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Author Topic:   Wheel Bearing Preferred Brand

BilgeRat posted 06-20-2010 11:42 AM ET (US)
I'm replacing the wheel bearings on my Montauk's trailer. Is there a difference in the quality and reliability between brands or sources?
modenacart posted 06-20-2010 01:59 PM ET (US)
I wouldn't buy anything Chinese.
contender posted 06-20-2010 06:36 PM ET (US)
Second that
Jefecinco posted 06-20-2010 07:13 PM ET (US)
I've had good luck with the quality of products offered by NAPA.
Butch
PeteB88 posted 06-20-2010 07:43 PM ET (US)
Going through trailer bearings again on Outrage trailer. A few years ago I found out that Timko, a longtime quality manufacturer, had cheap China-made bearings and higher quality and more exspensive bearings that I had to ask for.
The Outrage trailer has different problems with hydraulic drum surge actuated brakes. The brakes are Dexter brakes and I am reasonably impressed with them; made specifically for boat trailers. I'd be going for their stuff. Customer service is great.
BilgeRat posted 06-20-2010 09:15 PM ET (US)
Many thanks. The Timken brand boasts cones matched with cups. Sounds reasonable. And I remember from my childhood that Timken was a well respected brand, but, nowadays, recent experience is more valuable than reputation. I'll check out Bearing Distributers tomorrow and see what they have to offer, and NAPA, too.
PeteB88 posted 06-20-2010 10:54 PM ET (US)
Check out these Dexter people, I think they are in Indiana. I had questions and they immediately sent me PDF files with exploded drawings and the whole nine yards. The woman I talked to not only was quick on answers but she had serious product knowledge and advice. She explained some upgrades they made to their version of Bearing Buddies and I had her check availability in my area. I went to the supplier A-1 Truck Parts and they not only had the items in stock but I checked out their parts catalog and it was well done. The upgraded items were not out of control expensive either.
She also went through recommendations on grease and compatability without my asking.
I say they are great.
Good luck
Kevin Cook posted 06-22-2010 06:57 PM ET (US)
When I purchase bearings the only thing I specify is that they need to be made in the USA, Japan, France or Germany.
Any bearings made in any of those countries will be high quality.
Kevin
Chuck Tribolet posted 06-23-2010 06:24 PM ET (US)
Here's a link to Dexter: http://www.dexteraxle.com
I couldn't find their version of bearing buddys.

Chuck
hauptjm posted 06-24-2010 11:54 AM ET (US)
Consider these: http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product. do?pid=3841&googleaffiliate=
I love mine and they are going on 5 years old, with no sign of wearing out or in need of replacement. Incidently, I dunk my trailer hubs on every launch and retrieve.
sternorama posted 06-25-2010 05:47 PM ET (US)
maybe this is it:
http://dexteraxle.com/i/u/1080235/f/product_flyers/Nev-R-Lube_3-09.pdf
but "not for boat trailers"
BilgeRat posted 06-27-2010 05:56 PM ET (US)
Thanks for all the input. This has been an interesting but frustrating experience. At this point I cannot say for sure that bearings are still made in the USA. I went to the local Dexter dealer- he had none in stock, but could order them- "Where are they made?" I asked. He couldn't really say for sure. I didn't want a special order (non-returnable) stamped "China". So, off to NAPA- "Do you have any boat trailer bearings made in the USA?" He looked up his part number and produced a set marked "China". He had only one set from that manufacturer. The next set he produced was marked "Mexico". I repeated my first question: "Any bearings made in the USA?" At that point the clerks (all three) got annoyed and unanimously concluded that there probably are no bearings made in the US. So, it was off to a local trailer dealer that sells a ton of utility/landscaping trailers. He fixed me up with a set of off-shore bearings as well as a spare hub complete with similar bearings. Most of my drives this summer will be relatively short (<150 miles), and I'll pay close attention to the wear and set of the hubs. If they make numerous short hauls without any indication of shortcomings, I'll roll on. Wish me luck.
PeteB88 posted 06-27-2010 10:07 PM ET (US)
Bilge Rat - - I went through the same thing looking for US made Timken bearings for the Karavan trailer I use for my 13. One thing that struck me at the time (about two years ago) was I went to my local NAPA store and they had only one (1) Timken bearing set left that was US made. Every other bearing set was China made.
I finally found what I was looking for at Detroit Ball Bearing Company, same town, but paid much more money for US made compared to China made Timken. The guys behind the counter totally agreed with my assumption that US bearings were better made. I am really not sure.
TommyWhaler posted 06-30-2010 09:11 PM ET (US)
I don't think we should buy anything made in China.

