Wheel Bearings
Just had another one go on me @ berwick an hour away from home,thats 2 in just 3 months,do ya self a favour and buy genuine ford front wheel bearings...
Stay away from the chinese junk,the guy i buy them off copped a spray off me
and he said you get what you pay for,he said IF anybody tries to tell that their non genuine wheel bearings aint made in china they are full of ****.
Have ordered a US made Raybestos premium grade replacement from Rock Auto, $300 including express FedEx shipping, and $115 cheaper than the 'genuine item' in the Oz stealership.
Explains the brake delay at a roundabout last week. Black Audi driver gave me the finger I as overcooked it coming into a roundabout. I thought 'fair cop mate I stuffed up, sorry'.
Another meter further for me & his airbags would have deployed. Exchanging details would have delayed me at least 10 mins then I would have been on my way with a slightly stoved front. He would be waiting there, with his folded Audi.
I just fitted up the pair of Raybestos front hubs, no issues, good fit, plug compatible ABS, everything seemed fine, until:
While checking the doco, country of origin = CHINA !
Surprised. If I'd known that I would have paid the extra money for the Timken branded hubs as these are rated on the US Bros forum.
Anyway, both the Raybestos hubs are now fitted and only time will tell whether they're better than the cheap-and-nasty Chinese 'Value' or 'Value-Pro' branded cheapo alternative.
BTW, the original hub-assembly lasted 140,000k's.
The Timken units got a good rap - but someone chimed in to say that some of them are now also made in China - I'm hoping that these previous US brands, Timken and Raybestos, have taken great care of their quality control with their manufacturing shift!
Too late for me now, I'm in 'suck-it-and-see' territory, with my made in China Raybestos front hubs.
If either of these replacement 'professional grade' bearings fail in less than 3 months I'll be spitting the dummy big time!






