Wheel bearings are a small but mighty component of your car. While driving for a short distance with a faulty wheel bearing is possible, it’s best to avoid doing so.

We have established and reliable partnerships with proven suppliers, with whom we have been working for many years, ensuring uninterrupted supplies for our customers and offering the best prices.

Instead, you should book an automotive service with a mobile mechanic like AutoNation Mobile Service. Our expert mechanics can sort out a wheel bearing replacement right from your driveway.

Are Timkenbearingsmade in China

Category 4 of bearings is the most dangerous category. These are bearings produced in China, but having the markings of famous brands. Often such products are in retail sale and the consumer, expecting high quality, having paid a significant amount, as a result receives products without a well-known reputation. In the best case, such bearings may not cause serious damage, but their service life may be a third shorter than expected.

There’s no surefire way of determining how far you can drive on a bad wheel bearing since it depends on your driving style, the condition of the road, and many other factors.

Chinese bearings are now widely available both in manufacturing and retail. However, many consumers have a negative perception of them, supported by several examples, such as short service life and damage to expensive equipment due to poor bearing quality.

Where are uxcellbearingsmade

Category 3 includes Chinese companies that produce unnamed (non-branded) products. It can also include some other Asian or European brands that present their range of bearings as a reliable alternative to European products. This is, in essence, the most risky segment, which is often perceived by consumers as cheap Chinese counterfeits. In the case of European companies, they actively try to attract buyers, promising the quality of bearings confirmed by "reliable" (sometimes even non-existent) organizations. However, it is in this segment that one should be on the lookout, as the lack of proper quality control and production in "unprofessional" enterprises often lead to the release of not only low-quality, but also defective bearings. The use of such products, naturally, can lead to rapid wear of equipment, automotive components, and so on.

China Bearing

Diagnosing which specific wheel bearing is faulty can be tricky. Fortunately, there are ways to identify a noisy wheel bearing yourself, potentially saving you some diagnostic costs.

The purchase of bearings at factories in China and their subsequent customs clearance with delivery to the US to the customer's warehouse is much cheaper than purchasing bearings in the USA, overpaying for the margin of intermediaries. We DO NOT make a margin on goods.

Thbbearingsco ltd

When checking the rear wheel bearing, excessive play, both vertically or horizontally, in the wheel can indicate the rear bearing is failing.

However, they can fail prematurely, leading to uneven wear on your tires and brake pads and potentially unsafe driving conditions. A grinding noise or more looseness in the steering are two common signs your vehicle’s wheel bearing needs to be replaced by a qualified mechanic.

But don’t panic.We’ll explore the ins and outs of wheel bearings, including how long you can drive on a bad wheel bearing and the potential implications of ignoring it.

Typically, wheel bearings, composed of steel balls housed in a wheel hub assembly, should last between 5 and 10 years or about 100,000 miles.

Generally, you can pay between $125 and $750 to fix a wheel bearing issue. The cost primarily comes down to the type of bearings your vehicle uses — ball bearing, roller bearing, or taper bearings.

Bottom line: It’s crucial to have a damaged wheel bearing replaced as soon as it shows signs of wear.With that, let’s see how much a replacement costs.

These minor issues can become major problems, such as reduced stability and control, if left unchecked. Aside from potential safety hazards, these can also lead to costly repairs.

TFL bearing

Top 10 bearing manufacturers in China

Category 2 includes companies that produce bearings from different countries, such as Italy, India, Japan, and others, which delegate part of the production of their products to factories in China. However, it is worth noting that these companies strictly control quality at all stages of production, which guarantees compliance of the products with all necessary government standards, ISO, etc. This approach, in which part of the work is performed at Chinese factories with additional quality control by the main manufacturer, allows to reduce the total production cost. This, in turn, is reflected in the final price of the product, which allows consumers to purchase high-quality bearings at a more affordable price.

A wheel bearing is a set of steel balls (ball bearings) or tapers (tapered bearings) slotted inside a ring. The axle connects to the wheel through the bearing and allows the wheel to rotate smoothly.

Therefore, before purchasing products, it is recommended to study information about its origin, and not to rely solely on the subjective opinion of most consumers.

Identifying the failing bearing can save the mechanic some time. Once they know which bearing needs replacing, their expertise and the right tools make it a relatively easy job.

China Bearing company

As we can see, the segment of Chinese bearings covers a wide range of products, including both high-quality products that are subject to strict control, and low-quality products that are often the source of damage to expensive equipment. In addition, there is also the production of European manufacturers, which sometimes tries to masquerade as high-quality Chinese bearings.

Alternatively, try jacking up each wheel. Then, firmly grip the top and bottom of the wheel with two hands and try to move it forward and backward. If it’s tight, your wheel bearing is fine, but excessive play can indicate a bad bearing.

UxcellbearingsReview

It is generally believed that Chinese bearings represent low production quality. Let's try to understand in more detail and understand what categories of bearings are produced in China and how it happens.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to your home or office to complete your repair. We make the process easy from start to finish by offering upfront pricing, online booking, after-hours support, and a full warranty.

Category 1 includes leading global manufacturers, such as SKF, SNR, Timken, FAG, and others. A significant part of their factories are located in China, which makes their products actually Chinese, i.e., "factory China". However, it is worth noting that the technologies and equipment used to produce these bearings are similar to European standards, and the quality of such products remains at a high level. It is important to understand that in this case, "China" means only the location of the factory, not the quality of the product, as is the case in Germany, Malaysia, and other countries. Quality control at these factories is also subject to careful supervision, often carried out by foreign specialists. Buyers can take advantage of this product at more affordable prices, thanks to the use of cheap labor at Chinese factories (employees must undergo training). This factor guarantees compliance with all technological production processes that ensure high product quality.

Wheel bearings, often consisting of steel balls, are usually sealed within the hub assembly, meaning the entire assembly would need replacing. Additionally, not all bearings are the same: