Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 25
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From: Raleigh,NC
Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette
With mixed emotions, I just ordered a full set of bearings for my 1991 z07 vette from Contemporary Corvette. This thread http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=167789
had some great information on this subject, especially from h rocks.
Rockie at Contemporary of course swears that these are made by the same folks that make the OEM bearings. I asked him to look for NDH on the bearing seals and he said he didn't see any markings. But, he said that they have a sloppy gray primer paint job, which sounds like what h rock described. How hard is it to see these markings? Do you think I'm getting something other than NDH bearings???
Hope I did not waste my money, as I really wanted OEM bearings without the OEM price!
I'm a little surprised they went this soon. My car has 31,000 miles on it and one season of autocross. I bought it in Jan 2001, so I don't know how hard the last guy drove it. I think he was into drag racing for one season, but I wouldn't expect that to take it's toll on bearings. I expected autocrossing to accelerating bearing wear...just not this quickly.
I'll let you guys know how it goes.
z07Vette
had some great information on this subject, especially from h rocks.
Rockie at Contemporary of course swears that these are made by the same folks that make the OEM bearings. I asked him to look for NDH on the bearing seals and he said he didn't see any markings. But, he said that they have a sloppy gray primer paint job, which sounds like what h rock described. How hard is it to see these markings? Do you think I'm getting something other than NDH bearings???
Hope I did not waste my money, as I really wanted OEM bearings without the OEM price!
I'm a little surprised they went this soon. My car has 31,000 miles on it and one season of autocross. I bought it in Jan 2001, so I don't know how hard the last guy drove it. I think he was into drag racing for one season, but I wouldn't expect that to take it's toll on bearings. I expected autocrossing to accelerating bearing wear...just not this quickly.
I'll let you guys know how it goes.
z07Vette
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
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From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
Re: Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette (z07vette)
z07vette,
The NDH brand is clearly marked on the back spindle face of the front bearings. It is molded in with the letters U.S.A. Very clear.
The NDH brand is clearly marked on the back spindle face of the front bearings. It is molded in with the letters U.S.A. Very clear.
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Re: Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette (z07vette)
:cheers:
Just curious, what were the symptoms that caused you to decide you needed new wheel bearings all around?
What tires are you running? Tire noise can sound like a wheel bearing problem. It's highly unusual for all four bearings to go bad at one time and it is unusual for any bearings to go bad in 31K
:seeya
Just curious, what were the symptoms that caused you to decide you needed new wheel bearings all around?
What tires are you running? Tire noise can sound like a wheel bearing problem. It's highly unusual for all four bearings to go bad at one time and it is unusual for any bearings to go bad in 31K
:seeya
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: 101 Edgemere Ave.
Re: Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette (z07vette)
h rocks:
...a *lot* of guys don't until the car wanders all over the place, the struggle to figure out why
UH OH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've got 76,000 EXTREMELY HARD, HIGH SPEED miles on my 92. I am just waiting for them to fail (figured grinding noise on turns). But no, they just keep going and going. But my car is "wandering" a lot lately. I know something is wrong. Figured it might just be rounded off front tires or some loose suspension component. But now not so sure! What goes first? Fronts or rears. And what is the check? Noise or slack?
Justin
92 6-speed, Ripper, GS Brakes (oh, god does this car get hammered!)
...a *lot* of guys don't until the car wanders all over the place, the struggle to figure out why
UH OH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've got 76,000 EXTREMELY HARD, HIGH SPEED miles on my 92. I am just waiting for them to fail (figured grinding noise on turns). But no, they just keep going and going. But my car is "wandering" a lot lately. I know something is wrong. Figured it might just be rounded off front tires or some loose suspension component. But now not so sure! What goes first? Fronts or rears. And what is the check? Noise or slack?
Justin
92 6-speed, Ripper, GS Brakes (oh, god does this car get hammered!)
Team Owner
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Re: Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette (Justin Scherer)
mine when "clang clang" when I rocked the wheel back & forth
I also went with Contemporary units
( we need a "fingers-crossed" smilelie )
I also went with Contemporary units
( we need a "fingers-crossed" smilelie )
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Re: Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette (BrianCunningham)
when i bought my 90 it had 89k miles on it & the drivers front was barily starting to go..replaced that and i'm now at 101k miles, all 4 still fine even with racing. HOWEVER i'm still on street tires that maybe pull .90-.95g if your auto-x'in on slicks that pull 1g-1.2g you can expect the bearings to wear quicker just from the loads. who knows on the bearings ?'s seems like some cars like to eat em quicker than others :rolleyes: :eek: :cool: :cheers: :smash: :crazy: :yesnod: :lol: :) :p: :hat :chevy :boxing :seeya :cry :( :bb :bs :reddevil ;) :( :sleep: :flag
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 25
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From: Raleigh,NC
Re: Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette (z07vette)
The bearings arrived today. They were in plain brown boxes and plain wrapping paper, just as others described. They had a gray primer paint job. After a very close inspection, I could just make out the letters NDH on the black bearing seal, on all four bearings. You have to look closely using a flashlight or very good light. The letters are very, very, tiny- but they are there. They are being put on the car today. Hopefully it will work out ok.
In answer to an earlier question- in autocrossing I've been running Kumho V700s.
As to symptoms and why I replace them - there was noticable play in three of the four. They weren't making any noise that I could hear.
I paid $159 each for all four from Contemporary Corvette. They come with a one year warranty.
I did not see NDH on any other part of the bearings. Do you think that since NDH is only on the bearing seal that these are parts made by another vendor, but only the seals are NDH? Naaah.. surely not.
[Modified by z07vette, 11:32 PM 11/20/2001]
In answer to an earlier question- in autocrossing I've been running Kumho V700s.
As to symptoms and why I replace them - there was noticable play in three of the four. They weren't making any noise that I could hear.
I paid $159 each for all four from Contemporary Corvette. They come with a one year warranty.
I did not see NDH on any other part of the bearings. Do you think that since NDH is only on the bearing seal that these are parts made by another vendor, but only the seals are NDH? Naaah.. surely not.
[Modified by z07vette, 11:32 PM 11/20/2001]
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,803
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From: PA
Re: Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette (z07vette)
I got my rears at Pep Boys with lifetime warranty for $99 ea. I believe they were stamped NDH in a CR box. In my opinion, the NDH is no big bonus. The stock OEM C4 bearings are a weak link. Mine had play at 35K miles.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: San Pedro CA
Re: Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette (Rick93Z07)
I got my rears at Pep Boys with lifetime warranty for $99 ea. I believe they were stamped NDH in a CR box. In my opinion, the NDH is no big bonus. The stock OEM C4 bearings are a weak link. Mine had play at 35K miles.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,198
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From: Northern CA
Re: Wheel Bearings from Contemporary Corvette (bogus)
Pep Boys still sells the rears with a lifetime warrantee...but the price is now $139 each. They are still NDH units (at least mine were; not all are NDH), mine came in an "SDK" box.
[Modified by JasonL, 4:58 PM 11/21/2001]
[Modified by JasonL, 4:58 PM 11/21/2001]