{
  "dataset": "Car part categories, buying criteria and linked repairs",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0 — attribute to 911FixAuto (https://911fixauto.com)",
  "count": 8,
  "results": [
    {
      "slug": "brakes",
      "name": "Brakes",
      "category": "Brakes",
      "headline": "Brake pads, discs, calipers and fluid",
      "intro": "Brakes are the single most searched repair category and the easiest place to overpay. This hub covers what fits your car, what a full brake job actually costs in six countries, and how to tell a worn pad from a warped disc.",
      "relatedRepairServices": [
        "brake-pad-replacement",
        "brake-rotor-replacement",
        "brake-fluid-flush"
      ],
      "buyingCriteria": [
        {
          "title": "Match the disc diameter, not just the model",
          "body": "Many models ship two or three brake packages in the same model year. Measure the disc or check the caliper casting number before ordering."
        },
        {
          "title": "Buy pads and hardware together",
          "body": "Shims, clips and abutment plates wear with the pads. Reusing flattened clips is the most common cause of a squeal after a fresh brake job."
        },
        {
          "title": "Ceramic vs semi-metallic",
          "body": "Ceramic pads dust less and stay quieter; semi-metallic bite harder when hot and suit towing or heavy vehicles."
        },
        {
          "title": "Coated discs in wet climates",
          "body": "Geomet or similar coatings stop the hub face and vents rusting, which keeps run-out low over the disc's life."
        }
      ],
      "useCases": [
        "Squeal or grind under braking",
        "Steering shudder when slowing from motorway speed",
        "Annual inspection or roadworthiness test prep",
        "Towing or heavy-load upgrade"
      ],
      "faqs": [
        {
          "q": "Do I need new discs every time I change pads?",
          "a": "Not always. Measure the disc thickness against the minimum stamped on the hat. If it is within about 1 mm of minimum, replace it — most modern discs are too thin to be machined."
        },
        {
          "q": "Can I change pads on one wheel only?",
          "a": "No. Always replace pads in axle pairs so braking force stays even side to side."
        },
        {
          "q": "How long should brake pads last?",
          "a": "Roughly 25,000–65,000 miles (40,000–105,000 km) depending on driving style, vehicle weight and pad compound."
        }
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "brake pads",
        "brake discs",
        "brake rotors",
        "brake job cost",
        "brake calipers"
      ],
      "source": "https://911fixauto.com/parts/brakes"
    },
    {
      "slug": "suspension",
      "name": "Suspension & steering",
      "category": "Suspension",
      "headline": "Shocks, struts, control arms, bushings and bearings",
      "intro": "Suspension parts fail slowly, so most drivers only notice after the tyres are ruined. This hub covers matching dampers to your exact trim, when to buy complete strut assemblies, and what an axle-pair job costs.",
      "relatedRepairServices": [
        "shock-absorber-replacement",
        "wheel-bearing-replacement",
        "wheel-alignment"
      ],
      "buyingCriteria": [
        {
          "title": "Check for adaptive dampers",
          "body": "Electronically adjustable dampers cost several times more and will throw a suspension fault if you fit passive units without a bypass."
        },
        {
          "title": "Complete strut assemblies save labour",
          "body": "A pre-assembled strut with spring and top mount removes the spring-compressor step and often pays for itself in labour hours."
        },
        {
          "title": "Always buy in axle pairs",
          "body": "A new damper on one side and a worn one on the other makes the car handle worse, not better."
        },
        {
          "title": "Budget an alignment",
          "body": "Any job that disturbs a strut, control arm or tie rod needs a four-wheel alignment afterwards."
        }
      ],
      "useCases": [
        "Bouncy or floaty ride",
        "Clunk over speed bumps",
        "Uneven or cupped tyre wear",
        "Lift kits and load-carrying upgrades"
      ],
      "faqs": [
        {
          "q": "How do I know a shock absorber is worn?",
          "a": "Look for oil film on the damper body, more than one rebound after a bounce test, nose dive under braking, and cupped tyre wear."
        },
        {
          "q": "Do I need an alignment after replacing shocks?",
          "a": "Yes for struts, which carry camber. Rear shock-only jobs on a beam axle usually do not change geometry."
        }
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "shock absorbers",
        "struts",
        "control arms",
        "wheel bearings",
        "suspension cost"
      ],
      "source": "https://911fixauto.com/parts/suspension"
    },
    {
      "slug": "engine-drivetrain",
      "name": "Engine & drivetrain",
      "category": "Engine & Drivetrain",
      "headline": "Filters, belts, pumps, plugs, clutches and gaskets",
      "intro": "The biggest and most expensive category. Use the fitment finder to filter down to your engine code, then compare aftermarket, OE-supplier and genuine parts before you book any labour.",
      "relatedRepairServices": [
        "oil-change",
        "spark-plug-replacement",
        "timing-belt-replacement",
        "water-pump-replacement",
        "clutch-replacement",
        "transmission-fluid-change"
      ],
      "buyingCriteria": [
        {
          "title": "Engine code beats model year",
          "body": "One model year often covers three or four engines. The engine code on the VIN plate is the only reliable filter."
