What options do I have for wheel bearing replacement/upgrade? I've read that the stock bearings are expensive, and that there's also a GM Motorsports bearing upgrade available? Anyone got any info on these and/or other options?

Thanks!

 

You may find this thread from the autocross section helpful - Vansteel is making C5 hubs with roller bearings for durability.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1958715

 

dont know about performance or reliability but I just replaced a wheel bearing timiken was the brand and called around and shopped parts stores online then just went to a local part store who price matched it at 160 even. just thought id give my 2 cents

 

I also went the Timken route. Got them at my local Autozone. $162.99 for the front, $133.99 for the rear.

Mark

 

Same here.

 

FYI

Timken invented the tapered roller bearings that revolutionized automotive wheel bearing durability. (Ball bearings were used in early autos a century ago) Timken Co is headquartered in Canton, Ohio with manufacturing plants throughout the world.

Timken bearings are high quality second to none. (And they are reasonably priced – what more can you ask)

 

Timken is the way to go. The autox thread above is more for hard core racers that want a hub that lasts longer because of the heat in road/autox racing, not necessarily be higher performance. Others just replace them as a consumable item.

Got mine form rockauto, I tried autozone and they made me mad They ordered the hubs for me and took my money, then canceled the order and did not tell me. I hope its just this store that is bad, I can't see a chin surving the way this one is run...

Wish more American products were as outstanding as Timken.

 

Some might actually contend that Timken quality is Second. SKF produces high quality bearings that lead the market in material and workmanship quality. Timemender is correct regarding Timken and the invention of the Tapered Roller Bearing and Timken is still very, very good at producing bearings to this day, so don't worry if you bought a Timken unit. But "quality second to none", may not be 100% correct.

The bigger problem with car corner hub units is not the bearings, but the sealing package. I've never done a failure analysis on a hub unit that didn't have damage caused by contamination due to a seal failure. The car corner bearings in most cars are actually a little over-kill compared to what is needed from a bearing regarding material fatigue life. I'm not aware of the seal package used on the Timken unit, but since Timken is still a tier one bearing company I'm sure that the seals used are better than many of the options available to us at the autoparts stores.

After saying all of that stuff about sealing and quality I also want to note if your racing the car heat management and lubrication are more important than the sealing when compared to a daily driver. Since the package is a sealed unit we don't have many options but there is only a set amount of grease in the bearing from the factory, while racing if we overheat that grease then the boundary layer of protection the grease provides us is gone and then it's a short road to failure for the bearing.

I'm not sure if I've added much knowledge to this thread but I just figured I'd butt in and add my half a cent.

 

Isn't timken the oe supplier to GM?

does skf make a c5 unit?

 

Many bearing manufacturers are and have been OEM suppliers to GM. The supplier of a particular bearing can change for many reasons, such as production capacity, customer service track record, price of the part, the rate of warranty claims, etc.

For example, I think the torque tube has used both SKF and NSK at different times.

 

Warp Factor is correct the supplied bearing can change based on availability and price. Unless the supplier has worked with an auto maker on a special project or helped solve a problem the automaker will shop around a little. OEM's can have a number of approved bearing suppliers that way a production problem at one supplier doesn't shut down the line at the automaker.

As a side note SKF helped GM with the developement of the Caddy V-series hub units and currently we supply those bearings however as noted that can change based on contract adjustments. I'm also sure that Timken has and is currently working with GM on projects as all of us are...

Just remember as I stated before the bearing itself is only one part of the system. To ensure long life the seal package and lubricant needs to be considered.

 

Nice to see someone has pride in their work

Do you have a C5 bearing? It would be nice for some competition

 

I've put SKF bearings in other locations on the Vette and in other cars I own but I haven't had a Vette wheel bearing die on me yet, so no I don't have an SKF bearing that I know of in the hubs on my Vette... When I want SKF automotive products I go to NAPA, it's not a sure bet that you'll get SKF products from them but I know we are their primary bearing supplier for most of their applications. When I got Tapered Roller bearings for my GMC and my Camaro they were SKF product.

Please understand I don't think that the people who bought Timken made a mistake. When my time comes I'll look for SKF but If Timkin is what's available from NAPA or whomever I'll deal with when the time comes I would be fine with their product also.

I just wanted to make the points I've made before regarding seals, lube and that there are other high quality bearing options.