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mrinnovation1
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2025
Posts: 297
Location: IL
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 Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 8:19 am Post subject: Re: Huge News |
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| tencentlife wrote: |
| Abscate wrote: |
| I remember when China, whom we called "Red CHina' , exploded a nuclear bomb, which we called, a device. |
Yeah, what century we in?
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I don't know about which century but I'm still stuck in the 60s man! |
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tencentlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10163
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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| Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 8:50 am Post subject: Re: Huge News |
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| mrinnovation1 wrote: |
I don't know about which century but I'm still stuck in the 60s man! |
Nowadays, some people would mean the 1860's. I hope you're not one'a them.
_________________
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Please don't PM here, I will not reply. |
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mrinnovation1
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2025
Posts: 297
Location: IL
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| Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:23 am Post subject: Re: Huge News |
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| tencentlife wrote: |
| mrinnovation1 wrote: |
I don't know about which century but I'm still stuck in the 60s man! |
Nowadays, some people would mean the 1860's. I hope you're not one'a them. |
Certainly not from the way I act! I'm always told to grow up. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 24459
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Huge News |
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| Max Welton wrote: |
| Abscate wrote: |
| I remember when China, whom we called "Red CHina' , exploded a nuclear bomb, which we called, a device. |
Do I detect Tom Lehrer? (RIP)
Max |
You do indeed!! Who's Next? Mexico? Monaco?
Lets remain Serene and Calm....
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Max Welton
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 11143
Location: Black Forest, CO
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EVfun 
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6379
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2025 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: Huge News |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| zerotofifty wrote: |
| I hate wiper makers, seeing as they no longer sell replacement blades without having to buy the whole dam assembly. didnt used to be that way, no,it is wasteful and expensive. |
I've been buying wiper refills through Amazon. Cut to length. |
Just slid new Trico 47-600 refills in my 2004 Tacoma. They cost less than $10 for a pair at my FLAPS. Since I live in the Pacific Northwet I do it every fall.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 4261
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| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: Huge News |
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| Xevin wrote: |
| zerotofifty wrote: |
| Xevin wrote: |
| zerotofifty wrote: |
| If Fram goes belly up, it will be no loss, crappy oil filters we dont need. as for the wiper blade maker, to hell with them. i hate wiper makers, seeing as they no longer sell replacement blades without having to buy the whole dam assembly. didnt used to be that way, no,it is wasteful and expensive. |
Appears more American people might be losing jobs. That’s a bummer. |
Fram makes stuff in America, red china, S. Korea, and Mexico. The Chapter 11 Bankruptcy does not always mean the manufacturing is shut down, rather the company is often sold to some other entity and production will continue. Perhaps new management will correct the quality problems that plagued Fram, the Orange can of death brand of oil filters.
If not, there are other oil filter makers, some making them in America, their business may pick up then..
Bankruptcy can be a good thing, it is a way to save a company that is going broke.
I use K and N oil filters in most of my cars, these are made in USA! (this includes my VW Vanagon) and run a Ford racing filter on my full flow oil system 914 car, and VW Kelmark GT kit car, these also are made in USA.
BUY AMERICAN!!!!!
For wipers, I havent bought them in a while, but I will look for American made. Do you have any recommendations, I prefer refill blades? |
Not every American job that could be eliminated from this situation comes from the physical manufacturing of said product. Think marketing, transportation, retailing, and more you might not have thought about. American jobs are not just hands on production of products. Go deeper. RIP Dollar General, Harbor Freight, Apple, Walmart, Potash, oil, and etc
Do some more research.
I find it amusing that a dude pumps his chest and screams “Buy American” owns 15 cars and motorcycles made in other countries other then USA.
And I said “Appears more American people might be losing jobs. That’s a bummer”
You apparently don’t care about those Americans. |
Well you are dead wrong about me not caring about those Americans
You really need to chill out Xevin.
As for my vintage cars, I bought them after they were decades old, so that has not supported a foreign car factory. Fact is, given the rebuilds, maintenance and such performed here in America, much of their value today was produced here.
There is nothing wrong in me promoting American manufacturing.
As for this bankruptcy as if oft the case these companies will
Continue to operate, perhaps under new ownership. Hopefully few if any jobs for Americans will be lost.
_________________
Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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EverettB
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 71954
Location: Phoenix 602
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 17968
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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| EverettB wrote: |
Moderator time:
A personal insults was removed from one post - Let's not derail the thread with a page of back and forth junk. |
hahaha, and I wasn't even involved this time 
parts quality is in the fucking shitter like you can't even believe.
