Rear Wheel Bearings, OE vs Aftermarket Options

[woobn8r]

What is your experience with rear wheel bearings?

Aftermarket seem to be about 1/2 the price of OE. There are alot of quality manufacturers (Timken, FAG, NTN etc)...does anyone know who makes rwb for aftermarket 914 applications. (cheap offshore?)

Any performance or longevity with aftermarket bearings...any failures? Are these application specific...4 banger vs. 6 or 8...race vs. street...?

Are the aftermarket products worth the savings?

I am currently rebuilding rear arms and using 911SC hubs/setup...I will have a 3.2l pushing these...It's easy to pay the $$$ for OE but, if you do that for everything you could buy a new Boxter S cheaper than saving a 914.

So what do you think...?

[Downunderman]

Avoid SNR nade in France. They have quality issues - wont lock up properly. SKF are good.

[John]

Avoid SNR nade in France. They have quality issues - wont lock up properly. SKF are good.

I can vouch for this.

I had one just today that was found to be JUNK. Unfortunately, I have another one new in the box. I have one on order from my FLAPS that will be here in 2 hours. I'm tempted to get it and check the manufacturer and use it instead of the SNR that I have. The SNR has only been installed less than 1 year (track only) and has only seen 5 or 6 events. The other side (unknown brand) has been in there for a couple seasons and still is nice and tight. (I probably just jinxed it).

Anyone have ideas who provides the BEST rear wheel bearing for our application?

FAG?

[Cap'n Krusty]

Avoid SNR nade in France. They have quality issues - wont lock up properly. SKF are good.

I can vouch for this.

I had one just today that was found to be JUNK. Unfortunately, I have another one new in the box. I have one on order from my FLAPS that will be here in 2 hours. I'm tempted to get it and check the manufacturer and use it instead of the SNR that I have. The SNR has only been installed less than 1 year (track only) and has only seen 5 or 6 events. The other side (unknown brand) has been in there for a couple seasons and still is nice and tight. (I probably just jinxed it).

Anyone have ideas who provides the BEST rear wheel bearing for our application?

FAG?

Early rear wheel bearing failure can virtually always be traced to faulty installation techniques. The procedures are specific and critical. ANY impact on the races can, and will, cause brinnelling of the races, and failure inevitably follows within a short time. The bearing has to be pressed into the housing, and the hub has to be pressed into the bearing, and you MUST support the inner races while it's being installed. You tap on that hub to get it started, the bearing's a goner. Even whacking on the stub axle to seat it can cause a problem ....... The Cap'n

[John]

Avoid SNR nade in France. They have quality issues - wont lock up properly. SKF are good.

I can vouch for this.

I had one just today that was found to be JUNK. Unfortunately, I have another one new in the box. I have one on order from my FLAPS that will be here in 2 hours. I'm tempted to get it and check the manufacturer and use it instead of the SNR that I have. The SNR has only been installed less than 1 year (track only) and has only seen 5 or 6 events. The other side (unknown brand) has been in there for a couple seasons and still is nice and tight. (I probably just jinxed it).

Anyone have ideas who provides the BEST rear wheel bearing for our application?

FAG?

Early rear wheel bearing failure can virtually always be traced to faulty installation techniques. The procedures are specific and critical. ANY impact on the races can, and will, cause brinnelling of the races, and failure inevitably follows within a short time. The bearing has to be pressed into the housing, and the hub has to be pressed into the bearing, and you MUST support the inner races while it's being installed. You tap on that hub to get it started, the bearing's a goner. Even whacking on the stub axle to seat it can cause a problem ....... The Cap'n

Gee, thanks for that wonderful accusation, but alas, that is/was not the problem.

[Cap'n Krusty]

Avoid SNR nade in France. They have quality issues - wont lock up properly. SKF are good.

I can vouch for this.

I had one just today that was found to be JUNK. Unfortunately, I have another one new in the box. I have one on order from my FLAPS that will be here in 2 hours. I'm tempted to get it and check the manufacturer and use it instead of the SNR that I have. The SNR has only been installed less than 1 year (track only) and has only seen 5 or 6 events. The other side (unknown brand) has been in there for a couple seasons and still is nice and tight. (I probably just jinxed it).

Anyone have ideas who provides the BEST rear wheel bearing for our application?

FAG?

Early rear wheel bearing failure can virtually always be traced to faulty installation techniques. The procedures are specific and critical. ANY impact on the races can, and will, cause brinnelling of the races, and failure inevitably follows within a short time. The bearing has to be pressed into the housing, and the hub has to be pressed into the bearing, and you MUST support the inner races while it's being installed. You tap on that hub to get it started, the bearing's a goner. Even whacking on the stub axle to seat it can cause a problem ....... The Cap'n

Gee, thanks for that wonderful accusation, but alas, that is/was not the problem.

Oh? Not really an accusation, rather a statement of fact based on close to 35 years experience working on 911s, 914s and other cars with similar wheel bearings. Care to elaborate? Axle nut loose? Hub worn? Not many other reasons for early failure. The Cap'n