motorcraft vs the other brake parts
 

I was trying to bleed the brakes on my 88 E250 when the dreadful slip of the wrench on the bleeder happened.
So I'm anticipating needing the replace the wheel cylinder.
On a popular auto parts website they have motorcraft cylinders for $24 while they have wagner/raybestos/acdelco from around $5
I was going to buy the motorcraft part until I saw the price difference. Where are they made?
The other 3 I mentioned are all reputable but I'd probably choose between wagner and raybestos. I'm not sure where they are made at either.
Probably a safe bet they say china though.
Soaked those dang bleeders a week ago and than again today with kroil and pb blaster and even tried the wax trick..
I'm hoping I can vice grip them off and just replace the bleeder but yea...

Anyone that knows Betty Page and uses Kroil deserves a good wheel cylinder at a good price! :-drink

What kind of wrench did you use ?

brake flare wrench

When doing a major brake job on my '96 E150 Clubwagon (several years ago) I bought whatever name brand part, other than motorcraft, that was available and they were fine.

One key point: I bought a pair at one store and then had a reason to redo one side a couple of years later and bought a one replacement cylinder. Turns out it had a different bore size which resulted in that wheel locking prematurely. I had to find another cylinder with the correct bore size to match the other size. So check them before installation.

Yea I see there are 2 different cylinders available, one with a larger bore for 3" shoes and one for the 2.5" shoes.
I have to remove the drums to see what size I have before I can even order anything.
That was my thought as well on cylinders. I wanted to stick with motorcraft but this isn't a resto and for 20 more each I find it hard to justify for a name.
When any of the ones I mentioned will probably last as long.

Try a six point socket on it. And if that doesn't work, try one size smaller. If a 3/8" try a metric socket a size smaller like 8 or 9 mm. Hammer it on then use the wrench on it to remove the bleeder.

The 3" shoes were mostly used on the duel rear wheels vans with the D70 axle.

Most alternative major brands are fine over the pricey Motorcraft for replacement.

I have had poor luck with stuck bleeders. I would just replace the cylinders and be done with it. If the bleeders are that stuck then the cylinder bores are likely pitted and the seals hardened and should be replaced anyway.

I prefer to stick with Motorcraft parts. I've ran the cheap parts too. I've also had to replace wheel cylinders that I recently replaced because they started leaking.

But just because it's Motorcraft doesn't mean it's great parts either. I spent more and bought Motorcraft brake drums for the back of my 96 E250. Well when they showed up it said "made in china" on the boxes. I was not real happy.

So it's really a coin toss either way. Parts quality can be crap no matter what name is on the box.

I try to stick with Motorcraft parts for starters, water pumps, calipers, thermostats, etc.