Good source for new bearings?
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$100 Site Donor 2021
Did you check the dealer just for S&G's?
Originally Posted By: Fitz98
I am looking for a good source for a bearing and seal kit for my 98 Expedition 5.4 BW 4406 Transfer Case.
Not looking for high end, but better than Japanese aftermarket.
Which Japanese brands? Japanese produced bearings like NSK and NTN are top shelf.
Toyo and Koyo were reputable and may still be but there seems to be twist with Toyo, now there is Toyo PVT which are made in India, nuff said.
Koyo merged with another company and became JTEKT Corporation. Who knows where they produce their bearings.
IMHO country of origin is the most important part when buying a bearing for the average person with no inside information.
You could always count on names like Timken, National, SKF, etc but they are making or even buying more and more bearings in places like China so the brand name is almost useless as a indicator of quality.
Just a few weeks ago i saw a Timken branded Koyo bearing with no COO on the bearing or the box. You can bet its from some third world sweat shop, it stayed where i found it. I found a National with a NTN made in Japan bearing for less money.
USA, Germany, Sweden, France, GB, Japan are all mostly high quality stuff. Mexico i am skeptical.
The only Asian country i would consider is Korea (south). China and India are on the never buy list no matter what brand name is on the bearing.
I no longer buy bearings online, the brands are not trustworthy. I find them locally and look at the bearing race itself for the COO not the box.
Dayco pulleys for example have a habit of putting "Made in USA" on the box when the most important part (the bearing) has China right on the bearing race.
Open another box with the same part# and it may have Canada on the bearing.
If you must order online call them ask where the bearing is made and make sure they will cover the return if its not what they claim.
I am looking for a good source for a bearing and seal kit for my 98 Expedition 5.4 BW 4406 Transfer Case.
Not looking for high end, but better than Japanese aftermarket.
Which Japanese brands? Japanese produced bearings like NSK and NTN are top shelf.
Toyo and Koyo were reputable and may still be but there seems to be twist with Toyo, now there is Toyo PVT which are made in India, nuff said.
Koyo merged with another company and became JTEKT Corporation. Who knows where they produce their bearings.
IMHO country of origin is the most important part when buying a bearing for the average person with no inside information.
You could always count on names like Timken, National, SKF, etc but they are making or even buying more and more bearings in places like China so the brand name is almost useless as a indicator of quality.
Just a few weeks ago i saw a Timken branded Koyo bearing with no COO on the bearing or the box. You can bet its from some third world sweat shop, it stayed where i found it. I found a National with a NTN made in Japan bearing for less money.
USA, Germany, Sweden, France, GB, Japan are all mostly high quality stuff. Mexico i am skeptical.
The only Asian country i would consider is Korea (south). China and India are on the never buy list no matter what brand name is on the bearing.
I no longer buy bearings online, the brands are not trustworthy. I find them locally and look at the bearing race itself for the COO not the box.
Dayco pulleys for example have a habit of putting "Made in USA" on the box when the most important part (the bearing) has China right on the bearing race.
Open another box with the same part# and it may have Canada on the bearing.
If you must order online call them ask where the bearing is made and make sure they will cover the return if its not what they claim.
Bought Timken wheel bearings recently for my '63 Beetle. Got them home, examined them and right on the race says "Made in China." This isn't printed anywhere on the box. Further investigation revealed that on older applications Timken isn't even supplying bearings made in their Asian plants, but just re-selling cheap items from who knows where.
Returned the Timkens, which were not inexpensive and am presently trying to source F.A.G. (yep, that's the name) from Germany.
Returned the Timkens, which were not inexpensive and am presently trying to source F.A.G. (yep, that's the name) from Germany.
I would soak the original bearings in a little gas , then repack them in a good axle grease. The bearings in a Bug front end are so large for the weight they carry, they will last forever. Unless the bearing is obviously damaged, I would re-use it. I had Bugs for over 20 yrs and the front ends are extremely rugged for what they do.
I was looking at these originally, but when I zoomed in on the picture, I saw Japan, stamped on the race.
I didn't even see a brand name anywhere, so I am not sure what to think.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Borg-Warner-4406-BW4406-Transfer-Case-Rebuild-Bearing-Seal-Kit/221160397827?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D8751666602661440622%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D221160397827%26
I always thought that Timken was a safe bet, but not sure now I see what you are saying.
My concern is that I am having an intermittent grind noise in my transfer case when it gets hot on deceleration loads, so I was assuming it may be a failing bearing, but they all look good and don't feel tight or like they have any flat spots. This is not a fun job, so I want to put in a bearing that I can trust won't fail, plus I tow a lot, so hotter temperatures under load are likely. My other concern, is that I really need something with good value. It is not in my budget to spend 200.00 for a bearing and seal kit.
I didn't even see a brand name anywhere, so I am not sure what to think.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Borg-Warner-4406-BW4406-Transfer-Case-Rebuild-Bearing-Seal-Kit/221160397827?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D8751666602661440622%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D221160397827%26
I always thought that Timken was a safe bet, but not sure now I see what you are saying.
My concern is that I am having an intermittent grind noise in my transfer case when it gets hot on deceleration loads, so I was assuming it may be a failing bearing, but they all look good and don't feel tight or like they have any flat spots. This is not a fun job, so I want to put in a bearing that I can trust won't fail, plus I tow a lot, so hotter temperatures under load are likely. My other concern, is that I really need something with good value. It is not in my budget to spend 200.00 for a bearing and seal kit.
A lot of Ford's drivetrain bearings are made in Japan now.
When you go to the dealer be prepared to hang out for a while, there is no kit from Ford, you look up every bearing and seal by itself.
When you go to the dealer be prepared to hang out for a while, there is no kit from Ford, you look up every bearing and seal by itself.
Originally Posted By: Fitz98
So are you suggesting that if a bearing race is stamped with a coo of Japan, that it is of decent quality?
Online or other, or is there more to it, than just what the race stamp says?
I realize it may sound over simplified but thats about the size of it for the average buyer.
Someone like Kestas may have more inside info like failure rates for this one or that one but we don't.
IMO If you get a bearing made in a first world country its a pretty good bet it will be good.
So are you suggesting that if a bearing race is stamped with a coo of Japan, that it is of decent quality?
Online or other, or is there more to it, than just what the race stamp says?
I realize it may sound over simplified but thats about the size of it for the average buyer.
Someone like Kestas may have more inside info like failure rates for this one or that one but we don't.
IMO If you get a bearing made in a first world country its a pretty good bet it will be good.
Originally Posted By: Trav
Dayco pulleys for example have a habit of putting "Made in USA" on the box when the most important part (the bearing) has China right on the bearing race.
Open another box with the same part# and it may have Canada on the bearing.
I've run into this same scenario myself, MANY times.
I WISH I could buy separate main serp. belt drive idler/tensioner
pulley BEARINGS from a GREAT COO/source, and press them in myself!!!
Dayco pulleys for example have a habit of putting "Made in USA" on the box when the most important part (the bearing) has China right on the bearing race.
Open another box with the same part# and it may have Canada on the bearing.
I've run into this same scenario myself, MANY times.
I WISH I could buy separate main serp. belt drive idler/tensioner
pulley BEARINGS from a GREAT COO/source, and press them in myself!!!
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