Rear Wheel Bearings, Comparsions ? Options

[914Sixer]

DO we know for a fact the Chinese bearings are poorly made? Does anyone have any real world use to report? I have some I am going to use. These bearings are made to ISO 9000 spec. This is an international standard for manufactures, SO why wouldn't that be as good as the other bearing manufactures? Are we sticking our nose in the air over nothing? The European parts manufactures do not seem to want to make the parts for our old cars.

What will really blow you away is the amount of VW parts now being made in China. Do a Google and see what comes up. I was amazed.

[andys]

Here's a snippet from the Timken WEB site that might be of interest.

CANTON, Ohio: November 2, 2010 – The Timken Company is providing this news release on behalf of the World Bearing Association (WBA). In the last two decades, counterfeiting in general has grown by 10,000 percent, globally. While there has been much reporting about consumers being taken advantage of by counterfeits in music, film, home electronics and designer clothing, a far greater risk lies in industrial counterfeiting of items such as tires, seals and bearings. All these products are safety-critical and fake versions pose a real threat

An interesting aside: Had the thermostat fail in my Explorer twice; factory parts made in Germany. The second replaced with a Chinese made one I got from my FLAPS and it's lasted more than 8 years.

Andys