C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

[Irby G.]

After doing a little research, I just wanted to put this out there for everyones benefit.

Timken automotive search engine for wheel bearings:
http://www.showmetheparts.com/timken/

After getting the set#, I went to Amazon.com and priced it at half the going rate. At the very least you'll be able to determine the correct Timken part number for your vehicle.
Aloha,
Irby

[Joe R.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Irby,

Thanks for the chart source. When you received the bearings, did you notice "Made in the USA" on the bearings? Remember that usually you get what you pay for these days. Unfortunately there are less suppliers that make bearings in the USA. With the drop in price the quality has dropped also.

JR

[Terry D.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Timkin hasn't made wheel bearings for cars in the USA for years.

[Terry D.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Nice chart but no numbers for bearings for C1 cars.

[Patrick B.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Timkin hasn't made wheel bearings for cars in the USA for years.

Where does Timken make wheel bearings for cars?

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Where does Timken make wheel bearings for cars?

Patrick-------


All over the world. I've seen quite a few from Brazil but there are other countries of origin. Foreign-sourced Timken bearings are most prevalent with bearings for older applications (i.e. like the Corvettes we discuss on this board). One finds out where the particular bearing was manufactured after one has the bearing in-hand. Often times, it's not printed on the box but one has to actually look at the bearings, themselves.

That being said, I really don't think that Timken would sell bearings under their brand name which didn't meet the same quality standards that bearings produced in the USA meet or that they would sell inferior bearings under their brand name. I believe that Timken has bearing manufacturing plants around the world.

[Edward J.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

As Joe says Timken is the only bearing co. that makes a super high quality bearing assy. I only use Timken wheel bearings at my shop. and there are no comebacks, as with almost every other co. quality has certainly dropped off. its is surely ashamed to see what's happening in the automotive market. China seems to be the new Japan.

[Domenic T.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

I have a friend that just purchased wheel bearings for a small plane that were being sold for somewhere in the $70 dollar range. He bought them for about $20 bucks and they had Timken part#s on them, but were in a plain box with the part # and( made in china). He said he punched in the Timken # on the computer and brand X came up with the same #.

Dom

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

I have a friend that just purchased wheel bearings for a small plane that were being sold for somewhere in the $70 dollar range. He bought them for about $20 bucks and they had Timken part#s on them, but were in a plain box with the part # and( made in china). He said he punched in the Timken # on the computer and brand X came up with the same #.

Dom

Dom-------


Bearing part numbers are often the same across many or, even, all manufacturers (this does not include GM part numbers). For example, the 1963-82 Corvette rear inner bearing (cone only) is M86649. This may have been originally a Timken part number but, if so, it has somehow "morphed" into a number that is used by a wide array of bearing manufacturers. So, you can't necessarily identify a Timken-manufactured bearing by these part numbers. GM part numbers cannot legally be used to identify non-GM bearings BUT what "renegade" suppliers can and often do is use the term "replaces" (in very small font size and/or "blurred" printing) before the part number. They can also add characters to the GM part number and make it "legit" (e.g. 7450627HD instead of the GM part number 7450627)

Beyond that, many bearings are sold as "sets". "Sets" include the cone (inner race, rollers, and cage) + the outer race. The set numbers are used by many manufacturers and are, essentially, "generic". One cannot identify a bearing manufacturer by "set number". For example, the 1963-68 front outer bearing is known as "set 2" and the front inner bearing as "set 6" regardless of manufacturer.

Timken bearings are identified by "Timken" script on the bearing and on the box they are supplied in. Bearings represented as Timken don't have this feature? They ain't Timken.

[Eric E.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Nice chart but no numbers for bearings for C1 cars.

Terry, thats too bad, I am just getting ready to order front and rear bearings but am not sure where to start my search.

When I sourced a third arm bearing for my C1, I ordered from one of the "corvette" suppliers. The bearing the I received was made in China and the shield was not fully installed. Replaced it and the second was not much better. Finally on line and through the help of others found a good bearing. I see all the catalogs that we use have wheel bearings listed but I have no faith that they will be usable.

[Gary R.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Check with a bearing house. I can still get USA stamped Timkens although I have seen some stamped Poland. Regardless Timken are all I use. All the Diff bearings are USA as well.

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Check with a bearing house. I can still get USA stamped Timkens although I have seen some stamped Poland. Regardless Timken are all I use. All the Diff bearings are USA as well.

Gary------


Yes, while Timken has bearing manufacturing operations around the world, including China, the vast majority of their manufacturing operations are still in the USA. Still, as I previously mentioned, I have noticed that their bearings for older applications are often from foreign countries.

[Gary R.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Hi Joe
I keep hearing USA manufacturing is coming back, I haven't seen it yet but I hold out hope some day we will be training people again - at least like we once did. I will be surprised to see it in my lifetime.

I haven't seen any Chinese made Timkens yet, I have seen Chinese bearings fail though.

[Terry D.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

Gary
Let us know who this bearing house is cause here in Ohio a USA made Timkin early Chevy or Corvette bearing has not been made or available for at least ten years. There home office is right down the street in North Canton Ohio and according to them they haven't made early car bearings in years! I have seen boxes that say "Timkin Bearing Co. USA" but the bearing is stamped made elsewhere.

Terry

[Gary R.]

Re: C2 Wheel bearings - Timken

BDI- New Haven, CT. The last set I bought was about 6 months ago- USA.

Diff bearings I get from various suppliers, Tom's Differentials is one - all usa stamped on them.