp can cause enough heat to ignite a fire in […]
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Is it Legal to do an Engine Swap?
Posted on October 7, 2013Maybe you’re looking for more horsepower and speed, or just looking to replace a blown motor, and you’re considering an engine swap. Your biggest question is whether or not it’s legal to swap motors on vehicles. In many states, the answer to this is yes. Some states say yes, but as long as the engine […]
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What Are Some Basic Car Amp Accessories?
Posted on October 7, 2013Car amp accessories are extremely popular in the custom world. They allow the owner to take their sound system to the next level. There are a variety of accessories that can be used to add a great visual appeal and functionality to the system. Capacitors are popular because they enable the sound system to be […]
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What Are Multi Channel Car Amps Used For?
Posted on October 7, 2013Multi channel car amps are best suited for higher performance sound systems and vehicles with significant amounts of after market accessories. A higher performance sound system usually includes mid-to-high range speakers. High range speakers can include all forms of automotive speakers, such as subs, tweeters, door speakers and anything else installed in a vehicle. Additional […]
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What is a Reliable Car Audio Control Unit?
Posted on October 7, 2013Basing this response on consumer reviews, a reliable car audio control unit is the Pioneer DEH 50UB, which has received an average of five stars on a review website called Dooyoo, with the lowest rating coming in at four stars. It ranks highly on appearance, reliability, gains marks for being compatible with mp3 players (including […]
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What is the Best Audio Input Type?
Posted on October 7, 2013The best audio input device is the connection from the iPod line out to the car stereo line in. You can buy a connector that can carry audio signals from the line out of the iPod to the line in of the stereo. This allows you to hear your favorite tunes on the car stereo […]
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What is the Difference Between Shocks and Struts?
Posted on October 7, 2013You’ve heard quite a bit of talk about them, but nobody has yet to give you a good interpretation of the difference between shocks and struts. You understand they’re both suspension components that dampen suspension oscillation. You also understand that most newer cars have struts in front, and shocks in the back. With a shock […]
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Who Makes a Reliable Polyurethane Bushing Kit?
Posted on October 7, 2013When you want the ultimate in suspension bushing performance, you want to install a polyurethane bushing kit. Polyurethane bushings are less susceptible to damage from temperature extremes than regular rubber bushings. They also have less give, and are less likely to squeak than rubber. Polyurethane bushing kits can be purchased anywhere you buy performance automotive […]
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How Do You Restore a Car’s Original Suspension Geometry?
Posted on October 7, 2013When a mechanic talks about suspension geometry, he or she is talking about the components that are used to steer the car. This includes tie rod ends, center links, idler arms, pitman arms, steering gear boxes, and rack and pinion units. If your car has had a performance handling alignment performed or maybe a performance […]
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What Is Unique About a Rally Car Engine?
Posted on October 7, 2013A rally car engine is basically the same engine you can find in a production model version of the car being raced, with some minor differences. The biggest is that these engines produce much larger quantities of power. This is accomplished by using much higher boost pressures, larger pistons and valves, and other minor modifications […]
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How Tuneable Are OEM Engine Computer Chips?
Posted on October 7, 2013In your car’s engine computer, chips hold the programming data that the computer uses to interpret input signals and control output devices. If you have the proper equipment and knowledge, the programming on the main chip in your car’s computer, the PROM, can be changed to improve performance and economy. The easiest way to tune […]
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Will Adding Anti-Sway Bars Make My Car Handle Better?
Posted on October 7, 2013Most cars come from the factory with at least front anti–sway bars. Anti-sway bars are designed to limit the amount of sway, or roll induced into the body of your car during radical maneuvering. This is accomplished through torsional stresses induced into the sway bar by the forces the car undergoes during cornering. The thicker […]
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How Expensive Is an ECU Reflash?
Posted on October 7, 2013You’ve gone through all the bolt-on parts that can be used to boost engine performance and now you think it’s time to consider an ECU reflash. In older engine computers, in order to change the programs that ran in the computer to manage the engine, you had to remove the chip and install a new […]
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What Does Running Too Rich Mean?
Posted on October 7, 2013If your engine is running too rich, you’re wasting gas and creating problems for your engine and exhaust system. Running rich will also increase the output of polluting hydrocarbons from your engine. If your engine is running too rich, you can end up damaging your catalytic converter, which will require an expensive repair to replace. […]
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What Do Close Ratio Gears Do to Performance?
Posted on October 7, 2013One way that transmissions are classified is as either wide ratio or close ratio gears. Wide ratio gears are defined as gears that have a larger difference in gear ratios between them. As an example, a transmission with a 4:1 ratio in first and a 2:1 ration in second would be considered to be of […]
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What Is a Good Stand Alone Fuel Management System?
Posted on October 7, 2013A stand alone fuel management system controls the fuel delivery to your vehicle’s engine. Most of these systems are designed to increase the horsepower and torque that your engine can produce. Many companies make fuel management systems. One of these is Engine Management System, the makers of high performance engine fuel management systems. Another company […]
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Is Performance Increased With the Addition of a Short Shifter?
Posted on October 7, 2013Many automotive performance enthusiasts will install a performance short shifter in their car. This will look better than the boring stock shifter and make it easier to shift, because the shifter is shorter. A shorter shifter requires a shorter throw when changing gears. This isn’t going to increase the horsepower or torque produced by your […]
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