A Comprehensive Guide to Shopping for Car and Truck Parts

A quick look at the best-seller charts shows Canadians love their pickup trucks. Heavy-duty offerings from GMC, Ford and Ram, and the Sierra, F-Series and 1500 pickups vying for the throne occupy the top three spots. Buyers like the utility, space, dependable performance and decent value these vehicles offer in spades.

And the fact that they can be customized to personal tastes with hundreds of original equipment and aftermarket additions. Pickup owners are spoiled for choice when shopping for truck parts Canada-wide. While all the big-engined beasts have plenty of power, there’s more with bespoke performance parts, such as custom exhausts or beefed-up suspension setups.

There’s the option to up safety and convenience with bull bars and brake upgrades, and hundreds of parts that put more utility in any utility truck. Parts can be sourced from dealerships as original equipment that promises a clean fit and proven performance, or from a growing aftermarket that offers a wider selection, tiered quality, and usually more value for your dollar.

Parts for Go – Pickup Truck Performance Parts

Fitting your truck with performance parts can lead to faster acceleration, higher top speeds, improved braking, and more street cred. Bestsellers include air intake systems, aftermarket exhausts, better brake parts, revised suspension kits, and off-roading goodies for more push in the dirt.

Air Intakes

Air intakes increase the clean oxygen-rich air coming into the engine with revised plumbing and bigger filtering kits, resulting in boosted power and torque when working the gas pedal. They also provide a deeper engine rumble, lower fuel use, and shield engines from damaging debris and particles with improved filters.

Exhausts

To get the best results, pair this with a decent exhaust. Stock piping doesn’t do the big engine justice, with bends and narrower diameters choking the engine and preventing the next combustion cycle. Choose wider-diameter and straight layouts to improve exhaust flow, prevent backpressure and get power and torque when you need it. Stainless steel systems also last longer in demanding conditions with higher corrosion resistance (especially against salt spray) and better heat cycling that comes at higher redlines.

New Internals and Forced Induction

Intake and exhaust combos can provide your truck with 10 and 15 per cent power gains. They’re also necessary for any mods under the hood. Aspirated engines can push more air and get bigger bangs with forced induction kits consisting of turbos or superchargers (or both!). Just ensure that the rest of the engine is up to the task. To ensure longevity, also upgrade to forged piston and connecting rod kits, have the stock crank heat-treated, and get balanced timing with an uprated cam set. And since more power means more heat, also look into a more efficient cooling system.

Brake Upgrades

Brakes are primarily about stopping power, but more bite also means you can carry more speed into bends and brake later. Upgrade to sintered or semi-metallic brake pads, and look into larger-diameter discs for improved actuation, better pedal feel and quicker response times. Stock master and slave cylinders are fine for most uses, but truck owners can get improved braking performance when changing to higher-quality brake fluid, braided steel brake lines for consistency and multi-piston calipers for more bite on souped-up trucks. Parts can be bought on their own, but there are better deals and improved compatibility with packaged truck parts Canada sets.

Suspension Upgrades

Using the truck off-road, when hauling heavy gear or towing trailers and boats, necessitates better performance and longevity that comes with upgraded suspension components. Here, different setups will suit different purposes. For more ground clearance, look into durable and well-built lift kits. These lift the truck several inches off the ground, providing space for off-road or mud tires and chain sets. They also prevent bottoming out when hitting potholes and other road obstacles, and improve approach and departure angles in technical trails.

Coilovers are a sportier option for the asphalt, by lowering and stiffening the chassis for more composure and stability in bends and at higher speeds. For a slammed look, choose lowering springs. And for a balanced mix of ride quality, versatility and performance, go with air suspension. This replaces traditional metal springs with air bellows, and the option to lower and lift the car with smart management systems, depending on your preferences and where you drive.

Convenience, Utility and Space

Boost space, cabin comfort and general safety when fitting your truck with aftermarket truck parts like roof racks, bed liners, tie-down straps and tonneau covers. Racks let you carry bulkier items, from bikes to skis or kayaks, camping basics or spare tires and recovery gear for worry-free off-roading. Liners shield the paint and bodywork from scratches and dents, tonneau covers offer enhanced protection from theft and weathering, and tie-down straps ensure bigger items stay put.

If you’re using the truck for motorcycles, ATVs or smaller farm and construction equipment, also consider durable loading ramps. These protect transported vehicles ensuring safe and quick loading and unloading. And to get the most out of the interior, look to floor mats and seat covers for added protection, cab heaters for those colder days, or sportier steering wheels and gear knobs to spice up the looks.

When shopping, have your VIN, year, make and model details ready. For compatibility and parts that just work, choose original equipment. Or, if you want more of everything, including performance, durability, better build and improved looks, but at a lower price, choose reliable aftermarket parts from the dozens of third-party brands.