Sourcing car aftermarket parts from China
For brake pads, filters and suspension parts from China, order by part number against an OE cross-reference, fix materials and approval marks per part, and inspect dimensions, markings and packaging before loading. In the UK, the 1999 brake linings rules as made require an approval such as ECE Regulation 90. Cambridge China Bridge audits factories and inspects parts in China.
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Products and search terms
brake pads, car filters, suspension parts, automotive aftermarket parts, car parts from China, replacement brake linings
Order by part number, not by description
Patchy quality in aftermarket parts usually starts with an order that describes the part rather than identifying it. Order every line by part number against an OE cross-reference, with the vehicle applications, the drawing or a reference sample, and the material the part must be made from. A factory can then be held to that part and nothing else.
Factories specialise: friction materials, filters, rubber and metal suspension parts, and pressed or cast components come from different plants. A distributor range usually needs several, and each should be audited for the process it actually runs rather than the catalogue it shows.
| Part family | Specify | Check before loading |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads and shoes | Part number, friction compound, backing plate, shims and wear indicators, and the approval mark required in your market | Approval mark and batch code on each part and box, dimensions against the reference |
| Oil, air, fuel and cabin filters | Part number, filter media, seals, thread and bypass valve where fitted | Thread and seal fit, media and printing against the approved sample |
| Suspension and steering parts | Part number, steel grade, rubber compound, ball-joint and bush design, finish | Dimensions, finish, rubber condition and boot fit on sampled parts |
| Packaging and labels | Box artwork, part number and application labels, barcodes and carton marks | Labels matching the part inside, barcode scan and carton count |
UK import duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, most aftermarket parts under heading 8708 carried 2% or 4% on goods from China, depending on the part. Brake pads and linings are not heading 8708 but 6813 at 0%, and engine filters are 8421 at 0%. Heading 8708 also has separate lines for the industrial assembly of new vehicles, with their own conditions; the lines below are the aftermarket ones.
Aluminium road wheels carry anti-dumping duty on China from 9 February 2024 to 25 January 2027. Wheels machined from a forged blank or assembled from several pieces pay 22.3% on top of the 4% customs duty. Cast aluminium wheels pay 0% anti-dumping duty only if the invoice carries the signed declaration set out in the tariff that they are made from cast aluminium, with document code D008 on the declaration; without it they also pay 22.3%. Check the construction of every wheel with the anti-dumping duty checker.
| Goods | Commodity code | Customs duty |
|---|---|---|
| Bumpers and parts | 8708 10 90 90 | 4% |
| Other body parts and accessories | 8708 29 90 99 | 4% |
| Brakes and servo-brakes, other parts | 8708 30 99 00 | 4% |
| Gearbox parts, other | 8708 40 99 00 | 2% |
| Drive axle and non-driving axle parts, other | 8708 50 99 90 | 2% |
| Aluminium road wheels, other (see anti-dumping note) | 8708 70 50 50 | 4% |
| Other road wheels fitted with tyres, for buses or lorries | 8708 70 99 30 | 4% |
| Suspension shock absorbers, other | 8708 80 35 90 | 4% |
| Other suspension parts | 8708 80 99 90 | 2% |
| Radiators, other | 8708 91 35 90 | 4% |
| Silencers (mufflers) and exhaust pipes | 8708 92 35 00 | 4% |
| Clutches and parts, other | 8708 93 90 00 | 4% |
| Steering wheels, columns and boxes | 8708 94 35 00 | 4% |
| Airbag parts, other | 8708 95 99 90 | 2% |
| Other vehicle parts and accessories | 8708 99 97 90 | 2% |
| Brake linings and pads, not containing asbestos | 6813 81 00 90 | 0% |
| Oil or fuel filters for engines | 8421 23 00 90 | 0% |
Approval marks and markets
Brake linings carry their own approval rules. The Road Vehicles (Brake Linings Safety) Regulations 1999, as originally made, prohibit supplying replacement brake linings for fitting to relevant vehicles unless they are approved under the Braking Devices Directive or ECE Regulation 90 and marked and packed accordingly. Ask the factory for the approval documents for each part number, and check the mark on the part itself.
For other markets, the destination rules decide which approvals and certificates apply. We quote to your own port, and our country guides, such as South Africa and Kenya, set out what has to be arranged in China before shipping.
Inspection that catches the wrong part
The failures that cost a parts distributor are mixed boxes, wrong applications and a changed compound. Our own staff in China check sampled parts against the part list, the reference samples and the drawings, confirm approval marks and batch codes, and count by part number at loading, with the seal number recorded.
Keep batch codes on the packing list so a problem found later can be traced to a production run. The container loading check sets out what the loading report shows.
Related guides: Sourcing friction materials from China.
Frequently asked questions
Do replacement brake pads need approval in the UK?
Under the Road Vehicles (Brake Linings Safety) Regulations 1999, as originally made, replacement brake linings for relevant vehicles must be approved under the Braking Devices Directive or ECE Regulation 90 and marked accordingly.
How do I stop receiving the wrong car parts from China?
Order by part number against an OE cross-reference and reference samples, and have parts checked and counted by part number before the container is sealed.
Do you source car parts for buyers outside the UK?
Yes. We audit factories and inspect parts in China and quote to your own port; your importer handles the destination entry.