Wheel Bearings.....is there a difference?

[shane96ranger]

Autozone carries the Timken and Valucraft bearings. The Valucraft are half the price of the Timken. Does anyone know if I will be sorry if I use the Valucraft bearings? Is there any difference in quality and performance? Thanks!

 

[spdcrazy]

bearing aren't that expensive. i'll go timken anyday, cheap insurance.

but then again i work at napa, not vatozone

 

[shane96ranger]

I was just looking at Napa too, lol. I noticed they have some they sell in sets of 2 for 20 bucks. Are those any good? They are Napa brand. BTW, I actually prefer Napa over Autozone.......Napa is just further away.

 

[4x4junkie]

Timken. Nothing else.

 

[kevinsranger]

Timken. Nothing else.

definitely, i used the "napa" brand, they lasted a few months, now i have the timken brand, with timken brand seals, and they have been in there well over a year with zero issues

 

[shane96ranger]

Thank You! Sorry for posting in the wrong spot!

 

[feellnfroggy]

I use the cheapo bearings from advanceauto. But I cant really speak on reliability because I have had some installer issues...6 times.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

All my bearings and seals that I use are Motorcraft (which are all Timken bearings) I've had the same set of bearings in my truck for 5 years now, by doing nothing buy cleaning and repacking them once or twice a season depending how much water I've been playing in.

 

[shane96ranger]

All my bearings and seals that I use are Motorcraft (which are all Timken bearings)

That sold me right there. If they're good enough for Ford, they're good enough for me. I will get the Timken's and install them this weekend.

 

[dominj]

My family has used Napa better than all my life, only 21 yrs but still, and we have never had any issue with them. and if for some reason the give you the wrong part, take it back and they should exchange it for you right there, just don't forget your receipt.

 

[spdcrazy]

My family has used Napa better than all my life, only 21 yrs but still, and we have never had any issue with them. and if for some reason the give you the wrong part, take it back and they should exchange it for you right there, just don't forget your receipt.

or pay with a credit card and we can look up your invoice!

 

[shane96ranger]

Thanks for the advice on the Timken bearings. I put the Timken's in today and what a difference! I have another post on here where I was complaining about Big O telling me they did an alignment (it still pulls right). They also checked out the entire front end, and I specifically told them to check the bearings. They told me "all it needs is an alignment, it's your tires making the noise". Horseshit. Look at the chinese garbage in the picture and tell me all it needed was an alignment. There are two huge chunks missing in the race and the metal fragments caused it to grind a groove into the entire race. I'll get a better pic later.

Last time I'm going there unless I decide to go raise a stink. I also notice my camber bushings were never touched, so I am inclined to go talk to the manager.

 

[shane96ranger]

Here are some higher resolution pics of the damage:

 

[klingon20]

The RP5707 is a bearing seal kit that i used, purchased at Kragen/Orilley's, this allows the bearing to ride on a different portion of the spindle.
Notice that the bearing and seal are all one unit.
I actually bought the individual seal and kit to give me time to weigh the option on which one i would use.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

That is a repair bearing for the rear axle for when the bearing surface on the axle shaft gets buggered up. That has nothing to do with his front wheel bearings?!