Why are some Escort/Protege struts not crossreferenced?

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » February 1st, 2006, 9:24 am

Why do some manufacturers have the same strut part number for the MX3 and the Protege/Escort, but other brands have a strut listed for Protege/Escort, but they don't list that part for the MX3? Gabriel for instance doesn't even list the MX3. Is there a difference in these struts that will make them not work on our cars? For instance, Gabriel doesn't even have the MX3 in thier database. What gives?

psyense82 · Post by **psyense82** » February 1st, 2006, 12:36 pm

save yourself some cash.. .go to your local advanced auto parts and ask bout some KYB GR2s.... most people here will tell you they're damn good struts.. plus... i paid 58.23 a strut... cheap and their good

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » February 1st, 2006, 8:13 pm

I believe KYB is a main supplier to the major car companies in a lot of applications. Our MX's come from Mazda with KYB's if I'm not mistaken and my 83 Celica came with factory KYB's also. FWIW
LF1, I've noticed that lack of cross referencing before when it came to similar parts for the ZE when trying to cross reference between the MX6, 626 and PGT, or when it came to brake rotors, calipers and brake pads when referencing with Protege and Miata. A comprehensive database of cross-referenced parts with other cars would be an invaluable tool, time-consuming to compile for sure, but still invaluable.

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » February 2nd, 2006, 11:46 am

jschrauwen wrote: A comprehensive database of cross-referenced parts with other cars would be an invaluable tool, time-consuming to compile for sure, but still invaluable.[/color]

Someone already did a suspension part crossreference here. I was questioning because the MANUFACTURER sites wouldn't crossreference the struts. I'm used to Autozone or other autoparts stores not crossreferencing the parts right, but usually the manfacturer has a proper cross referencing.

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » February 6th, 2006, 3:33 pm

Well, I just ordered a set of Gabriel Escort struts that weren't referenced for the MX3. Hope they fit. I got them on eBay for the same price shipped for the front pair as I would for a single KYB strut through the cheapest website. About $60 shipped for the pair.

rustyschopshop · Post by **rustyschopshop** » February 18th, 2006, 11:04 pm

that is due to the 90-94 proteges only being the ones that interchange with the 91 through 03 escort suspensions. When using the 97 through 03 you would have to use the top hats for that year series for the struts. 95 and up proteges do not interchange.

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » February 19th, 2006, 9:19 am

Uhh, yes. I am talking about the struts for the 90-94 Protege.

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » February 19th, 2006, 1:23 pm

lakersfan1 wrote:
jschrauwen wrote: A comprehensive database of cross-referenced parts with other cars would be an invaluable tool, time-consuming to compile for sure, but still invaluable.[/color]
Someone already did a suspension part crossreference here. I was questioning because the MANUFACTURER sites wouldn't crossreference the struts. I'm used to Autozone or other autoparts stores not crossreferencing the parts right, but usually the manfacturer has a proper cross referencing.

I think I can answer this. Even though I and not directly employed in the automotive industry I do have a lot of friends that are in the manufacturing and distribution level of the business. The reason most manufactures not cross referencing the BG parts to the MX-3 is that most of they are writing off the MX-3 due lack of demand. For example Tokico was going to discontinue the P/N# for the 323/protege/escort/mx-3/sephia back in 2001 due to low sales number the only think the save it was the high eastern canadian numbers that year and Ray maintaining standing order for X amount for Canada. When a manufacture removes a listing then the Auto parts chains remove the listing because it is not there when they when they up load the data from the manufacture. One way to look at it is to take the total production/importation numbers of each model that uses that part calculate the number of cars taking off the road each year then calculate your share of the market. If it appears that there isn't enough demand why dedicate catalog space. To you and me it is just a few lines of computer data or a piece if paper but to a manufacture to maintain that space could mean a cost savings greater that the profit selling that part for that application especially in the case of paper catalogs and using that space to list a newer part with greater sales volume. I'm actually surprised that we don't see more of this or the few MX-3 specific parts being discontinued altogether. As a consumer this may not make as much sense to you as it does to people like me were I work in manufacturing were it come down to the bottom line at the end of the year.