Wheel Bearings > All Made In China?

[HammerDown]

What the heck happened to Timken quality?
Research tells me Timken are using 'made in China' bearings and assembling them in the USA so they can stamp "made in USA" on the product...***?
My parts houses Napa, Auto Zone, Advance Auto etc all carry the same Timken or National (National owns Timken) bearings.
What are you fellas using for a decent front bearings...are the above ok quality?

 

[cpdenton]

I have about 5000 miles on some autozone specials. Nice and quiet so far. Long term? Who knows.

I think my front innerspring might even be timken. Can't remember

 

[laserjock]

I just bought a national pinion bearing that says made in Spain. Other than that, I bought all spicer stuff to go into my front axle. The only thing I haven't bought yet are the wheel bearings.

 

[chris142]

ya good luck finding usa stuff. sometimes the sets will be chinese but sold seperatly made in usa or some other deceint country.may want to ck into that. other than that pack them well with good grease and hope for the best.

 

[FarmerFrank]

A man that supply's me most of my old tractor parts worked for Timken for 20 years. I recently bought a new hydraulic pump and idler gears and told him throw in a new set of bearings.

When I got the parts I was glad to see Timken boxes, until I opened them. MADE IN CHINA.

So I called him and said what's the deal with this junk? He told me "I hate it as much as you do but I seen the test. None if the American made bearings hold up like the ones we make in china. ".

Of course I was a little ticked but you have the choice, hurt your pride or hurt your wallet buying another set of homeland made ones.

Just my input in this tragic reality.

 

[Black dawg]

It does suck that soo much is being made in china, seems american workers have outgrown thier britches

Napa bearings last I checked were skf brand...some bearings say made in china, and some say mexico iirc. Quality has been very inconsistent.

Even some spicer stuff says made in china...lots of U joints.

 

[chris142]

It does suck that soo much is being made in china, seems american workers have outgrown thier britches

Napa bearings last I checked were skf brand...some bearings say made in china, and some say mexico iirc. Quality has been very inconsistent.

Even some spicer stuff says made in china...lots of U joints.

ya i passed on spicers cause of that. i found made in usa precision ones made in usa

 

[Black dawg]

if you want usa made u joints, neapco is good stuff. I am sometimes stuck using precision joints on jobs, but NEVER on my stuff.

 

[zjspeedy]

I just overhauled my rear sterling 10.25 axle with timkin and the differential kit i got were all stamped made in usa. Might want to look at usa standard gear at www.rockauto.com. Last I checked they were all stamped made in usa. I have a front differential bearing kit from them waiting to be installed.

 

[laserjock]

For what it's worth, my king pin kit came with timken bearings made in Canada. I didn't look close at the spicer joints I bought for the front axle.

 

[mblaney]

For what it's worth, my king pin kit came with timken bearings made in Canada. I didn't look close at the spicer joints I bought for the front axle.

I think the Canada plant was shut down; maybe you got some new-old stock? I always buy Timken; even if they are manufactured in China at least the quality requirements are better than crappy no-name parts. My pecking order are Timken, SKF, NTN, Koyo (I think Koyo is very good but hard to find). I buy 'dollar store' (Princess Auto, Horrible Freight) bearings for stuff like my crappy ride on mower spindles and change them once per year whether they need it or not. I won't buy branded (NAPA, etc) because you never know what you are getting.

 

[smithman]

I have purchased many Timken bearings in the last year for various vehicles. Inside the Timken cardboard box, I have seen markings on the bearings that say Timken, Koyo (Japan marked), and even SKF (Spain marked).
It's almost like bearings now are just a giant love fest among the different suppliers.

 

[icanfixall]

Sadly we are caught up in the greed of big companys. Many "things are fabricated over seas but assembled here or Canada or Mexico. Our Delphi injectors are made over seas and assembled in Mexico. Its not going to change back to what we all trusted and liked.

 

[riotwarrior]

I dunno bout where the ones I showed in the Lounge where from...no markings what so ever...but plastic carrier on em...sad...looked really cheap n cheasy....but seam to work.

 

[HammerDown]

I just overhauled my rear sterling 10.25 axle with timkin and the differential kit i got were all stamped made in usa. Might want to look at usa standard gear at www.rockauto.com. Last I checked they were all stamped made in usa. I have a front differential bearing kit from them waiting to be installed.

Here's the thing > anymore "Made in USA" doesn't necessarily mean the the produce was created in America, but only assembled here.
Not truck parts related but, I've come to find the very questionable and sometimes toxic ingredients in 'Dog Treats' come/sourced from china, and pressed into their shapes here, and are labeled "Made in USA"
That's some diabolical BS right there!