My '84 Camino's original, and no longer available, Kelsey-Hayes cast iron brake proportioning valve was frozen from corrosion, as they do. I replaced it with a China made brass one, but am now concerned because of some account of one losing its' fluid on a vehicle after it was returned to service resulting in brake loss. I believe it was claimed the 'nylon' switch that screws in and came with the valve cracked in service and dumped the fluid. So has anybody heard of this happening ? Or a leak developing at the metering valve on the brass unit ? As for now I'd rather run the seized o.e.m. unit than lose my brakes on the highway.
Proportioning valves made in China
- Thread starter Neill
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Sad to say but I think the brass ones are all thats out there. I had one in my wagon for over a year. Since the cars not on the road yet it just sat in my garage. When I went to bleed the brakes I had an issue. In the end it was a leak at one of the fittings but I took the valve off and took it completely apart. The spring inside was a pile of rust and scale. Needless to say I was pretty shocked. I bought two more valves from Inline Tube. One for each car just to play it safe.
BTW, if you find one on ebay and somewhere on the page it says "Inline Tube" its the same valve they sell on their site only a lot cheaper. I think I paid $45 for each.
BTW, if you find one on ebay and somewhere on the page it says "Inline Tube" its the same valve they sell on their site only a lot cheaper. I think I paid $45 for each.
It's too bad the original cast iron proportioning valves can't be rebuilt. But they do get rusty internally and turn to junk. Someone mentioned....I think it was Scott, that the new brass valves are prone to stripping. Well, with brass being softer than iron, it's understandable. I guess you have to be careful not to over tighten the fittings.
It;s OK, even GM makes 90% of all their car parts in China.
Look how good they work!
Look how good they work!
I find many, if not most of the AC Delco components are Hecho en Mexico. I bought a new A/C compressor, dryer, etc. for my Malibu and an alternator for my Olds, both made in Mexico. That doesn't bother me as much as products made in China. Although, many of our products today are made in China. There's no getting around it.
ACDelco is not the same ACDelco of years ago. When I say this I mean years ago you used to be able to buy an AC Delco part and and it would be the same identical part as sold through the GM dealership parts counters but for less money. I have noticed that since the bankruptcy that GM is now using AC Delco labeling on offshore made aftermarket parts. I noticed this several times over the last 10 years when buying items for my Pontiac Grand Ams.
Hecho en England, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, U.S.A, etc. I have/had boxes with "Made in ***" stamped on them with all those countries. And probably more.
AC Delco certainly has changed over the years. But that's how it goes. NAPA used to sell Echlin parts that, to me, rivaled the best OEM parts out there. Not anymore. They've all sold out. Just that now, you'll probably be paying 25% more for the Chinese versions.
The proportioning valves have been brass for a LONG time now. They learned early on that the cast iron version sucked badly for corrosion issues- hence now only the brass ones. If they're used and not abused, they may hold up a long time. And roll of the dice, because sometimes they don't.
Find anyone that can beat the Chinese for $0.49 per brass proportioning valve and I assure you that Delco would buy it from them. But they can't. So we're stuck with Chinesium for the time being.d
Or you could just buy a GM one that was made in the U.S.A. and remove all doubt. A bit pricey, but it wasn't made in China.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335822911&icep_item=263086716075
AC Delco certainly has changed over the years. But that's how it goes. NAPA used to sell Echlin parts that, to me, rivaled the best OEM parts out there. Not anymore. They've all sold out. Just that now, you'll probably be paying 25% more for the Chinese versions.
The proportioning valves have been brass for a LONG time now. They learned early on that the cast iron version sucked badly for corrosion issues- hence now only the brass ones. If they're used and not abused, they may hold up a long time. And roll of the dice, because sometimes they don't.
Find anyone that can beat the Chinese for $0.49 per brass proportioning valve and I assure you that Delco would buy it from them. But they can't. So we're stuck with Chinesium for the time being.d
Or you could just buy a GM one that was made in the U.S.A. and remove all doubt. A bit pricey, but it wasn't made in China.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335822911&icep_item=263086716075
Did you notice where the part is shipped from? Amman, Jordan. No wonder the shipping is $20.00.Hecho en England, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, U.S.A, etc. I have/had boxes with "Made in ***" stamped on them with all those countries. And probably more.
AC Delco certainly has changed over the years. But that's how it goes. NAPA used to sell Echlin parts that, to me, rivaled the best OEM parts out there. Not anymore. They've all sold out. Just that now, you'll probably be paying 25% more for the Chinese versions.
The proportioning valves have been brass for a LONG time now. They learned early on that the cast iron version sucked badly for corrosion issues- hence now only the brass ones. If they're used and not abused, they may hold up a long time. And roll of the dice, because sometimes they don't.
Find anyone that can beat the Chinese for $0.49 per brass proportioning valve and I assure you that Delco would buy it from them. But they can't. So we're stuck with Chinesium for the time being.d
Or you could just buy a GM one that was made in the U.S.A. and remove all doubt. A bit pricey, but it wasn't made in China.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335822911&icep_item=263086716075
Nowadays, what is indicated on the box does not necessarily mean that it originated from that location. In other words, the part could be made in a different location other than what the box states.
But it was made in the U.S.A.
I just looked at the p/n and where it was made. Still too much. Just buy two of the cheaper versions, and if one craps out, you have a spare!!!! Or if it doesn't, you still win! The prop valve is discontinued from GM now.- Status
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