Automotive Head Seal Specification Example for Aftermarket Retail: Budget Line
Automotive Head Seal Specification Example for Aftermarket Retail: Budget Line
This is a worked specification for automotive head seal in a budget line programme. It is the document we would send a buyer who asks what exactly they are getting: the material, the dimensions that are actually controlled, the finish, and the checks that happen before anything is packed.
The budget line version exists because the duty cycle on aftermarket retail is not the same as on a showroom vehicle. Where the two are specified identically, something fails later — usually a fitment that looked right on paper and failed on the bench.
Example specification
| Item | Automotive Head Seal |
|---|---|
| Application | Aftermarket Retail |
| Version | Budget Line |
| Base material | EPDM Rubber |
| Controlled dimensions | 5 key dimensions, recorded per lot |
| Tolerance band | ±0.05 mm |
| Finish | anodised |
| MOQ | 3,000 pieces per specification |
| Sampling | 14 working days, 3 days per revision |
| Compliance | ECE R90 |
How the example is built up
- Start from the duty cycle, not from the catalogue photograph.
- Fix the base material in writing — EPDM Rubber, in this example.
- List the dimensions that are actually controlled and the tolerance on each.
- Name the finish and what it has to survive.
- State the inspection level and who pays when a lot fails.
Processes involved
- laser cutting
- powder coating
- heat treatment
- surface grinding
- robot welding
- die casting
Where this example applies
Programmes that run budget line most often specify this build for aftermarket retail. Related applications include racing teams, emergency vehicles, boat trailers, light trucks, aftermarket retail.
Checks before packing
- Dimensional report against the approved drawing.
- AQL 4.0 sampling on the finished lot.
- Finish inspection under agreed lighting.
- Carton drop test on the first lot of a new packing specification.
Questions buyers ask
What testing is included?
Standard lots ship with dimensional and hardness reports. ECE R90 documentation is issued with the shipment when your market requires it.
What happens if a lot fails inspection?
The lot is re-inspected against the golden sample, and replacement pieces ship on the next available booking at our cost.
Do you handle mixed containers?
Yes. Most programmes consolidate several part numbers into one container to keep freight sensible at 3000 pieces per line.
How long does sampling take?
Samples leave the factory in 14 working days, and each revision round adds about 3 days once you have seen the first piece.
Send the specification you are working to and we will confirm what we can match, what we would change and why.
