Wheel Bearing Alert
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Wheel Bearing Alert
Maybe the title is a little bold but thought I would share an experience. After the discussions about alternative numbers for wheel bearings over a year ago I got a very good buy on hubs for the 85. Got Nationals, pn 513009. Opened one found a very nice looking "Made in the USA" piece, didn't open the other. As part of a rack replacement I swapped the hubs. Installed the opened one first. Looked a little different than the one that came out but all measurements were the same. Opened the second, looked exactly like the first one I removed but was made in Mexico. The point of all this is National is selling two different bearings made in different countries under the same part number. Certainly I have no idea how widespread this is but do advise, if you are buying National bearings, check what you are getting before you pay up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
National and timken and NDK make bearings in several countries. They all have to meet minimum specs.
Check your engine block, it might indeed have been made in Mexico as well.
Just because it was made in another country, doesn't mean it is inferior.
That said,
It s indeed possible that the foreign ones are inferior. Just depends on the inspection dept., if they let a bad one pass through unimpeded.
Of course there are several stages of inspection as a precision component such as a bearing is made.
Check your engine block, it might indeed have been made in Mexico as well.
Just because it was made in another country, doesn't mean it is inferior.
That said,
It s indeed possible that the foreign ones are inferior. Just depends on the inspection dept., if they let a bad one pass through unimpeded.
Of course there are several stages of inspection as a precision component such as a bearing is made.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
I really didn't mean to infer that the Chili Pepper(that's mean Muffin) bearing is inferior.I installed it as I did the one made in the USA. There are many who come here that will only accept US made parts. If a person feels this way it would be unnerving to get a pair of bearings and find two countries of manufacture. It will be interesting to compare the service life of the pair.
