I'm looking to replace the integrated rear bearing/hub assemblies on a 2008 Mazda3 in the near future, and I'm trying to get parts together. The car's got 64k miles on it, and I first noticed they were making noise about 6k miles ago. Can't hear anything while driving, but when spinning the wheels off the ground they make a clicking noise. It's not the normal "growling" from a bad bearing but nonetheless there are other complaints about this noise on the web and it seems to be from the bearings. I think it's the same noise covered in this post. I don't think it's gotten much worse but I figure I might as well replace them before it does.
There's another thread active right now about bearing/hub assemblies and the advice seems to be to go with Timken. I don't want to cheap out on this part (not impressed that the OEMs both failed at low mileage). But I'm a little perturbed by what I'm seeing. Autozone lists a Timken part for this application at $226, but RockAuto has the same part number for $106. How can the same part possibly retail with a 100% difference in price? Amazon also has the same part listed for about $108, with a note that says "Note: Timken partners with other manufacturers to supply their complete line of quality parts. This product is in a Timken package, however the part may have been manufactured by an independent Timken supplier."
Is it possible that the same part number actually has two different builds, for instance one made in China and one in the US? Or is the huge price difference just an extreme case of the normal price differences between B&M auto parts stores and online retailers?
If anyone has any input or questions about the bearing clicking noise I'm interested in discussing that as well. I half wonder if the noise is, well, not "normal" exactly but not necessarily a problem. But I'm not sure I want to wait and find out. There's no play in the wheel that I can feel when trying to move it around.
There's another thread active right now about bearing/hub assemblies and the advice seems to be to go with Timken. I don't want to cheap out on this part (not impressed that the OEMs both failed at low mileage). But I'm a little perturbed by what I'm seeing. Autozone lists a Timken part for this application at $226, but RockAuto has the same part number for $106. How can the same part possibly retail with a 100% difference in price? Amazon also has the same part listed for about $108, with a note that says "Note: Timken partners with other manufacturers to supply their complete line of quality parts. This product is in a Timken package, however the part may have been manufactured by an independent Timken supplier."
Is it possible that the same part number actually has two different builds, for instance one made in China and one in the US? Or is the huge price difference just an extreme case of the normal price differences between B&M auto parts stores and online retailers?
If anyone has any input or questions about the bearing clicking noise I'm interested in discussing that as well. I half wonder if the noise is, well, not "normal" exactly but not necessarily a problem. But I'm not sure I want to wait and find out. There's no play in the wheel that I can feel when trying to move it around.