Vehicle Parts & Accessories

Body Clips & Hardware

Imperial carries over 2,500 body clips, retainers and hardware to complete the wide array of jobs that roll into your shop. Also known as trim and retainer clips, automotive body clips are small but essential parts of every vehicle. From securing body trim and splash panels to installing interior panels, such as on the door and dash, body clips help piece together the aesthetics of every vehicle.

Body Clip Removal and Replacement

The past 20 years has seen metal screws and bolts replaced throughout the vehicle by plastic body fastening clips, also named trim or push retainers. These clips hold everything from undercarriage splash panels and engine bay covers, to interior door and dash panels.

Although durable, during removal these plastic clips can be quite fragile. Using the right tool allows them to be removed and reinserted easily. If a screwdriver or flat piece of metal is used, you can destroy the fastener or even damage the panel.

Body clips work by expansion. Similar to drywall fasteners, body clips expand behind the panel once inserted through pre-drill holes. The two primary categories of body clips are push-in and screw-in. Closed bottom, barbed (or Christmas tree), screw type and open bottom fall within those. To protect the clip during removal, always use the correct tool.

Oil Drain Plugs & Gaskets

Motor oil is the lifeblood of a vehicle and its engine. During an oil change, the oil drain plug is used to drain oil from the vehicle pan. Imperial offers a diverse selection of oil drain plugs, gaskets and drip pans designed to help your shop service and maintain a wide variety of vehicles and keep them running like new.

Where is the Oil Drain Plug?

Oil drain plugs are usually pretty easy to find on the lowest point of your vehicle oil pan under the engine. This may be on the bottom, or more likely, the side of the pan.

How Do I Know if it's Leaking?

Place some cardboard under your vehicle's engine and let it sit over night. If you notice puddles or streaks, you have a leak. To find out if you have a slow leak, clean the area around the oil plug until you can see the metal pan. Check periodically to see if oil is starting to spread out on the clean metal.

How Do I Fix a Leaking Oil Drain Plug?

If you're noticing a leak from the oil plug, there are a couple of things that can be checked. The gasket is a seal that prevents an oil leak as the oil circulates between the engine block and oil pan. If this gasket is faulty, you will need a gasket replacement. If the bolt or oil pan have been cross-threaded, the oil drain plug needs replacement.

Key Machines

It doesn’t pay to have someone else cut your keys. Key machines can quickly duplicate and originate all types of automotive keys, including heavy trucks and motorcycles. Guided by user-friendly software, key cutting is accomplished using a simple set of step-by-step prompts. Various models have the capability to edge cut, laser cut, tibbe cut, tubular cut, cruciform cut and dimple cut keys.

Automotive & Transponder Key Blanks

Transponder keys are automotive ignition keys with signal-emitting circuits built inside. Also known as "Chip Keys", they can successfully protect cars from theft in two ways: forcing the ignition cylinder won't start the car and the keys are difficult to duplicate. This is why chip keys are popular in modern cars and help decrease car theft.