As you all know by now, I absolutely can’t stand fake ass/knock-off parts. Wheels of course are my biggest complaint but if you got them, hey all good, it’s not my car. Personally I just don’t like it. Wheels and their designs are being knocked-off left and right and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. I may not care much for Rotas and Konig and what not but again, if you want to rock that shit, that’s cool. You buy what you can afford. It’s not my car. My thing is when people try to rock the real stickers on the fake wheels and try to front like they’re real. Branding something as authentic when it’s not is just wrong and frankly, it’s a bitch ass move. I’ve even caught some people up on occasion at meets and shows and the like and I have absolutely no problem calling them out on it. Same thing goes for seats. Fake Recaros, Bride, etc. It’s easy to spot and you will get caught.
The worse thing about faking the funk and making people think it’s real is the deception. People spend their hard earned money on these items sometimes not having any idea that they’re fake and that shit is just plain wrong. It’s basically robbery. Not only are they buying fake shit, but these people have absolutely no idea whether or not they’re safe to have. You know they have fake Takata harnesses out there floating around and a lot cheaper than the real deal. What if someone bought that shit and thought it was real? Who knows what that shit is made out of and whether or not it works? What if someone were using that and got into an accident and the cam lock suddenly fails and breaks? Someone could die from that shit or be seriously injured. They’re SAFETY harnesses. The fake shit could kill you.
Tein is also one of the companies that has apparently been caught in the cross hairs of counterfeiting. There are fake Tein S-Tech springs floating around and people are trying to make a quick buck off these, all the while sacrificing the safety of the customer and others on the road. Who knows what these fake S-Techs are made of…they could potentially fail as well and cause irreparable damage.
I was honestly a little shocked when I heard about the Tein counterfeits. Afterall, we grew up in a time when many quality parts were hard to source. We just worried about how to get enough money to buy them and whether or not they were available. Nowadays shit is so easy to get a hold of that people are making copies of everything and there is so much of it floating around that no one has any idea whether or not it’s legit. It’s a sad sight to see that the industry has come to this…
When I got word of this news today, man…I couldn’t believe it. I probably shouldn’t be shocked since fake shit is everywhere now but to see ASR subframe braces getting knocked-off…..WOW. Really? Someone actually has the nerve to make copies of these things?
This is what was posted on the JHPUSA Blog recently…
Buyer Warning! Fake ASR Subframe Braces on the Loose!
It’s a real shame that knock off companies are on the rise lately. The latest company to fall victim of the copycat plague is ASR. There is a company/person within the San Gabriel Valley that is producing fake black and silver (and soon to be purple) EG/DC2 ASR subframe braces within the last 5 months. This person was selling them via Craigslist Los Angeles and to a number of local import performance shops. This ballsy individual has copied the first version ASR EG/DC2 subframe brace (which is no longer in production) in hopes of deceiving unknowing individuals and making a quick buck.Because we are a dealer for ASR on top of being good friends with the owner, we took some time to share with you how to tell Fake vs. Legit. Below you will find comparison photos that show distinct differences between real and fake.
We hope this will educate the masses and prevent this copycat in making any more money than he/she has already made. To ensure you are purchasing 100% authentic American made ASR products buy legit ASR product, please only purchase ASR products from an ASR authorized dealer such as JHPUSA.
#1 Dead giveaway – PACKAGING:
Fake ASR brace comes packaged in a generic white box. FAIL.
Legit version is packaged in a genuine ASR brown box with printed “ASR A-SPEC RACING” logo. WIN.
#2 Dead giveaway – GLOSSY FINISH:
Fake version has a glossy uneven brushed finish and is made from unknown material and strength. Safety is a big concern if material used is unknown as it may fail under certain stressful conditions. The finish looks pretty bad in real life too; looks as if the manufacturer made finishing touches by hand and not by machine. FAIL.Legit version has a clean and flawless flat brushed finish and is made from 6061 T6 aluminum from Keiser or Alcoa. WIN.
#3 Dead giveaway – MOUNTING HARDWARE:
Fake version has low 8.8 grade nuts & bolts. Using 8.8 grade bolts on load bearing suspension components can potentially be very dangerous . FAIL.
Legit version has a high 10.9 grade nuts & bolts, which are excellent for load bearing suspension components. WIN.
#4 Dead giveaway – EDGES:
Fake version has straight cut edging. FAIL.
Legit version has rounded edging. WIN.
#5 Dead giveaway – MOUNTING BRACKETS & BACK PLATE:
Fake version has anodized black brackets that are pinned to the brace. The back plates are also anodized black and are unevenly cut that will cause improper fitment and installation. FAIL.
Legit version has non-colored brackets that bolt onto brace. The backing plate is cut evenly and will ensure proper fitment upon installation. WIN.
Again, to ensure you are purchasing legitimate ASR products only buy from an ASR authorized dealer such as JHPUSA!
Grade 8.8 bolts on a suspension piece that’s under load? No thanks…Imagine if that shit gave out and you lost control of your car and wrecked it…you could kill yourself and anyone else on the road. That shit could just come apart while you were driving. Let’s all remember that your suspension is under heavy load. Who knows what these things are made out of. What if they’re using cheap ass aluminum on something that is supposed to be constructed out of 6061 T6 aluminum? Please, don’t try to save a few bucks on this bullshit and put everyone at risk on the road.
I actually went and looked around on Craigslist to see if I can find any of these but I guess the JHP post spooked whoever was selling these fakes. I did however, spot a couple of them on Ebay. Remember guys, buy from credible sources aka Authorized ASR dealers.
Here’s a link to a fake ASR piece…
$50 brand new? Uhh….
99 cents for this one…$18 shipping. Someone should buy this thing just cuz so we can show everybody how fake that shit is…
Don’t get caught up in the hype. Save up and buy real shit. And make sure you buy from legitimate sources. You’re putting yourself as well as everyone else in danger when you drive with unsafe, counterfeit parts….