SKF Bearings
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
SKF Bearings
I have already bought my bearings for my trailing arms from a local bearing supplier. I bought whatever they had in stock - they had the outer bearings for the spindles (which are made by SKF in Mexico) and the inner bearings for the spindle (Which are made by Timken in USA). I understand everyone recommends Timken, but has anyone had success with SKF bearings? I mean, I bought them from an industrial bearing place, so I am sure they are quality bearings. Any comments?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: PYOTE BOMBER BASE TEXAS
Gowing Up In the Oilfields Of West Texas....I have Known Of, and Been Around Both Brands All My Life...My Father Worked For A Fluid Power, Bearing Supply Store...I Remember As A Youth, Of Running These Bearings Out To Chaparral Cars Outside Of Midland...At Their Rattlesnake RaceTrack......Other Than That All I can Say Is, That They Have Been In The Business For 100 Years.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,694
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
They certainly were a top quality brand. When I was still involved in industrial applications, SKF was used for demanding tasks. These were the ones made in Canada though (Toronto) at the time. That plant has long since closed.
I still use SKF wheel bearings and they seem to be fine. If properly installed and lubed, I don't imagine you can go too far wrong with them.
I still use SKF wheel bearings and they seem to be fine. If properly installed and lubed, I don't imagine you can go too far wrong with them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
I happen to work(22 years) for one of these suppliers...O.K., Applied Industrial Technologies, formerly Bearings, Inc.
SKF Bearings for these Corvette's will perform relatively the same as a Timken bearing will. 1)Wheel bearings are tremendously oversized 2)Tolerance ranges anywhere(wheels, or otherwise) don't come close to what you'd see in high speed applications like CNC milling machines etc. Therefore, they won't make a difference. The advantage, some say, to Timken's are that they are primarily a steel company and have more control over the quality, that may be true. Fact is, SKF, Koyo, etc. make only a fraction of the sizes Timken makes. The M88048/10 wheel bearings/races are pretty common, and therefore available in different brands. Other "off the wall" sizes aren't available elsewhere and it isn't cost effective for SKF or Koyo to make. So they stick to the common stuff, i.e. LM67048/10...these are in just about every boat trailer on the planet and SKF and KOYO want a pc. of that pie.
Hope that helps...
P.S. Timken is still American and many ask for it by name primarily for that purpose. If you want to know....I use Timken
SKF Bearings for these Corvette's will perform relatively the same as a Timken bearing will. 1)Wheel bearings are tremendously oversized 2)Tolerance ranges anywhere(wheels, or otherwise) don't come close to what you'd see in high speed applications like CNC milling machines etc. Therefore, they won't make a difference. The advantage, some say, to Timken's are that they are primarily a steel company and have more control over the quality, that may be true. Fact is, SKF, Koyo, etc. make only a fraction of the sizes Timken makes. The M88048/10 wheel bearings/races are pretty common, and therefore available in different brands. Other "off the wall" sizes aren't available elsewhere and it isn't cost effective for SKF or Koyo to make. So they stick to the common stuff, i.e. LM67048/10...these are in just about every boat trailer on the planet and SKF and KOYO want a pc. of that pie.
Hope that helps...
P.S. Timken is still American and many ask for it by name primarily for that purpose. If you want to know....I use Timken
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 400
Likes: 11
From: Lubbock Texas
Believe it or not. They are German. We use these, NTN & SKF . From experience I have always been partial to NTN. One of our customers that we rebuild wind generators for specifies SKF bearings. I don't think that you will have any problems with the SKF's that you have. I will be attending a 6 hour
bearing seminar next Tuesday hopefully I can pick up some more info on rolling element bearings along with my complimentary "***" cap
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,431
Likes: 298
From: MN-C3, AZ-C7
My buddy the bearing rep is not answering his phone, but there is a higher grade available...kinda like a "blueprinted" bearing. Higher tollerances.
I've had a great two weeks.....water pump bearings went out on two of my cars...both with "new" replacement pumps not OEMs with around 40,000 miles on both....cheap bearings the aftermarket uses!
JU
I've had a great two weeks.....water pump bearings went out on two of my cars...both with "new" replacement pumps not OEMs with around 40,000 miles on both....cheap bearings the aftermarket uses!
JU
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
SKF (Svenska Kullager Fabriken - tranlsation: Swedish Rollerbearing Factory) is one of the companies that built SWEDEN and have in the past been known for excellent quality. Nowadays the company is still a bulk of sweden though many tasks are placed in foreign countries because swedish workers are just to expensive but I think they have managed to keep the quality high.
- this was the closest to a swedish flag I found so it will do 
- this was the closest to a swedish flag I found so it will do
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
My buddy the bearing rep is not answering his phone, but there is a higher grade available...kinda like a "blueprinted" bearing. Higher tollerances.
I've had a great two weeks.....water pump bearings went out on two of my cars...both with "new" replacement pumps not OEMs with around 40,000 miles on both....cheap bearings the aftermarket uses!
JU
I've had a great two weeks.....water pump bearings went out on two of my cars...both with "new" replacement pumps not OEMs with around 40,000 miles on both....cheap bearings the aftermarket uses!
JU
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
Well, Yes and no.....A lot of Timken products are still made here but they are importing some of their bearings. The inner and outer Timken bearings I bought at Autozone for my fronts were made in Poland. Doesn't necessarily mean there is anything wrong with them but I was pretty suprised at that. They seem to be holding up fine though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
I'll be using my brand new SKF and Timken Bearings - I'm convinced that the SKF bearings are quality because many industrial companies use them, thanks for all the the help.
