How to know exactly which car parts to buy
Finding the right parts and tools is often much harder than the physical repair work itself. People get stuck guessing whether they need an entire expensive kit or just specific components for areas like a bumper. Because local stores carry less inventory, someone who just needs one specific item mid-job is frequently forced to buy a full $150 pack instead.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Posting photos of the damage on forums to ask for parts listsDid this help you?
- 2Buying a full assembly kit to ensure all pieces are includedDid this help you?
- 3Shopping at salvage yards to pull complete, matching assembliesDid this help you?
- 4Planning weeks ahead and ordering everything online from Amazon or RockAuto.Did this help you?
- 5Keeping a running list of needed parts to order before it becomes an emergency.Did this help you?
- 6Using a regular deep well socket and a bit of hose instead of buying a specialized spark plug socket.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I have had more problems finding tools and parts than actually difficulty working on the car.”source ↗
“If I can find something, it comes in packs or kits that cost $150.”source ↗
“man the brick and mortar decline hits home when you're mid-job and just need one stupid socket.”source ↗
“damn i was just tryna figure out if i was od buying the whole kit”source ↗
“i know pictures dont help much, but this is the kit i was thinking about getting”source ↗
“I’m not entirely sure what parts to get or whats necessary. I know my fender is a need regardless, so i guess moreso pertaining the bumper area.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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