Timken vs. AC Delco
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Timken vs. AC Delco
I need to buy a front hub assembly/bearing for my car. 94 coupe. Corvette Recycling has original NOS AC delco for $199.99 plus shipping of $12.00. Of course the local Autozone has Timken for $185 and with tax it is $198.00 So the prices are oh so close...So now it is a question of Timken quality vs. AC Delco quality? The car is mainly a weekend toy with some autocrossing planned one day. I do not plan on road racing the car right now. What is the take on Timken??
Last edited by jakers; Jun 11, 2008 at 11:27 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Laurel MS
Timkens
Installed them as a precautionary, all 4 corners, in my 94 6sp, 143K, 4 months ago...no runs, drips, or errors so far. Mines a toy too, no heavy demands.
Cheers
Cheers
Last edited by jim_hewett; Jun 11, 2008 at 10:54 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Preventive maintenance = smart. Yeah it is also expensive right Jim!?! I am looking to do the same. Mine has 117K and the suspension is beginning to need some R&R. I want to go ahead and do some work. Tie rods, ball joints and maybe two hubs (one definately going bad!) I took a look in the road race section and the consensus seems to be that Timken is the OE provider for GM on corvette hubs!?! http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ghlight=timken
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 20,393
Likes: 431
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
NCM Member '09
A/C Delco is not a manufacturer anymore, just a re-boxer, getting their
various parts from other manufacturers. I can't claim to know who the
bearing supplier is to them, but it's either Timken or BCA. BCA is owned
by Federal-Mogul, once a proud American name, now made in Mexico.
various parts from other manufacturers. I can't claim to know who the
bearing supplier is to them, but it's either Timken or BCA. BCA is owned
by Federal-Mogul, once a proud American name, now made in Mexico.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 2
From: port charlotte fl
Do your homework first.I just bought some front hub bearings for my XJR Jag and although it said Timken on the box the bearings were stamped made in South Korea.I'm afraid we will see more of this every day.I don't know where the originals were manufactured but they failed at under 30,000 which doesn't say much for them either.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Do your homework first.I just bought some front hub bearings for my XJR Jag and although it said Timken on the box the bearings were stamped made in South Korea.I'm afraid we will see more of this every day.I don't know where the originals were manufactured but they failed at under 30,000 which doesn't say much for them either.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Laurel MS
A/C Delco is not a manufacturer anymore, just a re-boxer, getting their
various parts from other manufacturers. I can't claim to know who the
bearing supplier is to them, but it's either Timken or BCA. BCA is owned
by Federal-Mogul, once a proud American name, now made in Mexico.
various parts from other manufacturers. I can't claim to know who the
bearing supplier is to them, but it's either Timken or BCA. BCA is owned
by Federal-Mogul, once a proud American name, now made in Mexico.
Last edited by jim_hewett; Jun 14, 2008 at 08:57 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 14,051
Likes: 9
From: Houston TX
Do your homework first.I just bought some front hub bearings for my XJR Jag and although it said Timken on the box the bearings were stamped made in South Korea.I'm afraid we will see more of this every day.I don't know where the originals were manufactured but they failed at under 30,000 which doesn't say much for them either.
Today the right front failed.. 610 miles after install.
This imported offshore junk being parmed off on us is getting beyong irritating.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
The Timken bearings won't last 2 auto-x's.
The old GM bearings were good, now the GM bearings look like Timken, but reboxed.
SFK seems to take a beating on the race track, and stand up to serious abuse.
The old GM bearings were good, now the GM bearings look like Timken, but reboxed.
SFK seems to take a beating on the race track, and stand up to serious abuse.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Bingo... I just bought front and rear bearings. They only had Timken rears and we had to settle for Automotive International Caddie XLR/C5 "OEM Equivalents" for the fronts.
Today the right front failed.. 610 miles after install.
This imported offshore junk being parmed off on us is getting beyong irritating.
Today the right front failed.. 610 miles after install.
This imported offshore junk being parmed off on us is getting beyong irritating.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
Years ago I had good luck with Timken. The last two sets I've had lasted less than 1 track day.
I have GM bearings on there now, and they at least survived their first weekend of track use. We'll see if they survive an upcoming event in a couple weeks.
I have GM bearings on there now, and they at least survived their first weekend of track use. We'll see if they survive an upcoming event in a couple weeks.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 9
From: '88 TPI L98/HotCam Powell, Ohio
This is my Timken experience w/ roughly 5 weekends of abuse.......
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d9...akeduct006.flv
Unfortunately, it cost me $1000+ in lost contingency.............
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d9...akeduct006.flv
Unfortunately, it cost me $1000+ in lost contingency.............
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,592
Likes: 13
From: USA
After researching bearings on this forum, I went with HP tapered rear bearings from Wheel Bearings Inc. I replaced both with around 7,000 miles on them after one failed. The HP ones cost a lot more, but should hold up better than my last ones.
My front bearings were tight when I got the car and still seem OK.
113,000 miles. Not sure if they are original or not.
My front bearings were tight when I got the car and still seem OK.
113,000 miles. Not sure if they are original or not.