Spicer OEM Parts vs. Aftermarket Parts: What's the Difference?

Spicer OEM parts are new, genuine Dana components built to original-equipment specifications and shipped right out of the box, while Spicer aftermarket parts are all-makes replacement components engineered for aging vehicles that still have a job to do. The practical difference comes down to what you're replacing and why: if you want the exact part your vehicle was built with, or you're upgrading a modern platform, OEM is the match; if you're keeping an older or mixed-fleet vehicle running, aftermarket coverage is usually the point.

The core distinction

Dana describes its genuine axles as "brand-new and right out of the box," with sealing technologies that "meet the standards of OEM." That phrasing matters for two reasons:

• New, not remanufactured. The OEM side of the catalog is positioned around new production parts rather than rebuilt cores.
• OEM-grade sealing. Seals are called out specifically because they're a common failure point on driveline components, and Dana ties its sealing technology directly to OEM quality standards.

Aftermarket parts, by contrast, are described as "all-makes aftermarket replacement parts, Dana-engineered for aging vehicles that still have a job to do." Two things stand out: all-makes (broader vehicle coverage than a single original application) and aging vehicles (the design target is keeping older equipment in service, not matching a factory build sheet).

How they compare

Which one fits your situation

Choose OEM when:

• You're working on a vehicle where matching the original build matters (warranty-sensitive repairs, restoration, or a platform still under factory expectations).
• You're installing a performance upgrade on a current platform — Dana's upgrade paths (for example, the CV and LV upgrade pages) sit alongside its OEM and performance catalog rather than in the general aftermarket replacement line.
• You want a new part rather than a rebuilt one.

Choose aftermarket when:

• The vehicle is older and the goal is continued service rather than factory-exact restoration.
• You're servicing multiple makes and want one parts source with broad coverage.
• The original part is no longer the practical option for the vehicle's current role.

A concrete example

Say you have a Jeep JK Wrangler used mainly off-road. Dana lists a bolt-in off-road axle solution for the JK that "features in-demand upgrades built right in" — that's an upgrade-oriented product, not a generic replacement. Now say you have a high-mileage work truck of a different make that needs a replacement axle component to stay on the road. The all-makes aftermarket line is built for exactly that second scenario: an aging vehicle that still has a job to do.

Same brand, same catalog family, different design intent — and the intent is what should drive your choice.

Before you buy

Two practical steps apply either way:

1. Confirm the part number against your vehicle. Spicer's site provides an e-catalog, an "Identify Parts" tool, and a "Measuring U-Joints" resource for cases where the part isn't obvious from the application lookup.
2. Check availability and where to buy. The site separates "Parts Availability," "Order Parts," and "Where to Buy," and points to DanaAftermarket.com for searching, locating, ordering, and tracking. Pricing and account requirements aren't specified on the pages reviewed here, so confirm those at the point of purchase rather than assuming.

If you're unsure which side of the catalog a specific component falls on, the application filters (Automotive, Performance, Commercial, Specialty) and the make-specific sections (Jeep, Ford, Spicer Select, GM HD, Dodge/Ram) are the fastest way to narrow it down.