Volvo's new "T5" and "T6" (fucking junks) are throwing (drive)belts into the timing belt because the tensioners are junk....RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX from the dealer.
it's sickening that you go and do a 'simple' timing belt service and the drive belt spits anywhere between the road test and 3 days later.
It's been a real issue globally. a 75.00 tensioner causing 8k in damage. We've gone so fucking far backwards it isn't even funny anymore
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| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
| Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 4261
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| Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
| EverettB wrote: |
Moderator time:
A personal insults was removed from one post - Let's not derail the thread with a page of back and forth junk. |
hahaha, and I wasn't even involved this time
parts quality is in the fucking shitter like you can't even believe.
Volvo's new "T5" and "T6" (fucking junks) are throwing (drive)belts into the timing belt because the tensioners are junk....RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX from the dealer.
it's sickening that you go and do a 'simple' timing belt service and the drive belt spits anywhere between the road test and 3 days later.
It's been a real issue globally. a 75.00 tensioner causing 8k in damage. We've gone so fucking far backwards it isn't even funny anymore |
Nor I either this time.
Talk about junk, so many cars are janky these days. All the plastic, poor engineering, computers for everything, touch screens to control all sorts of basic functions, etc....
I know someone who has a Ford Edge, water pump (or some other relatively mundane engine accessory item) went out, major stuff had to be removed to replace it. Big huge bucks in labor for it to be replaced, and the car was not even very old.
New cars are a nightmare to maintain. Designed like a Bic lighter, limited life, then throw it away.
The Old VWs were designed to be repairable with ease. 
_________________
Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6379
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2025 9:37 pm Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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I just took a look at the list, and here are some of the brands that jump out at me:
Raybestos brakes
Fram filters (don't use, but seen them orange things everywhere)
Trico wiper blades (my refills)
Anco wiper blades
Carter fuel and water pumps
Carlson brake hardware
Cardone new and rebuilt parts
Phillips licensed aftermarket lighting
Plus a number of names in towing:
Reese
Drawtite
Hopkins
Westfailia (?!)
This will be interesting...
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 24459
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 3:37 am Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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This is just a Wall Street chair shuffle. Corporate America periodically shuffles the owners of companies to fund trust funds for consultants and the unremarkable executives who “ run “ these companies.
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Xevin
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 9093
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| Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 7:09 am Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| This is just a Wall Street chair shuffle. Corporate America periodically shuffles the owners of companies to fund trust funds for consultants and the unremarkable executives who “ run “ these companies into the ground |
FIFY
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Keep on Busin'
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
| Clatter wrote: |
| Damn that Xevin... |
| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd  |
| SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree  |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23524
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 5:24 pm Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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| EVfun wrote: |
I just took a look at the list, and here are some of the brands that jump out at me:
Raybestos brakes
Fram filters (don't use, but seen them orange things everywhere)
Trico wiper blades (my refills)
Anco wiper blades
Carter fuel and water pumps
Carlson brake hardware
Cardone new and rebuilt parts
Phillips licensed aftermarket lighting
Plus a number of names in towing:
Reese
Drawtite
Hopkins
Westfailia (?!)
This will be interesting... |
Some of this list we were talking about on the first page.
Raybestos brakes
This is just my opinion from my experience over the past decade. Raybestos has pretty much gone downhill with regard to products and availability for older/aftermarket served cars. A lot of what they have been doing is for OEM. What they make for newer cars for aftermarket....is just OK.
I have been waiting for them to either change hands or bite the bullet.
Fram filters: Some good and some less than good filters. They have brand recognition and market share but the competition is huge. They are kind of an "also ran" and have been relegated in my opinion to low level flaps or Walmart level.
Trico wiper blades:
Anco wiper blades:
Neither company make bad products or junk. Neither of either make the absolute best blades out there but neither are they as expensive as the best out there.
I think project farm did a test of wiper blades and then did a one year follow up with long term UV and Bosch Icon blew everyone away. Thats not saying that others did not do well. 6 years ago in the same tests, It was Michelin, RainX and then Bosch tied with Aero for 3rd.....but that was Bosch normal and not Icon. The Michelin and rainex were ~$35 a pair. Bosch Icons can be $40 a pair. Bosch normal were $10 a pair.
My point is that I think Trico and Anco are worth something.
