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When most people think about a junkyard, they picture hordes of crushed jalopies sitting around, rusting in a toxic cesspool of oil and gas. Well, for many of today's junkyards, this couldn't be further from the truth. Sure, there will always be a few of those old jalopies sitting around, but most of their newer vehicles will actually have quite a few good, reusable parts available, and for a reasonable cost. Why buy new parts, when there are hundreds of perfectly good used parts sitting around with nothing to do. Interested? First you need to know what parts can be used, what should you look for, and what is the best way to find them?
What Junkyard Parts Can be Used and What to Look for
Windshield
From my own personal experience I have purchased windshield replacements from a salvage yard on a number of occasions. Often you can get a windshield which would have otherwise cost $600 for as little as $100 to $200. While you can often remove your own parts for a reduced charge, the windshield is one occasion where it is best to have it removed for you. Look for a minimum number of chips and star-cracks in the windshield, but also keep in mind that minor chips can be very successfully repaired. Remember to properly support the center of the windshield while bringing to a professional installer, to minimize the chance of it cracking.
Engine & Transmission
Many totaled vehicles were damaged in such a way that the engine and transmission are still in good, usable condition. If you own a vehicle, whether it be an older vehicle or newer, chances are it is going to be in need of a repair sooner or later and many of the parts, such as a cylinder head (to repair a cracked head) or cast-iron exhaust manifold can be found in a salvage yard. The key to such parts is to take note of the mileage of the donor engine, to ensure you are getting a part with some years left on it. If you have some mechanical knowledge, some yards will let you remove the parts yourself for a reduced cost.
Suspension
Worn or broken parts such as control arms or spindles can be found at the salvage yard for a reasonable cost. But same as for the engine and transmission parts, you will want to find a donor vehicle with either minimal mileage, or newer parts. Suspension parts are very easily damaged during severe collisions, so make sure that the parts are not bent or damaged before purchasing.
*Note: Never reuse old ball joints, tie rods, idler arms, or bushings, as they pose a serious safety hazard to your vehicle. Have all parts installed by a qualified repair shop to ensure the job is done correctly.
Wheels & Tires
Believe it or not, a lot of good tires go through a salvage yard, many with as much as 40% to 80% of their original tread depth. I have seen such tires go for as low as $10 each. The same goes for wheel rims. If you have ever been guilty of a curb check, chances are you know that these can bend your rims into all kinds of unnatural shapes. If your original wheel rim is unrepairable, you can often purchase one from a salvage yard at a huge discount from what a new one would cost. Scan over each tire you plan to buy, looking for signs of either under/over inflation or severe wheel misalignment.
Repair Damaged Body Panels or Rust
Another common part found at the salvage yard are body panel replacements. Often times a damaged fender or hood can be repaired, but other times there is just too much damage for a safe and cost effective repair. If you are dealing with an insurance company and/or auto body shop, you can always request they use parts from a donor vehicle in a salvage yard, rather than new. Some shops prefer to work with new, aftermarket parts rather than used OEM, but remember, it is your vehicle and it is your right to have it repaired the way you want (within reason of course). If the body shop tells you that they are having trouble locating a donor part from a salvage yard, well, then you can take matters into your own hands...
Where to Locate Donor Parts
Back in the old days (say even 10 or 15 years ago), the only way to find salvage parts was to call around all the salvage yards and then visit the ones that say that they your make and model of vehicle on hand. Today however, thanks to modern technology, most salvage yards have their entire inventory of parts listed on their website. A good search engine should give you a list of several potential salvage yards in your area. This makes it easy to compare prices and often get an even better deal.
Taking advantage of your local salvage yard is about more than reduce, reuse, and recycle, it is about saving money.
More on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle
What's Your Transportation Footprint?
Reduce Reuse Recycle
7 Ways to Make Your Whole Vehicle Last Longer, From Wheels to Wipers
6 Automotive Parts You Can Easily Recycle
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