Opinions on front wheel bearing brands
#1
Opinions on front wheel bearing brands
Has anyone had luck with non-Koyo branded front wheel bearings? I've seen someone mention trying out Timken, but when the outer is nearly $40 alone, you might as well buy the full OEM set from Mazdatrix or another vendor. Centric, National, etc. offer outers for circa $10, but the difference in price leads me to believe they're an inferior option. Experience and opinions are welcomed.
#2
MECP Certified Installer
Is your tire just a tad wobbly while on jacks?
I recommend popping the old bearings out and packing them plum full of grease and see if that fixes your problem.
My front wheels would rock back and forth when I was doing an alignment but just pulling them out and cramming them with grease fixed the issue. As long as you dont have visible brinnel marks on the bearing races you should be good just repacking them.
I recommend popping the old bearings out and packing them plum full of grease and see if that fixes your problem.
My front wheels would rock back and forth when I was doing an alignment but just pulling them out and cramming them with grease fixed the issue. As long as you dont have visible brinnel marks on the bearing races you should be good just repacking them.
#7
I never updated my own thread, but the Centric premium bearings are actually manufactured by Koyo, which is the OEM bearing supplier. I cannot say without doubt they are "EXACTLY" the OEM part, but upon comparison they seem to be. So save yourself the money and go with the Centric premium for a fraction of the cost.
I have used OEM, Timken, and now the Centric premium, no qualms with any in terms of quality. I am no bearing expert so I will not comment, but merely mention that the Timken bearings are of visually different design.
I have used OEM, Timken, and now the Centric premium, no qualms with any in terms of quality. I am no bearing expert so I will not comment, but merely mention that the Timken bearings are of visually different design.
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#8
MECP Certified Installer
I never updated my own thread, but the Centric premium bearings are actually manufactured by Koyo, which is the OEM bearing supplier. I cannot say without doubt they are "EXACTLY" the OEM part, but upon comparison they seem to be. So save yourself the money and go with the Centric premium for a fraction of the cost.
I have used OEM, Timken, and now the Centric premium, no qualms with any in terms of quality. I am no bearing expert so I will not comment, but merely mention that the Timken bearings are of visually different design.
I have used OEM, Timken, and now the Centric premium, no qualms with any in terms of quality. I am no bearing expert so I will not comment, but merely mention that the Timken bearings are of visually different design.
#11
MECP Certified Installer
#13
MECP Certified Installer
I tighten it down by hand, put the wheel back on and spin spin spin. I take the wheel back off and tighten it more with the socket, put wheel back on and spin spin spin. Take the wheel back off and then use the ratchet to just add a tad bit more. Put the wheel back on and spin spin spin, and it it starts spinning freely with no wobble, you're good to go.
By wobble, I mean being able to rock the wheel back and forth and up and down (if you can do that, it's too loose.)
#14
Sharp Claws
iTrader: (30)
centric doesn't often rebrand junk parts FYI. i have used them for various parts before and they have never let me down.
i typically run the nut down finger tight, tighten it with pliers about 10ft/lbs, back off the nut, tighten it by finger and then tighten it 1/8th turn to the next available crown pinhole.
i typically run the nut down finger tight, tighten it with pliers about 10ft/lbs, back off the nut, tighten it by finger and then tighten it 1/8th turn to the next available crown pinhole.
Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 10-15-15 at 01:44 PM.
#15
Rotary Enthusiast
iTrader: (23)
used cheap stuff from oreillys, as i work there (employee discount... ridiculous discount). masterpro and havent had issues but i always tear my car apart and replace things on schedule. I do think the national brand they have is decent... i believe federal mogul makes them.
#16
Fistful of steel
iTrader: (7)
My car is a track car, I have used Timken with good results, as well as Koyo. I didn't know Centric Premium was Koyo as well, that is good news. I have used SKF with good results, just not on the RX7. I use Redline wheel bearing grease.
I tighten new front wheel bearings to 25 ft lbs and check them after a few heat cycles. They are always loose again. I have to do that 3 times before they stay tight at 25 ft lbs. If repacking used bearings I might have to retorque once, sometimes not at all.
I used to tighten fresh bearings to 20 ft lbs and they loosened up 5-6 times, so I settled on 25 ft lbs.
I tighten new front wheel bearings to 25 ft lbs and check them after a few heat cycles. They are always loose again. I have to do that 3 times before they stay tight at 25 ft lbs. If repacking used bearings I might have to retorque once, sometimes not at all.
I used to tighten fresh bearings to 20 ft lbs and they loosened up 5-6 times, so I settled on 25 ft lbs.
#17
Rotary Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
My car is a track car, I have used Timken with good results, as well as Koyo. I didn't know Centric Premium was Koyo as well, that is good news. I have used SKF with good results, just not on the RX7. I use Redline wheel bearing grease.
I tighten new front wheel bearings to 25 ft lbs and check them after a few heat cycles. They are always loose again. I have to do that 3 times before they stay tight at 25 ft lbs. If repacking used bearings I might have to retorque once, sometimes not at all.
I used to tighten fresh bearings to 20 ft lbs and they loosened up 5-6 times, so I settled on 25 ft lbs.
I tighten new front wheel bearings to 25 ft lbs and check them after a few heat cycles. They are always loose again. I have to do that 3 times before they stay tight at 25 ft lbs. If repacking used bearings I might have to retorque once, sometimes not at all.
I used to tighten fresh bearings to 20 ft lbs and they loosened up 5-6 times, so I settled on 25 ft lbs.
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Frisky Arab
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