Got my timken bearing for ford flex in the mail.

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I am 41 and it feels strange seeing a quality timken bearing made in china. But things do change, I recall buying a set of wrenches in 2001 and instantly breaking the wrench on a rusty bolt, throwing out the set of tools and swearing off harbor freight for automotive stuff.
Yet here we are today Icon tool line turning snapon trucks into hoover salesmen and reselling almost the same snapon jacks for 1/4 of the original price (looking at you daytona jack line).
Things change.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Did you pay less than normal? Timken did.

 

[Strumpan_]

Just because something is made in whatever place doesn’t mean much, good quality control is what matters. But i do not like being more dependent on China for various reasons.

But I understand trying to buy Made in USA. Because i always try to buy Made in Sweden to support my local businesses.

 

[KGMtech]

As said above, the location of manufacturing is far less important than the importance placed on the QC process.

 

[oldcodger]

Yes, QC is the key. It is never so exposed as those Youtube videos of third world guys making parts with questionable material, no calibrated measuring instruments and absolutely no inspections.

 

[Trav]

I do not see any branding or etching on the bearing or the hub, do you see any? This leads me to suspect this may not be a Timken produced unit but a "made for Timken" by some Chinese third party.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I do not see any branding or etching on the bearing or the hub, do you see any? This leads me to suspect this may not be a Timken produced unit but a "made for Timken" by some Chinese third party.

No, no numbers no branding no names to marks, tabul rasa.

Edit: checked again only this marking :

 

[Trav]

I honestly cant say but as they fully disclose it is made in China it is probably not a knock off, it may be made for them by another vendor but it should still be okay, the life expectancy may be shorter or not. Run it and hope for the best.

 

[Hootbro]

Does anybody make those integrated wheel hub bearing assemblies in the USA anymore? Every OEM one I have replaced with OEM brand replacement part came from either China or Korea.

 

[DriveHard]

Does anybody make those integrated wheel hub bearing assemblies in the USA anymore? Every OEM one I have replaced with OEM brand replacement part came from either China or Korea.

Former Timken engineer...

Yes, Timken does still make some here in the USA.

If it has the Timken brand name, it is being overseen by Timken employed quality engineers, and has to meet everything from source steel quality to hardening, case carburization, machining, tolerances, etc. It will still carry a Timken premium...even though it may be cheaper. You could strategically source a bearing from the same plant under a different name and pay less if you knew what you were looking for. Timken will even source from their biggest name brand competitors and put it in a Timken box.

 

[DriveHard]

Car wheel bearings are actually a very low stress application...they almost always fail due to seal failure and contamination ingress. The most important part of a wheel bearing lasting is the seal, and machining surfaces around that seal.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Former Timken engineer...

Yes, Timken does still make some here in the USA.

If it has the Timken brand name, it is being overseen by Timken employed quality engineers, and has to meet everything from source steel quality to hardening, case carburization, machining, tolerances, etc. It will still carry a Timken premium...even though it may be cheaper. You could strategically source a bearing from the same plant under a different name and pay less if you knew what you were looking for. Timken will even source from their biggest name brand competitors and put it in a Timken box.

Yeah I think actually it was here that a guy ordered a timken bearing and got SKF part number on the bearing or something like that? He ordered from rock auto I think.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Car wheel bearings are actually a very low stress application...they almost always fail due to seal failure and contamination ingress. The most important part of a wheel bearing lasting is the seal, and machining surfaces around that seal.

That was true. No longer with the hub bearings

 

[drtyler]

That was true. No longer with the hub bearings

Why do you say this?

I think @DriveHard knows what he is talking about here.

 

[DriveHard]

Yeah I think actually it was here that a guy ordered a timken bearing and got SKF part number on the bearing or something like that? He ordered from rock auto I think.

Totally possible. They make agreements with parts distributors to supply full line, and if there is a part they don't make, they will source it at their quality standards and put it in an orange box. I still remember the day I learned that...made me feel less proud to work there.

 

[DriveHard]

That was true. No longer with the hub bearings

It has been a few years since I have been through a Timken plant, but I'm quite certain they still produce some here in the US. They literally invented the roll forming clamp process you see on most of the self contained wheel end units used today. I've seen where the test them the WEEM (Wheel End Environmental Machine), and seen the lines where they are produced over in Ohio. I can tell lots of stories, but in the end of you are buying a Timken boxed product, it has a pretty good chance of at least being forced to a higher quality standard. Would I buy a Timken bearing at a premium...totally depends on the application. For a wheel end...not likely, as like I already mentioned, it is the seal that will fail first. For a high stress application (boat out drive, some transmission bearings, etc.), yes I would totally spend some extra coin for a Timken.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Why do you say this?

I think @DriveHard knows what he is talking about here.

I have replaced countless bad hub bearings with zero evidence that the seal is compromised or an issue. Some fail before it even rains in our area. In the old days with grease packed bearings in a hub with an oil seal, I would agree.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

It has been a few years since I have been through a Timken plant, but I'm quite certain they still produce some here in the US. They literally invented the roll forming clamp process you see on most of the self contained wheel end units used today. I've seen where the test them the WEEM (Wheel End Environmental Machine), and seen the lines where they are produced over in Ohio. I can tell lots of stories, but in the end of you are buying a Timken boxed product, it has a pretty good chance of at least being forced to a higher quality standard. Would I buy a Timken bearing at a premium...totally depends on the application. For a wheel end...not likely, as like I already mentioned, it is the seal that will fail first. For a high stress application (boat out drive, some transmission bearings, etc.), yes I would totally spend some extra coin for a Timken.

Not arguing that the Timken plant or their process is better than most. I was referring to contamination being the top cause for failure. I believe bad design or careless manufacturing is to blame. Again not blaming Timken specifically.

 

[DriveHard]

Not arguing that the Timken plant or their process is better than most. I was referring to contamination being the top cause for failure. I believe bad design or careless manufacturing is to blame. Again not blaming Timken specifically.

I have no way to back it up, but I can say without a doubt contamination/seal failure is the #1 cause of wheel bearing failures in modern cars. Timken spent MUCH $$$ to produce machines to replicate wheel end conditions in a car, most importantly, the environmental conditions...dust, water, ice, snow...those wheel ends endure so much crap on a day to day basis. The loading is little concern...and if the seals are good, they have grease.

 

[DriveHard]

I have replaced countless bad hub bearings with zero evidence that the seal is compromised or an issue. Some fail before it even rains in our area. In the old days with grease packed bearings in a hub with an oil seal, I would agree.

If it is a known name brand, there must be something else wrong...installation, misalignment, etc. I have never experienced this, or seen it in practice.