        },
        {
          "title": "Buy timing components as a kit",
          "body": "Belt, tensioner, idlers and water pump share the same labour. Kits are cheaper than the individual parts and keep wear matched."
        },
        {
          "title": "Match fluid specifications exactly",
          "body": "Oil and ATF specifications are approvals, not suggestions. The wrong spec voids warranties and can destroy a gearbox."
        }
      ],
      "useCases": [
        "Scheduled service intervals",
        "Misfire and check-engine diagnosis",
        "High-mileage preventative maintenance",
        "Pre-purchase reconditioning"
      ],
      "faqs": [
        {
          "q": "How often should a timing belt be replaced?",
          "a": "Typically every 60,000–100,000 miles or 5–7 years, whichever comes first. Chains are usually lifetime but not always."
        },
        {
          "q": "Is aftermarket as good as genuine?",
          "a": "OE-supplier brands make the same part that goes in the genuine box, without the manufacturer markup. Unbranded no-name parts are the ones to avoid."
        }
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "timing belt kit",
        "spark plugs",
        "water pump",
        "clutch kit",
        "oil filter"
      ],
      "source": "https://911fixauto.com/parts/engine-drivetrain"
    },
    {
      "slug": "electrical",
      "name": "Electrical & sensors",
      "category": "Electrical",
      "headline": "Batteries, alternators, starters, sensors and wiring",
      "intro": "Electrical faults get misdiagnosed more than anything else on a car. This hub pairs parts with the tests you should run before spending money.",
      "relatedRepairServices": [
        "battery-replacement",
        "alternator-replacement",
        "starter-motor-replacement",
        "ac-recharge"
      ],
      "buyingCriteria": [
        {
          "title": "AGM or EFB for start-stop cars",
          "body": "Fitting a standard flooded battery to a start-stop system shortens its life to a year or two."
        },
        {
          "title": "Battery registration matters",
          "body": "Most modern European cars need the new battery registered to the energy-management module or it will be undercharged."
        },
        {
          "title": "Test before you buy",
          "body": "A voltage-drop test on the earth strap or a load test on the battery costs nothing and rules out most 'alternator' faults."
        }
      ],
      "useCases": [
        "Slow crank or no start",
        "Battery warning light",
        "Parasitic drain",
        "Sensor fault codes"
      ],
      "faqs": [
        {
          "q": "How long does a car battery last?",
          "a": "Three to six years in temperate climates, less in very hot regions where heat accelerates plate corrosion."
        },
        {
          "q": "Battery or alternator?",
          "a": "If the battery light is on while driving and charging voltage is under 13.5V at idle, suspect the alternator. If the car cranks slowly but runs fine once started, suspect the battery."
        }
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "car battery",
        "alternator",
        "starter motor",
        "oxygen sensor",
        "AGM battery"
      ],
      "source": "https://911fixauto.com/parts/electrical"
    },
    {
      "slug": "wheels-tires",
      "name": "Wheels & tyres",
      "category": "Wheels & Tires",
      "headline": "Tyres, wheels, TPMS, spacers and fitting kits",
      "intro": "The only parts touching the road. This hub covers reading your tyre size, load and speed ratings, seasonal choices, and what a fitted set actually costs by country.",
      "relatedRepairServices": [
        "tire-replacement",
        "wheel-alignment"
      ],
      "buyingCriteria": [
        {
          "title": "Read the full sidewall code",
          "body": "225/45R17 94W is width, aspect ratio, rim diameter, load index and speed rating. Never drop below the placard load index."
        },
        {
          "title": "Match across the axle",
          "body": "Different brands or tread patterns on one axle upset ABS and stability control."
        },
        {
          "title": "TPMS service kits",
          "body": "Valve cores, seals and nuts should be replaced every time a TPMS-equipped tyre is refitted."
        }
      ],
      "useCases": [
        "Tread under 3 mm",
        "Seasonal changeover",
        "Vibration at speed",
        "Wheel upgrade or winter set"
      ],
      "faqs": [
        {
          "q": "Can I replace just one tyre?",
          "a": "On a two-wheel-drive car you can, if you fit it in a pair across the axle with similar tread depth. All-wheel drive usually requires four matched tyres."
        },
        {
          "q": "When should tyres be replaced by age?",
          "a": "Most manufacturers say six years regardless of tread, and ten years as an absolute limit. Check the four-digit DOT week/year code."
