RockAuto - Has this happened to you?

[White Lincoln]

I did another purchase with my friends at RockAuto and guess what I got? Yeah, mis-matched shocks. I may be acting anal here, but how do I know these two are actually the same shock? Just because they have the same part number, they are not the same to me. I don't feel its right to put two different items on my car. Sure, they may be the same, but I really do not trust them that much. I requested a replacement. Will I get the SensaTrac or the "OES Spectru"? We will see. (I know, I know... you get what you pay for and I should be buying Bilstein shocks - )

 

[Derphound01]

I have heard that it is model-dependent as to whether OESpectrum and Sensa-Trac are the same or different. Monroe says they are the same, however I know the OESpectrums use a wider diameter shock body than the Sensa-Trac in VW applications.

I would 100% send the Sensa-Trac back and demand an OESpectrum as they discontinued that product line years ago. Same or not, that one will be much older age-wise.

 

[Kenz]

They are the same thing, but probably years apart in age. I'm also particular about matching both sides the same so I don't blame you for sending them back!
Motorcraft was actually putting their label on Monroe shocks for our cars at one point.

My Tbird had sensatracs from Rockauto. Not really impressed with them overall, especially because a rear started leaking after less than a year. Would probably go Gabriel or KYB for a stock ride shock. I was able to find old stock Motorcraft non sport shocks years ago on rockauto, don't know if they are available anymore. They were made much better built than anything available now

 

[White Lincoln]

They are the same thing, but probably years apart in age. I'm also particular about matching both sides the same so I don't blame you for sending them back!
Motorcraft was actually putting their label on Monroe shocks for our cars at one point.

My Tbird had sensatracs from Rockauto. Not really impressed with them overall, especially because a rear started leaking after less than a year. Would probably go Gabriel or KYB for a stock ride shock. I was able to find old stock Motorcraft non sport shocks years ago on rockauto, don't know if they are available anymore. They were made much better built than anything available now

I thought the Sensa-Trac was a better shock. It did come with a lot more "accessories" than the OESpectrum and it is what I have had before that lasted for some time. No biggy, they shipped the replacement today. But will it be the Sensa-Trac or the OESpectrum? Hmmmm....

For what I paid for these, I can't complain, but at least send me 2 of the same thing, that look the same, labled the same, etc....

So petty.

 

[theterminator93]

FWIW this happens a lot with RA. I ended up with two different UCAs for the Mark despite both of them being the exact same product line, manufacturer, and warehouse.

Sometimes it matters enough to do the parts swap dance, but oftentimes I just say "heck with it" and live with the mismatch.

 

[Grog6]

When you waste them find a set of koni inserts for them. That's whats holding the koni's on Laz.

 

[Kenz]

I thought the Sensa-Trac was a better shock.

Sensatrac name went away and OE Spectrum is the replacement. As far as quality who knows, they may have made them cheaper over time like most things.

Back when I was in the autoparts biz it was not uncommon to have mismatched pairs of both on the shelf

 

[White Lincoln]

Sensatrac name went away and OE Spectrum is the replacement. As far as quality who knows, they may have made them cheaper over time like most things.

Back when I was in the autoparts biz it was not uncommon to have mismatched pairs of both on the shelf

In looking at the numbers on the shock itself, the first part was the same, the part numbers that followed were not. The quality of the Sensa-Trac appears to be much better than the OESpectra. You could hardly read the pressed in info on the OESpectra shock, where as the Sensa-Trac was clear, well imprinted, informative AND said "Made in USA". The other shock did not have this much info printed on the shock. We will see what they send me.

 

[White Lincoln]

Bummer. They sent me the OERectum shock instead of the Sensa-Trac one. At least they kinda match. Same box, no lable on the one sent today BUT, it came will all of the proper hardware, unlike the first OERectum shock.

 

[Kenz]

So you ended up with two of the OERectums?

If it makes you feel better that's probably better option. Since they are the newer label, they won't have been sitting on a shelf as long.

 

[supergordo]

Yes it has happened to me. But I guess that is one of the things RA does. It's up to you to decide what you will live with or not.

 

[Green T]

As the Sleeperdude from Youtube calls them: WrongAuto.

 

[Derphound01]

CrockAuto.

 

[White Lincoln]

RockAuto sent the OESpectrum shock. So I went on eBay and found a duplicate SensaTrac for $12, new, still in the box. Since RA did not ask me to send back the other SensaTrac, I figured I would rather have two of the SensaTrac's instead of the OESpectrum. At least I have two matching pairs. now.