TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:11 pm

Hello-

I’ve noticed that the price of a particular bearing will vary substantially from vendor to vendor. Is this because some vendors simply charge higher prices than others, or does it have something to do with the quality of the bearings?

Are there some bearing brands I should avoid?

Thanks,

Paul

Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:05 am

I think it has something to do with whether the bearings are for an alignbored case or not. Alignbore bearings for later S-90 and 912 engines are extremely rare.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:25 pm

We talking wheel bearings or plain bearings?

if wheel bearings, it has to do with what the supplier sells them for AND what they are selling. Some just jack up the price and others sell quality pieces. Some sell junk for less.

One thing we have found when looking for wheel bearings for most porsche products is to go to the local bearing house. Most big cities have at least one.

Take the old bearing, or the bearing number and have them match it up.
They will supply you with a top quality bearing at a fraction of the catalog prices.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:26 pm

Hello-

I was thinking of main engine bearings.

Paul

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:42 pm

Basically put, ALL bearings, no matter what they are, are going up in price.

Ditto most wear items.

We used to, as posted above, go to the bearing house for bearings. They were cheap. Not no more...

Ditto engine parts. Face it, they are getting rarer. Be happy you can get them. Get name brand, if you can. Some of the machine shops can do well with bearings when they align bore your block. That way you will have a good chance of success.

Sat Nov 22, 2008 1:43 pm

Wheel bearings will always be cheap and plentiful. The sizes used on your axles are used in THOUSANDS of other places and applications. That is why your local bearing supply store will have your wheel bearings in stock.

Crankshaft main bearings are a different story. Let's say you have a 99 pt, perfectly restored 57 Speedster. And you have the original matching numbers engine case. But the problem is that it needs an alignbore, and you can't find the bearings anywhere. If your car was complete, arguably, the car is worth close to $200k now. If all that is holding you back from installing your numbers matching engine is a set of main bearings, spending $500 on a set is CHEAP!