Chassis
The chassis constitutes the framework on which your entire vehicle sits, so it’s integral to vehicle performance and control. Chassis
components include the frame, brakes, suspension, transmission, and other systems that work together to keep your vehicle running
smoothly and safely. A single counterfeit component could compromise the integrity of one or more of these systems—that’s why you
should always use Ford Genuine Parts that meet the highest standards of safety and performance. Some examples of commonly counterfeited
chassis components are listed below.
Pitman Arms
The pitman arm is an integral component inside a vehicle's steering and suspension systems providing vehicle control.
Counterfeit Pitman Arms are a safety concern. They are subject to fatigue failures which can potentially cause loss of
steering control. In the image below, the counterfeit pitman arm can be identified by the "Food" logo in place of the
trademarked Ford logo.
Brake Pads
Brake pads apply friction to both sides of the top brake disc/rotor enabling your vehicle to stop. This friction creates heat,
so it is important that your brake pads be engineered to withstand these high temperatures. Counterfeit Brakes often have poor
quality steel backing plates and weak or no shim bonding to the backplate. Additionally, they are often made from inferior products
like compressed wood chips and sawdust. The chart below details a performance test executed on counterfeit brake pads. As you can see,
the brakes performed poorly across the board, with the most notable concern being their performance under heat. These particular pads
contained 51% iron content, causing excessive heat and increasing brake stopping distance by almost 20%.
Wheel Hubs & Bearings
Wheel bearings are located inside of the wheel hub and carry the entire weight of a vehicle, allowing its wheels to turn with
minimal friction. They are also an essential part of your vehicle that keeps the wheels on.
Counterfeit wheel bearings are often just used wheel bearings that have been “refurbished” and sold as new. These counterfeit
bearings give no indication as to how many miles of wear they have, nor if they have ever been involved in an accident that
may have damaged their integrity. A bad bearing can lead to loose steering and uneven wear on tires—and in extreme cases,
if a bearing is missing from a wheel hub, the tire may fall off your vehicle while it’s in motion. Don’t put yourself or others
at risk—choose Ford Genuine Parts for all your chassis components.