Condition grading
Why we grade — and why we grade conservatively
Every part we sell carries a grade from 5 to 1. The grade is the condition disclosure: a plain-language statement of what we found when we inspected the part, applied by one team using one rubric across the entire catalog. We grade what we can physically inspect and verify — and when a part sits between two grades, it takes the lower one. That's the whole philosophy. A buyer who receives a part that's better than expected comes back; nobody comes back twice for the opposite.
Used race parts are usually sold with a photo and a shrug. We think a published rubric beats adjectives, so here is exactly what each grade means.
The five grades
Grade 5 — New / NOS
Never installed. Original packaging, or an unfitted take-off with zero use. A Grade 5 part is the same part it was the day it left the factory — new-old-stock surplus is the largest slice of our inventory, and for older platforms where factory supply has slowed or stopped, it's usually the best value in the market.
Grade 4 — Excellent
Installed but barely used. No damage, no repairs, minimal visible wear. Fasteners may show tool witness marks; mating surfaces are clean. A Grade 4 part goes on a car without a second thought.
Grade 3 — Good
Normal competition wear. Fully functional, cosmetic marks only — rubbed paint, stone-peppering, shelf scuffs. This is what a healthy part looks like mid-life on a working Cup car.
Grade 2 — Fair
Functional but tired. Heavy wear, near a service limit, or carrying cosmetic damage. Grade 2 parts are honest budget choices: plan a refresh, and price the refresh into what you pay.
Grade 1 — Core / As-is
Damaged, life-expired, or function unverified. Sold for rebuild, donor use, or display — not for service as-is. When we can't verify function, we say so and grade here; we don't round up.
What the grade covers — and what it can't
The grade reflects a physical inspection: visible condition, completeness, evidence of repair, and function where we can test it. It is not a certification, a homologation statement, or a service-life guarantee. We don't publish usage histories for our parts, because with race equipment that data can't be honestly reconstructed after the fact — and we'd rather tell you what we can verify than repeat what we can't. What we can verify, we put on the listing: the factory part number, the platform fitment from the factory catalog, and the grade.
Safety-critical parts get an extra sentence
Suspension, brakes, wheels, and steering components should always get a professional inspection — including crack-testing where appropriate — before competition use, regardless of grade. That expectation is printed on every safety-critical listing, and it applies to a Grade 5 part as much as a Grade 2 one. A grade describes condition; your race shop clears a part for service.
How to buy by grade
- Building a spare package for a race season: Grade 4–5. You want parts that bolt on between sessions with no drama. Browse New & NOS for the Grade 5 shelf.
- Replacing consumable bodywork and ducting: Grade 3 is the sweet spot — these parts get consumed by contact anyway.
- Budget rebuild or development car: Grade 2 with a planned refresh often beats a Grade 4 price.
- Rebuild cores and display: Grade 1, priced accordingly.
Questions we get about grading
Who applies the grades?
The same program crew that pulled the parts. One rubric, one set of eyes across the catalog — which is exactly what makes a published scale meaningful.
Can a grade be wrong?
We grade conservatively to keep errors on the side you'd want. If a part arrives and you believe it's below its listed grade, contact us — the grade is a representation we stand behind.
Why is there no "hours" number on listings?
Because we won't publish numbers we can't verify. The grade tells you what the part is; anything else would be storytelling.
Do grades affect price?
Yes, directly — the same part number in Grade 5 and Grade 2 are different products at different prices. That's the point of the scale.
Ready to look? Browse the catalog — every listing shows its grade next to the factory part number — or ask us about a specific part.