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Author	Topic: Wheel Bearing Preferred Brand
BilgeRat	posted 06-20-2010 11:42 AM ET (US) I'm replacing the wheel bearings on my Montauk's trailer. Is there a difference in the quality and reliability between brands or sources?
modenacart	posted 06-20-2010 01:59 PM ET (US) I wouldn't buy anything Chinese.
contender	posted 06-20-2010 06:36 PM ET (US) Second that
Jefecinco	posted 06-20-2010 07:13 PM ET (US) I've had good luck with the quality of products offered by NAPA. Butch
PeteB88	posted 06-20-2010 07:43 PM ET (US) Going through trailer bearings again on Outrage trailer. A few years ago I found out that Timko, a longtime quality manufacturer, had cheap China-made bearings and higher quality and more exspensive bearings that I had to ask for. The Outrage trailer has different problems with hydraulic drum surge actuated brakes. The brakes are Dexter brakes and I am reasonably impressed with them; made specifically for boat trailers. I'd be going for their stuff. Customer service is great.
BilgeRat	posted 06-20-2010 09:15 PM ET (US) Many thanks. The Timken brand boasts cones matched with cups. Sounds reasonable. And I remember from my childhood that Timken was a well respected brand, but, nowadays, recent experience is more valuable than reputation. I'll check out Bearing Distributers tomorrow and see what they have to offer, and NAPA, too.
PeteB88	posted 06-20-2010 10:54 PM ET (US) Check out these Dexter people, I think they are in Indiana. I had questions and they immediately sent me PDF files with exploded drawings and the whole nine yards. The woman I talked to not only was quick on answers but she had serious product knowledge and advice. She explained some upgrades they made to their version of Bearing Buddies and I had her check availability in my area. I went to the supplier A-1 Truck Parts and they not only had the items in stock but I checked out their parts catalog and it was well done. The upgraded items were not out of control expensive either. She also went through recommendations on grease and compatability without my asking. I say they are great. Good luck
Kevin Cook	posted 06-22-2010 06:57 PM ET (US) When I purchase bearings the only thing I specify is that they need to be made in the USA, Japan, France or Germany. Any bearings made in any of those countries will be high quality. Kevin
Chuck Tribolet	posted 06-23-2010 06:24 PM ET (US) Here's a link to Dexter: http://www.dexteraxle.com I couldn't find their version of bearing buddys. Chuck
hauptjm	posted 06-24-2010 11:54 AM ET (US) Consider these: http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product. do?pid=3841&googleaffiliate= I love mine and they are going on 5 years old, with no sign of wearing out or in need of replacement. Incidently, I dunk my trailer hubs on every launch and retrieve.
sternorama	posted 06-25-2010 05:47 PM ET (US) maybe this is it: http://dexteraxle.com/i/u/1080235/f/product_flyers/Nev-R-Lube_3-09.pdf but "not for boat trailers"
BilgeRat	posted 06-27-2010 05:56 PM ET (US) Thanks for all the input. This has been an interesting but frustrating experience. At this point I cannot say for sure that bearings are still made in the USA. I went to the local Dexter dealer- he had none in stock, but could order them- "Where are they made?" I asked. He couldn't really say for sure. I didn't want a special order (non-returnable) stamped "China". So, off to NAPA- "Do you have any boat trailer bearings made in the USA?" He looked up his part number and produced a set marked "China". He had only one set from that manufacturer. The next set he produced was marked "Mexico". I repeated my first question: "Any bearings made in the USA?" At that point the clerks (all three) got annoyed and unanimously concluded that there probably are no bearings made in the US. So, it was off to a local trailer dealer that sells a ton of utility/landscaping trailers. He fixed me up with a set of off-shore bearings as well as a spare hub complete with similar bearings. Most of my drives this summer will be relatively short (<150 miles), and I'll pay close attention to the wear and set of the hubs. If they make numerous short hauls without any indication of shortcomings, I'll roll on. Wish me luck.
PeteB88	posted 06-27-2010 10:07 PM ET (US) Bilge Rat - - I went through the same thing looking for US made Timken bearings for the Karavan trailer I use for my 13. One thing that struck me at the time (about two years ago) was I went to my local NAPA store and they had only one (1) Timken bearing set left that was US made. Every other bearing set was China made. I finally found what I was looking for at Detroit Ball Bearing Company, same town, but paid much more money for US made compared to China made Timken. The guys behind the counter totally agreed with my assumption that US bearings were better made. I am really not sure.
TommyWhaler	posted 06-30-2010 09:11 PM ET (US) I don't think we should buy anything made in China.