        }
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "tyres",
        "tires",
        "alloy wheels",
        "TPMS sensor",
        "tyre size"
      ],
      "source": "https://911fixauto.com/parts/wheels-tires"
    },
    {
      "slug": "lighting",
      "name": "Lighting",
      "category": "Lighting",
      "headline": "Headlights, LED conversions, tail lights and bulbs",
      "intro": "Lighting is the highest-volume DIY category and the one with the most illegal parts on the market. This hub covers which upgrades are road-legal, what needs coding, and how to aim a new unit.",
      "relatedRepairServices": [
        "headlight-replacement"
      ],
      "buyingCriteria": [
        {
          "title": "Reflector vs projector",
          "body": "LED bulbs in a halogen reflector scatter light and are not road-legal in most markets. Projector housings or full LED units are the compliant route."
        },
        {
          "title": "Coding and CAN bus",
          "body": "Many cars flag an LED as a bulb-out failure unless the unit has CAN-bus resistors or the module is coded."
        },
        {
          "title": "Aim after fitting",
          "body": "A new housing must be beam-aimed or it fails inspection and dazzles oncoming traffic."
        }
      ],
      "useCases": [
        "Failed bulb",
        "Hazed or cracked lens",
        "Night-visibility upgrade",
        "Inspection preparation"
      ],
      "faqs": [
        {
          "q": "Are LED bulb conversions legal?",
          "a": "In most of Europe, the UK and Australia, retrofitting LED bulbs into a housing type-approved for halogen makes the vehicle non-compliant. Rules differ by market — check yours before buying."
        },
        {
          "q": "Can a hazed headlight be restored?",
          "a": "Yes. Wet-sanding and a UV-stable clear coat restores output for a fraction of a new housing."
        }
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "headlight assembly",
        "LED headlight bulbs",
        "tail lights",
        "fog lights"
      ],
      "source": "https://911fixauto.com/parts/lighting"
    },
    {
      "slug": "exterior",
      "name": "Exterior & body",
      "category": "Exterior",
      "headline": "Bumpers, mirrors, grilles, covers and trim",
      "intro": "Body parts are where fitment mistakes are most expensive to return. This hub covers pre-facelift versus facelift traps, sensor cut-outs and paint-matching.",
      "relatedRepairServices": [],
      "buyingCriteria": [
        {
          "title": "Facelift vs pre-facelift",
          "body": "Mid-cycle refreshes change bumper and grille mounting even within the same generation. Match by build date, not just year."
        },
        {
          "title": "Sensor and camera cut-outs",
          "body": "Parking sensors, radar and 360 cameras all need the correct apertures — a blank bumper cannot be retro-drilled cleanly."
        },
        {
          "title": "Primed vs painted",
          "body": "Primed parts need paint and blending. Factor that into the quote before comparing prices."
        }
      ],
      "useCases": [
        "Minor collision repair",
        "Weather and UV damage",
        "Styling upgrades",
        "Car covers and protection"
      ],
      "faqs": [
        {
          "q": "How do I find my paint code?",
          "a": "It is on the VIN or service sticker, usually in the door shut, boot floor or under the bonnet."
        }
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "bumper cover",
        "side mirror",
        "grille",
        "car cover",
        "fender"
      ],
      "source": "https://911fixauto.com/parts/exterior"
    },
    {
      "slug": "interior-accessories",
      "name": "Interior & accessories",
      "category": "Accessories",
      "headline": "CarPlay adapters, mats, storage, dash cams and comfort parts",
      "intro": "The fastest-growing category on the site: wireless CarPlay/Android Auto adapters, floor liners, seat covers and cabin upgrades that fit without tools.",
      "relatedRepairServices": [],
      "buyingCriteria": [
        {
          "title": "Confirm the head unit supports wired CarPlay",
          "body": "Wireless adapters convert an existing wired CarPlay port — they cannot add CarPlay to a system that never had it."
        },
        {
          "title": "Model-specific liners beat universal mats",
          "body": "Laser-scanned liners hook to factory retainers and cover the sill; universal mats slide into the pedals."
        },
        {
          "title": "Check cabin filter type",
          "body": "Activated-carbon filters cost slightly more and cut odours and pollen far better."
        }
      ],
      "useCases": [
        "Wireless CarPlay retrofit",
        "Winter floor protection",
        "Dash cam install",
        "Pet and cargo protection"
      ],
      "faqs": [
        {
          "q": "Will a wireless CarPlay adapter drain my battery?",
          "a": "No — it powers off the USB port, which most cars cut when the ignition is off."
        }
      ],
      "keywords": [
        "wireless carplay adapter",
        "floor mats",
        "seat covers",
        "dash cam",
        "cabin filter"
      ],
      "source": "https://911fixauto.com/parts/interior-accessories"
    }
  ]
}