The crossword clue “parts partner” is most commonly answered with LABOR (as in “labor and parts” or “parts and labor”).

Quick Scoop on the clue

If you’ve just hit this clue in a puzzle—especially a recent LA Times crossword—the intended answer is almost certainly LABOR.

Why it fits:

  • Phrase: “parts and labor” is a standard pairing on repair bills.
  • Length: Many published solutions list a 5‑letter answer, matching LABOR.
  • Recent use: “Parts partner” / “Partner of parts” has appeared with LABOR as the solution in multiple mainstream crosswords over the years.

Similar crossword clue variants

You may also see closely related clue forms:

  • “Partner of parts” → LABOR.
  • “Parts partner” → LABOR (LA Times, January 27, 2026).
  • “Parts partner” / “Part partner” entries in various crossword helper sites all point back to LABOR as the primary solution.

So if your grid pattern is _ A B O R, you can confidently fill in LABOR as the answer to “parts partner”.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.