Chinese Throw Out Bearing

[David L.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

Back in the 1980's I bought a few NOS throwout bearings at swap meets. I still have a NOS 907538 bearing and a NOS 908244 bearing in my collection.

My 1963 parts catalog lists the 900018 bearing (1 1/4" long) for the 1963 Corvette.
Parts History: 900018 to 907403 in May 1967 to 907826 in Dec. 1971 to 908120 in Oct. 1973.

The 1964-1968 Corvette use the 907538 bearing (1 7/32" long).
Parts History: 907538 to 907963 in May 1969 to 908093 in April 1973 to 908244 in Dec. 1981.

If anyone has a NOS 1969-1973 bearing, GM # 907963 (1 7/32" long) I would be willing to trade my NOS 1964-1968 bearing, GM # 907538, for it. I need the NOS 907963 bearing for my 1970 Camaro SS350.

I would also trade (not sell) my NOS 1981-1982 (replacement for 1964-1980) bearing, GM # 908244.

Dave

[Timothy B.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

In Baltimore we had a company called CV Foster (long gone) that sold bearings and small equipment. Double check as most major cities may still have these small companies.

I can remember buying bearings there that I never thought I would find locally. I miss those times...

[Patrick B.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

Thanks Jack for the tip about rockauto. They have a website much superior to GMpartsdirect, and I ordered both a Timkin and a SKF. Hopefully, they will not be reboxed Chinese bearings. Their prices are very good, too. The same Mann Oil filter that comes in a Mercedes box for $25 was less than $9.

I haven't gotten the SKF bearing yet but the Timkin Throwout bearing arrived yesterday. The sticker on the Timkin box said "Made in United States" which is what I wanted to see. However, Timkin did not make the bearing. The box says "Distributed by the Timkin Company. Timkin Service Parts are carefully chosen from select manufacturers." There are no markings on the bearing itself to identify the "selected manufacturer." It was certainly better to get a made in the US bearing from Rockauto for $19 than a Chinese bearing from a Corvette parts place for $33 even if the US manufacturer remains anonymous. I'll report what the SKF bearing turns out to be when I get it.

[John H.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

The box says "Distributed by the Timkin Company. Timkin Service Parts are carefully chosen from select manufacturers." There are no markings on the bearing itself to identify the "selected manufacturer."

Patrick -

Is that how it's really spelled on the box? If so, it might be a clue. The correct spelling is TIMKEN.

[Patrick B.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

Patrick -

Is that how it's really spelled on the box? If so, it might be a clue. The correct spelling is TIMKEN.

My mistake. It is TIMKEN and the box is genuine Timken. However, it looks like Timken makes boxes rather than bearings these days.

[Joe L.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

My mistake. It is TIMKEN and the box is genuine Timken. However, it looks like Timken makes boxes rather than bearings these days.

Patrick------

Timken's specialty is tapered roller bearings. Clutch release bearings are usually ball bearings. I don't think that Timken has ever actually manufactured ball bearings.

[Patrick B.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

I haven't gotten the SKF bearing yet but the Timkin Throwout bearing arrived yesterday. The sticker on the Timkin box said "Made in United States" which is what I wanted to see. However, Timkin did not make the bearing. The box says "Distributed by the Timkin Company. Timkin Service Parts are carefully chosen from select manufacturers." There are no markings on the bearing itself to identify the "selected manufacturer." It was certainly better to get a made in the US bearing from Rockauto for $19 than a Chinese bearing from a Corvette parts place for $33 even if the US manufacturer remains anonymous. I'll report what the SKF bearing turns out to be when I get it.

I got the SKF bearing.. er box today. The sticker says made in USA, and the box says "quality bearing manufactured or puchased by SKF." The bearing is marked "Aetna" "USA", so Aetna, a company in Illinois actually made the bearing. It looks like Timken and SKF are to an extent marketing companies trading on their recognizable names. The Aetna bearing is certainly a US made bearing and the company claims on their website to have been in the bearing business for 90 years.

[Dick W.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

I got the SKF bearing.. er box today. The sticker says made in USA, and the box says "quality bearing manufactured or purhased by SKF." The bearing is marked "Aetna" "USA", so Aetna, a company in Illinois actually made the bearing. It looks like Timken and SKF are to an extent marketing companies trading on their recognizable names. The Aetna bearing is certainly a US made bearing and the company claims on their website to have been in the bearing business for 90 years.

Timken is alive and well in the US. I have been by two of their NC plants recently, but the are not interested and in commodity bearings such as this.

[Gene M.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

Timken is alive and well in the US. I ha e been by two of their NC plants recently, but the are not interested and in commodity bearings such as this.

YES, great, something still made in USA

I always try to put my money where my mouth is and buy USA, but most time ya have no source in America.

So go without............and fix the old stuff. With tractors this is sometimes easier than Corvettes.

[Ralph B.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

Patrick,
I purchased a LUK Clutch Kit 04-049, but was not happy with the throwout bearing that came with the kit, so I then purchased a Timpken 614018 at Auto Zone "Made In USA" VERY nice !

[Patrick B.]

Re: Chinese Throw Out Bearing

Patrick,
I purchased a LUK Clutch Kit 04-049, but was not happy with the throwout bearing that came with the kit, so I then purchased a Timpken 614018 at Auto Zone "Made In USA" VERY nice !

Ralph-- That is the bearing I described in Post #10. It is a descent looking bearing made in the USA by someone other than Timken but sold by Timken as a marketing company.