I guess this is probably an impossible question, but I'm trying to buy a pair of early '80s GM rear hubs for the '88 Fiero front hub modification. I'm want to buy used ones as all I need is the flange and shaft out of the hubs. My first attempt was a pair of used 1985 Corvette hubs from someone on the Corvette forum, but I got the cup off the back and the bearing is non-serviceable (Chinese made, I assume).
So, is there any way to tell from the outside? Shouldn't it say "Made in China" or something on it?
Just needed to vent, I guess.
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05:11 PM
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phonedawgz Member
Posts: 17106 From: Green Bay, WI USA Registered: Dec 2009
Communist Chinese bearing hubs are the worst sh't in the world. They are soft, weak, noisy and don't last long at all. Could you just imagine racing with one of those on your Fiero? Can you say suicide? You can usually tell a Chinese bearing hub as they have no markings on them or have strange Chinese markings.Look for names like Timken, and Bower/BCA . Those are the quality hubs.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, ZZP Intercooler, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Timken and NTN both have several plants in China, for what it's worth. Just because something is made in China, doesn't make it crap. Look for quality manufacturers, and not the cheapest thing you can get.
But if you're looking for used parts, it's not likely that manufacturer or origin will be known to the seller, especially if the part was ever replaced in the past, or by a previous owner, or such.
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06:52 PM
fierogt28 Member
Posts: 2962 From: New-Brunswick, Canada. Registered: Feb 2005
There are very few GM hubs that were servicable...no matter who made them.
I've had good luck with SKF, Timken, NTN and Koyo bearings. Timken is very popular and made in USA or Brazil. Koyo is less popular and made in USA...maybe somewhere else too?
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12:07 AM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
There are very few GM hubs that were servicable...no matter who made them.
Depends on how badly you want to service them. The hub on our 2000 Bonneville is supposedly not serviceable, however if it can be pressed together, well it can be pressed apart. The thing is you have to have acess to a hydraulic press and the ability to see how it was pressed together. Not everyone can do that.
It's kinda like the fuel line on the 3800 in the Bonneville. It's labeled with printed lettering saying "NOT REPAIRABLE". Well, it was leaking fuel at the rail connection and I wasn't about to pay for a new fuel line when all that was wrong with the one in the car was the viton o-ring had degraded and cracked from age. $7.00 for a assortment of viton o-rings and a few picks later and no more leak. Not repairable...
Another one, the Kubota tractor I use at one of the job sites. The bearing on the fan shaft was shot. The unit was a welded assembly. According to Kubota you could not replace the bearing on the fan shaft, you had to buy a new assembly at $110.00. I ground out the weld, pressed it apart and searched for a new bearing. Stopped by Grainger's the next day, picked up the bearing for $10.00. I pressed it back together and welded it back up.
It's all in having the tools and know how to do it. Reality is, if it can be put together, it can be taken apart. Unless there are some sort of retainers that break on disassembly, chances are it can be put back together again.
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01:00 AM
1fatcat Member
Posts: 1519 From: Zimmerman, Mn Registered: Dec 2010
Timken and NTN both have several plants in China, for what it's worth. Just because something is made in China, doesn't make it crap. Look for quality manufacturers, and not the cheapest thing you can get.
I agree that name brand products made in Communist China are usually better than the off brand stuff but as a general rule, the crap made in China is NOWHERE as good as American made quality. We've replaced Autozone Chinese bearing hubs on customer cars that were toast only after 3 months of use. They also don't ride as smooth as the American Bearings do. Also remember that everything that we buy that is made in China takes jobs away from the American worker. That worker could be you unless you aspire to be a career "burger flipper".
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, ZZP Intercooler, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
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09:54 AM
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aaronkoch Member
Posts: 1643 From: Spokane, WA Registered: Aug 2003
I agree that name brand products made in Communist China are usually better than the off brand stuff but as a general rule, the crap made in China is NOWHERE as good as American made quality. We've replaced Autozone Chinese bearing hubs on customer cars that were toast only after 3 months of use. They also don't ride as smooth as the American Bearings do. Also remember that everything that we buy that is made in China takes jobs away from the American worker. That worker could be you unless you aspire to be a career "burger flipper".
In general having a factory in a country where cutting corners is the norm tends to lead to an inferior product.
To be fair, I have had some product from China that has held up, but I tend to agree with your sentiment..especially in products that need a high degree of mechanical precision.
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01:16 PM
Dennis LaGrua Member
Posts: 16079 From: Hillsborough, NJ U.S.A. Registered: May 2000
In general having a factory in a country where cutting corners is the norm tends to lead to an inferior product.
To be fair, I have had some product from China that has held up, but I tend to agree with your sentiment..especially in products that need a high degree of mechanical precision.
Just yesterday I read that the FDA discovered high levels of arsenic in imported communist Chinese apple juice and the US consumer is injesting it. . I avoid products from that country like the plague.. The manufacturers there have no scruples. They will ship anything to the USA just to make money. When they have a run of products that doesn't meet specs they don't scap them they just ship them here. Buy American Canadian and European (if there still is a such thing) parts. Then tend to last.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, ZZP Intercooler, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
I agree that name brand products made in Communist China are usually better than the off brand stuff but as a general rule, the crap made in China is NOWHERE as good as American made quality. We've replaced Autozone Chinese bearing hubs on customer cars that were toast only after 3 months of use. They also don't ride as smooth as the American Bearings do. Also remember that everything that we buy that is made in China takes jobs away from the American worker. That worker could be you unless you aspire to be a career "burger flipper".
One of my boys went thru several front wheel bearing assemblies on an Olds Alero. He kept getting stories about defective by design, and how the nut had to be torqued just so with your mouth held right, yada yada. So I asked him how the original lasted 7 years and over 100K if it was defective by design. He bought a more expensive made in the USA assembly and that was about 3 years ago. Funny how that works.
