The steering wheel is the focal point of a truck driver’s tools of the trade. It is the single component that has the most contact with the driver. A driver’s definition of comfort starts with the suitability of his steering wheel.
Truck steering wheels are typically larger than those in smaller cars. The main reason for a larger wheel is to reduce the response of the wheels to sudden turns of the steering wheel. Racing cars have the most sensitive controls as the driver needs to react quickly based on the car’s velocity. Trucks, on the other hand, need to negotiate corners at close to zero velocity. The truck needs to make gradual turns because if a truck changes direction abruptly, its momentum would cause it to topple over.
Aftermarket, OEM or Genuine Parts
If you are looking for truck spare parts, you should start by deciding whether you want genuine, OEM or aftermarket parts. Your authorized car dealers and parts distributors will most likely have items in each category depending on the shop operators’ preferences and market demand.
Genuine parts typically come with the car and bear the vehicle manufacturer’s logo. These are often the most expensive option.
OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturer Parts are practically the same as the genuine parts but don’t bear the truck manufacturer’s brand. Truck manufacturers usually construct several truck components through trusted specialist companies. OEM parts are made by the companies that made the original parts for the manufacturer.
Aftermarket parts are built by independent companies after a truck has been manufactured. These are not always identical to the original parts but are designed to fulfil the same functions. Moreover, they are considerably cheaper than the genuine and OEM parts.
Things to Consider with Aftermarket Steering Parts
Truck steering components are vital elements of the heavy duty driving experience. Since the steering is the truck’s primary control feature, you need to be careful when making your choices. Here are a couple of significant points to consider when choosing aftermarket steering parts of trucks.
- Know your truck
The first thing you need to ensure is that you know your truck and the components you are looking for. Since you may not be able to drive your truck to every aftermarket dealer in town, you will need to have a good enough understanding of the truck and parts brand, model number, size, and function among others. You will need this information when describing the parts you want. To save time, it is advisable to have a picture of the truck and the parts you need.
- Variety of options
It is good to note that the aftermarket parts are designed to be compatible with a wide range of trucks, unlike the OEM and genuine parts which are model specific. It’s a good idea to work closely with an experienced truck technician when purchasing aftermarket parts.
Choosing between OEM, genuine and aftermarket parts is most often a financial decision. In some cases, it may be better to make a choice based on the quality, lifespan and reliability of a part rather than the cost.
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