Carter fuel and water pumps
I think Carter has been making more OEM factory than aftermarket over the past two decades...and they have too much competition which is how they get snapped up by an outfit like first brands. I think they are a loss. I think they are worth keeping or buying for someone.
Carlson brake hardware:
Carlson makes some of the best hardware in the business...or did. They have been almost nonexistent in the old car aftermarket over the past 10 years or so....like they disappeared. I am pretty sure they have mainly been feeding OEM's and FLAPS chains house brands and not using their name.
Cardone new and rebuilt parts
These guys have been junk for quite a while now. Let them fail.
Phillips licensed aftermarket lighting
Phillips was/is huge....and was spun off years ago (thinking in advance) from the main Phillips. This division is "licensed"....so Phillips still gets its cut and shows its name but does not have to support it.
Outside of older cars, the need for "bulb and filament" lighting is going away rapidly. This does not mean that there is not a market...but its small...niche and needs to be marketed for or you die.
Phillips has its Ultinon line of LED's but I do not know if this division does LED's. If it does alongside bulbs it can survive. Ray |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6379
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2025 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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I'd miss Trico if they go away. Every fall I like to put in a set of refills in my pickup wipers. The set I purchased this fall were $9.95 for a pair at my local FLAPS. The metal part of the wiper blades are still what Toyota shipped it with in 2004.
I hear a Carter low pressure fuel pump (p60504, P60430, p90091 ??) has been used by a number of people here. A rotary pump is likely a better option than another buzz box plunger pump.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 24459
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 2:50 am Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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One of the hard things to adapt to in between cloud yelling….brand names mean nothing anymore. It used to be you could pick something up with a name you knew and trust it. Now you need to go research what Yale Wanker has extracted the value from the brand and killed the product in the last three years.
Of course the benefit of being old is you can pick a tool up and ….yeah…..no.
Strap on tools…still pretty darn good
Tekton from GRR in Michigan bring me joy
Channelock from Erie PA bring me joy
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wagen19
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2007
Posts: 883
Location: germany
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| Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2025 4:40 am Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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| Abscate wrote: |
One of the hard things to adapt to in between cloud yelling….brand names mean nothing anymore. It used to be you could pick something up with a name you knew and trust it. Now you need to go research what Yale Wanker has extracted the value from the brand and killed the product in the last three years.
Of course the benefit of being old is you can pick a tool up and ….yeah…..no.
Strap on tools…still pretty darn good
Tekton from GRR in Michigan bring me joy
Channelock from Erie PA bring me joy |
Profit allways up, quality down. That´s the result of hard core capitalism! |
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Zundfolge1432
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004
Posts: 12595
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 10:41 am Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| This is just a Wall Street chair shuffle. Corporate America periodically shuffles the owners of companies to fund trust funds for consultants and the unremarkable executives who “ run “ these companies. |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6g_Tuyi8X4&list=RDY6g_Tuyi8X4&start_radio=1 |
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ALLWAGONS
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2000
Posts: 4736
Location: Pasadena CA/DTLA soon China
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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Why do we com plaint? isn't that what every American does when they blow their money? Isn't that why the minute someone makes money they turn into a corporation or LLC? We teach everyone to blame everyone else except ourselves. I am a business owner for the last 28 yrs. as of today still SOLE OWNER. If my company fails you, I failed you.
_________________
I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.
I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.
Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.
Everything sounds good on paper! |
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wagen19
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2007
Posts: 883
Location: germany
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| Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 2:45 am Post subject: Re: Huge News - First Brands Bankruptcy |
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| ALLWAGONS wrote: |
| Why do we com plaint? isn't that what every American does when they blow their money? Isn't that why the minute someone makes money they turn into a corporation or LLC? We teach everyone to blame everyone else except ourselves. I am a business owner for the last 28 yrs. as of today still SOLE OWNER. If my company fails you, I failed you. |
Congrats, SOLE OWNER means freedom.
(but thinking about Janis Joplin, it also can mean: "freedom is another word, for nothing left to loose")
Where to the big money goes and is? At BLACKROCK? Who drives Blackrock? The government?
For me it seems, if I got you right, America is rather dried out of money. Just today, about 20 minutes ago, in the german news, I´ve read, just as an example, Blackrock NOT.
The NAME and IMAGE of a brand or label is (imo) the most important and interesting thing. Before you can buy a "good name" for cheap, the brand must be forced to bankruptcy.
The name and good old image alone sells better, as the actual quality of any kind of products. (for a period of time, imo)
Trading and advertising brings more profit than manufacturing, or hard work. |
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