You could go to Kaman Industrial or Grainger locally if you have one. They carry SKF, just call and give them the part number for availability before you waste time going there.

I use crazy expensive huge pillow block SKF bearings for industrial applications and even though they’re made in China now, none have failed.

 

Hello

I teach bearing technology for the Japanese in an industrial setting. We build products for Toyota. We use NTN ,SKF,NSK, etc. but I have not seen China on any of my boxes. So I ordered SKF for my 2008 Chevrolet trailblazer and like you I noticed China on the box. I was finished when I saw it. The way I see it is like Toyota exports trucks from the USA to Japan. I know for a fact these are better or as good as if they were built in JP. I hope this is the case with bearings manufactured in China. I will try to avoid them in the future but at our plant in the USA the Japanese are here and very involved job for job from top to bottom. Lets hope SKF are doing the same.

 

I am just not sure on using these with most of the forums saying to avoid bearings made in China.

 

 

Really? They are wheel bearings not a Rolex for God's sake.

 

Probably a bit much for your application but the industrial machinery I repair are $250k up to $1 million + so corners can’t be cut. I do a lot of work on the military bases on Oahu and they don’t want to hear excuses if a machine fails due to using an inferior product cutting corners and cost.

Last year a lot of counterfeit SKF bearings were seized and destroyed, unsure of the offending countries.

 

Maybe I am just being too picky and should run the made in China ones and be done with it?

 

And you never know where these counterfeit ones end up that aren't seized. At least I have the part number that I couldn't read on my original bearings.

Outer Bearing Race = M12610
Outer Bearing = M12649

Inner Bearing Race = LM48510
Inner Bearing = LM48548

Thoughts on the quality and country of manufacture of:
Timken
Koyo
***

 

China can, and does, produce quality parts. If SKF is willing to risk their reputation on Chinese parts, then they're probably a safe bet.

The problem is that China won't necessarily scrap out-of-spec parts; they'd sell it on the cheap instead, and if you're foolish or desperate enough to buy those, then you may get lucky, or seriously screwed. China is also not above faking packaging.

That said, if they cost the same, being SKF and all, I'd also prefer Euro-made parts.

 

All of the well known brands of bearings have at least 3 grades of bearings with their lowest grades being made in China or even India.

The way I avoid the issue is to buy bearings on eBay where you can ask the seller where the bearings are made. If the seller has they are made in the US, Germany, Japan or some similar place I buy those. If the seller sends bearings form a different country after they they said you can case that the items were not as described get a refund on them.

 

If only it weren't such a slow process...

 

The large sellers on eBay often won't answer back as they really don't know what they are selling.
Small sellers often answer back within 2 days. You can pay extra to have it shipped fast but since the COVID-19 USPS dose not really guarantee any more.
I have one Chinese front wheel bearing on my Car as I had to get it on the road. So you do what you have to do. It has held up for a long time.

The Mercedes is only one of of 3 vehicles I have currently registered so I normally have something else to drive.

I don't understand how anyone can survive with an old Mercedes as their only vehicle and not get suck paying a lot for parts or having to stick low quality parts on it. I try hard not to paint myself into a corner. That does not always work out

I tend to buy ahead on parts and tools that I think I might need.

Since within the last 2 weeks I saw wheel bearing threads I looked up my notes and found that I had no part numbers on the bearings as I had only replaced one since I owned the car in 2007.
That lead me to take the time to look up part numbers and the numbers other bearing manufactures use. When I get around to it I plan to buy a set for one front and a hub seal. I figure if I get good quality bearing I can always sell them off later if I never use them.
I am also planning to get a neutral safety switch and a head light switch.

 

You might worry about counterfeit bearings, but SKF makes their bearings in China.

Just type “China” in the location box, and watch the 85 locations appear:

SKF

www.skf.com

 

The car will get the current made in China SKF bearings so I can get it back on the road and in storage for the Winter. I will then take my time to look for the higher quality ones on eBay as per the advice of 300Dman.

 

The Chinese philosophy seems to be to only put in the minimum work/effort required to make a product, but at the same time they are perfectly capable of working to spec.

If you ask a chines factory to make you a widget without giving sufficient guidance they will do, but using the cheapest materials and methods available to them.

But as long as you set out expectations, oversee manufacturing and scrutinise outputs they can manufacture to as high a quality as anyone. No one complains about their iphone being made in China.

SKF are a reputable brand and I am sure they would not risk that reputation. I would have no problem using their made in China parts, as long as they were sourced from a reputable retailer to avoid the chance of them being fakes.

 

I didnt come right out and say so in my post but im with you. 90% of bearing failures happen by the guy installing them. I would be much more worried about that than China.

 

Here’s one of those monster SKF bearings I have to fight today. This is the kind you want to verify. This one made in Sweden if I recall correctly.

1 1/4” combination wrench for scale.

 

Is there something that isn’t made in China these days? I wonder what the rest does because it seems like everything is made in China, it doesn’t matter what and even if you buy something that says is made in Italy or Colombia, the bits used to build it are made in China. Is like rest only assemble and pack things, but can’t really produce anything.

Given the fact that “everything” is made in China, I try not to see where things are made so I can’t have a negative opinion before using it.

 

In a previous post I had said when ever possible I order bearings on eBay. If there Ad text does not say where the bearing is made I ask. If I don't get an answer or one I don't like I don't buy. If an eBay seller item does not match the Ad or what they said it is a reason to get a refund; "item not as described."

If you are in a rush you of course don't have a choice. I have other vehicles to drive while the Mercedes waits to be fixed.