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Wheel bearings
ruudbeckers - 7/5/05 at 02:04 PM

I was wondering if there is a difference in quality between cheap wheel bearing and expensive wheel bearing. I could get some front wheel bearings for 5 euro's each. However, there's no nylon nut in the kit.

Don't know if they are any good.

[Edited on 7/5/05 by ruudbeckers]

andy d (rizla) - 7/5/05 at 02:11 PM

they should be ok,but you will need a nut,they are nyloc,and one use only

andyps - 8/5/05 at 04:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ruudbeckers
I was wondering if there is a difference in quality between cheap wheel bearing and expensive wheel bearing.


Yes there is.

I could give you a long technical description, but basically the quality of the metal used, the internal geometry, teh hardening process, the surface finish, the radial accuracy will all be better in a bearing from a reputable brand. They are safety critical components, is there any point in saving a few euros for this type of thing?

If you are talking about wheel bearing kits, it is the manufacturer of the bearings in the kit which is important, rather than thte kit manufacturer themselves. Some big names put cheap bearings in their boxes.

ruudbeckers - 18/5/05 at 07:47 PM

And how do I know which manufacturers produce good quality bearings?

phelpsa - 18/5/05 at 08:27 PM

The manufacturers bearings will always be good quality.

Adam

andyps - 20/5/05 at 09:52 AM

Recommended bearing suppliers - in my opinion (and no particular order, plus I may have forgotten some!):
Timken
NTN
SKF
NSK-RHP
FAG

Wheel bearing kits made by BRT bearings are good, but they make for many other brands as well as thier own brands which are Automotive Bearings, BRT and someothers I can't remember.

DarrenW - 20/5/05 at 10:05 AM

I work for a company that makes bearings (amongst other things). We make two basic grades - OEM and aftermarket.
OEM always use exacting processes (super finishing, testing, radial clearance matching, tight control over FMEA's. PPAP approvals, test results, %s (housekeeping), training records, process control, change control etc etc etc etc) whereas aftermrket are often assembled by hand where the tolerances and cleanliness is not so critical. This goes a long way to explain the massive price difference (although it does not exclude the dealers from making forunes - im referring to sales cost here).

The companies listed are good, no doubt about it but they also have different stds for OEM and aftermarket. They are all investigating far est supply of green rings etc. my Company is Chinese and prides itself on adhering to the strictest of standards. Our test lab has some of the best metallurgical and durability test equipment available in China that can give most European companies something to worry about. Production kit is usually European or Japanese (lots of the kit is the same as in SKF plants). However there are a lot of suppliers that do not use the best practice methods - be afraid! It is for this reason that iam most sceptical about Far East made cars etc especially if they were only developed for domestic market and specially imported (same as kids motorbikes and quads etc - there is a reason why they are cheap).

You get nowt for nowt in this world.

Rant over.