Each year, Dorman Products puts on an impressive display at AAPEX and 2024 was no exception. We caught up with Lester Kovacs, Director, Ideation for Dorman who showed us around the booth. A significant new product from Dorman are new replacement oil filter housings for 2011-2023 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles equipped with 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar engines.

Dorman’s oil filter housings are manufactured from high-pressure cast aluminum instead of plastic, providing added durability. Dorman sells these housings in a complete kit format which includes the core, cap and also the filter. “These kits come with the upgraded filter found on 2015-2023 model year vehicles, eliminating bypass issues often found on earlier versions,” said Kovacs. With more than 11 million vehicles in operation being powered by Pentastar 3.6-litre engines, this kit is a welcome addition to the aftermarket.

Also on display, were remanufactured ePAS electronic power steering racks for Dodge and Jeep applications. Kovacs noted that when these ePAS systems fail, often as a result of moisture and corrosion, common in northern climates like Canada, they are very difficult to repair. These racks, available from January 2025, feature upgraded electronics with software written by Dorman’s engineers and improved sealing over the original OEM pieces, enabling greater reliability and longevity. Kovacs also took time to show us Dorman’s Transmission Control Modules that help address issues on units such as the Allison 1000 found on GM HD pickups as well as the GM Hydra-Matic 6L 80 and also the 6R100 found on Ford pickups. Other products on display were aluminum transmission pans with beefed up seals and drain plugs designed to address leaks and issues common on some factory parts, including applications for Volkswagen, Ford and General Motors vehicles.

Dorman also displayed new replacement window regulators for Tesla vehicles that add deeper runner channels, stronger cables and upgraded tension springs.