Peak season is here. Job sites are busy, hours are stacking up, and your skid steer is working harder than it has all year. That's great for productivity — and tough on a handful of parts that take the brunt of it all.
June and July are when we see the biggest demand for skid steer replacement parts, and it's not random. Heat, dust, extended run times, and deferred spring maintenance all come due at the same time. The result is a predictable list of parts that wear out fast this time of year.
Here's what's failing on job sites right now — and what you can do about it before a breakdown takes your machine offline.
1. Filter Kits (Oil, Fuel, Hydraulic, and Air)
If there's one thing that separates a skid steer that runs all season from one that doesn't, it's clean filters. All four — engine oil, fuel, hydraulic, and air — are under elevated stress in summer conditions.
Dust and debris clog air filters faster when the ground is dry. Heat degrades oil faster, shortening the window between changes. Hydraulic systems work harder in warm weather, putting more through the filter in less time. Fuel filters pick up sediment and moisture that warm temperatures accelerate.
The good news: filter kits are cheap insurance. Replacing all four at once mid-season takes less than an hour and costs a fraction of what a contaminated hydraulic system or seized engine costs to fix.
At Reliable Aftermarket Parts, we carry complete skid steer filter kits for Bobcat, Case, Caterpillar, John Deere, New Holland, Kubota, and more — oil, fuel, hydraulic, and air filters included in a single kit.
[Shop Skid Steer Filter Kits → ReliableAftermarketParts.com]
2. Hydraulic Filters
Hydraulic filters deserve a section of their own because the hydraulic system is the heart of a skid steer. Everything — lifting, tilting, driving — runs through it. A clogged or failing hydraulic filter leads to sluggish response, overheating, and eventually pump and valve damage that's expensive to repair.
Summer heat raises hydraulic fluid temperatures, which accelerates filter media degradation. If you're running a skid steer hard through summer — multiple shifts, heavy attachments, high-cycle work — a single hydraulic filter change mid-season may not be enough.
Signs your hydraulic filter needs attention: slow or sluggish lift cycles, overheating warnings, unusual noise from the hydraulic pump, or the filter restriction indicator if your machine has one.
RAP carries hydraulic filters for all major skid steer brands. Whether you run Bobcat, Cat, Case, John Deere, or New Holland, we have the filter that fits.
[Shop Hydraulic Filters → ReliableAftermarketParts.com]
3. Axle Bearing and Seal Kits
Axle bearings and seals are one of the most overlooked wear items on a skid steer — right up until they start grinding. These components handle the full load of the machine under constant movement, and the seals that protect them take a beating from heat, dust, and debris.
When a seal fails, dirt and moisture get into the bearing. When a bearing fails, you're looking at wheel wobble, heat buildup, and potentially a locked-up axle. Neither is a cheap fix.
The early warning signs are subtle: a slight grinding sound from the wheel area, unusual heat at the wheel hub after operation, or minor play in the wheel when the machine is lifted. Catching it early means a seal kit or bearing kit. Ignoring it means a full axle rebuild.
We carry axle bearing and seal kits for Bobcat, Case, and other major skid steer brands — everything you need in one kit to get it done right.
[Shop Axle Bearing & Seal Kits → ReliableAftermarketParts.com]
4. Seats
It sounds simple, but operator seat wear is a real issue on heavily used skid steers. Vinyl cracks and splits in heat. Foam compresses and loses its shape. Seat adjustment mechanisms wear out. And when your operator is spending 8–10 hours a day in that seat, comfort and operator presence switch function both matter.
A failed operator presence switch — often built into the seat — can prevent the machine from operating or cause intermittent shutdowns. That's a productivity problem that a new seat solves quickly.
We carry replacement seats for Bobcat, John Deere, Caterpillar, and other major skid steer brands — including suspension seats with adjustable slide tracks for higher-hour machines.
[Shop Skid Steer Seats → ReliableAftermarketParts.com]
5. Wheel Rims
Skid steer wheel rims take a beating year-round, but summer job sites — especially construction, land clearing, and demolition work — are where rims see the most damage. Rock impacts, debris, and running on rough terrain all add up. A bent or cracked rim leads to tire bead issues, slow leaks, and eventually a flat at the worst possible time.
Mid-season is a good time to inspect all four rims for cracks, bends, or corrosion at the bead seat. Catching a compromised rim before it causes a tire failure keeps you from losing a day to a flat on a job site.
RAP carries replacement wheel rims for Bobcat skid steers and other major brands in common skid steer sizes.
[Shop Skid Steer Wheel Rims → ReliableAftermarketParts.com]
Don't Wait for a Breakdown to Order Parts
The parts on this list are predictable failures — and predictable failures are preventable ones. A filter kit, a fresh hydraulic filter, and a quick inspection of your bearings and seals takes a fraction of the time that a breakdown repair does.
At Reliable Aftermarket Parts, we stock skid steer parts for all the major brands — Bobcat, Case, Caterpillar, John Deere, New Holland, Kubota, and more — at aftermarket prices that make sense for contractors, owner-operators, and fleet managers alike.
Shop Skid Steer Parts at ReliableAftermarketParts.com and keep your machine running through the busiest months of the year.