Timken/FAG = Indonesia?

[jeffinohio]

Just bought a set of Timken bearings for one of my friends car. I am doing some work for her. Talked her into spending more for the Timken bearings. When I opened them,they were actually FAG in a Timken box, I was pretty happy about that. Then I flipped it over and it said made in Indonesia. WTF?!
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[wcfvw69]

At least it didn't say China I'd look them over and if they look good, run them. I think the brand name is more important than where in the world it was made. If the company has stringent quality standards for their products, it will apply at all their factories world wide. That's why I'd never buy a no-name bearing.

I needed some front wheel bearings in a hurry. I went to Autozone. They brought out some lousy Chinese bearings. I opened the box and looked them over and they were terrible. I ordered good ones online.

I just repacked my SKF made in Mexico wheel bearings. They have 10k miles on them now. They looked brand new after cleaning them. I was nervous when I installed them since they were made in Mexico. Not anymore.
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[hazetguy]

bearings are made all over the world. not sure why seeing 'indonesia' would be a surprise, unless they were claimed to be made somewhere else.
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[raygreenwood]

Yes.....FAG and Timken (and others) have been working together for about 8 years or so as far as I know.
The gist is that its not a merger....just cooperating to fill production gaps on limited run bearings. If FAG has the tooling and makes something....and Timken only sells a limited number per year....just buy them from FAG at a cheaper price than making tooling.

The Indonesia connection.....its hard to say.....exactly what was made in Indonesia may never be known.
However....look to see a lot more parts made from the general area.....meaning Asian but outside of China.
There is actually quite a bit of high tech, quality manufacturing going on and being started up in this group especially......from Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
First......the market for industrial wares, parts and supplies just within these countries.....is HUGE. The technical base of the population has been expanding rapidly over the last 10 years.
Because most of these players are island statea....its expensive to ship from the mainland....so in classic "American" style.....is cheaper in the long run to build the plants in the usage area.

The interesting thing I just found out about this group of countries......is that they all have an average of 6% economic growth per year over the last handful of years.....and all have AAA credit or close to it.

Timken themselves.....are no longer exempt from the practice of "reboxing". We have all been hoping that Timken may prove to be the last "un-risky" manufacturer of the big bearing manufacturers......what with the SKF counterfeit scandal.....and others.

But......I just got a pair of Timken bearings in last week. Rather uncommon ones so I pick them up when ai can.

These are Timken LM300849-20024

The two I already had in hand.....say made in United states. Above that is a small code "09Z 22". I am looking into that code.

The new bearings came in in Timken boxes last week. Same part and holographic manufacturers seal.......but......it says......"01G ASSEMBLED IN USA =S91".

I am looking into this too. Ray

[raygreenwood]

To sum up.......that with close inspection and from what I have been seeing in manufacturing.....that I tend to agree with wcfvw69.......that I have far fewer worries about uwing a bearing from a company with very high standards.....manufacturing the part in areas that have been mentioned in this thread......except for China.

The biggest problem with high precision parts made in China......is that its not really a free market economy. The quality method and ethic is not yet universally entrenched.....and because its a state driven economy even a company like SKF, FAG or Timken......will be forced to comply with material, labor and management directives from the government.

Its one of the reasons why you are seeing high tech manufacturing staying in the Asian sphere for labor and cost......but moving out of China into places that have less interference. Ray

[jeffinohio]

I live about 1/2hr from Canton,the home of Timken Bearing.I always opt for their bearings as that name means quality.Just surprised me to see the rebox,and the Indo deal.I hate this whole globalization thing.Guess that's how it is now.
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[wcfvw69]

[mark tucker]

these days you could find just abput any name brand bearing in any other name brands box.witch is fine. and many countrys are getting a good income by being the cheep labor outsorced country. aslong as they use the right materials&heatreetment. my daughters boyfrinds dad go's around the world setting up & training people to run their machines they make at the plant he works at and others in the family also work there in switzerland.they make the best grinders in the world,and there not cheep(thers are the most expensive made).he does them for most all car manufactors&aircraft engine manufactures and yes bearing manufactures too.and now to many "out of the way"countrys that need a industry kick start. as long as it's a name brand it should be good. but steer clear of the ....ones that look or sound like a name brand like ..BCA= good(bower) and cba,bad.cbn.hbc and shit like that made in china. many good bearing are coming out of china....and a lot of shite too. I just get a set of bearings(pillow block 25mm) and one was great....one was dead.wtf, it's for my electrick riding mower.

[jeffinohio]

Just a meaningless update....I got the wheel bearings changed.Pressed the old ones out,they were marked FAG made in KOREA!Dont have much confidence in these lasting.The originals only had 30000 miles on them.The car was bought new in 2014 and of course the drive train warranty does not cover wheel bearings.
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[wcfvw69]

Where the bearings bad that you changed w/only 30k miles on them? My understanding is the bearing made in Korea by the name brand bearing companies are very good quality.
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[jeffinohio]

Yes,one side was growling.Sounded like it was dry.After removing the hub,before pressing it out,I rotated it on my finger and it was toast.The other side wasn't near as bad,but I changed them both.Dealership quoted her $458 to do one side.I had $97 in both bearings.Did both in less than an hour and a half.That would have been $900 at the dealership.Think they were trying to take advantage of a young girl?!Her grandparents bought her the car there.
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[jeffinohio]

Did some research before suggesting she change both bearings.After some searching,I found that her car is known to have this issue with the bearings.Some failing in as little as 8000 miles from new.I have to believe they are have a quality problem with these bearings.
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[wcfvw69]

[raygreenwood]

[jeffinohio]

This is on the rear of a 2014 Chevy front wheel drive.One of the girls who works here owns it.It was bought brand new for her by her grandparents.Its still under factory warranty,they just of course don't cover the wheel bearings.Car has never been apart before I worked on it.Dealer is the one that originally told her the bearings needed changed.They were correct.Only reason I posted it here being its not VW is we all use bearings,and quality counts.Thought it might be good info.
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[jeffinohio]

[jeffinohio]

OOOPS.Car is 2014,singe snap ring,double row bearing,press in hub.Hub was spotless.No moisture inside,very clean.Just was dry for whatever reason.Bullshit that the manufacturer doesn't stand behind this.After some internet searching,this seems to becoming the norm...
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[jeffinohio]

Sorry I keep responding without the quote,I don't seem to understand how to do that....Anyhow,everything Ray says is spot on.The spindle nut torque was 134ft/lbs.Sounds excessive,but that's what I torqued it to.Spun freely afterwards.I always press the OD of the bearing,but I am sure many don't know to do that.Also,the reponse above about dealerships is spot on as well.My wife and I have bought one new car in our lives,2014 Subaru CrossTrek.If I told you what the dealer did to my car 1 week after purchase,you wouldn't believe me.I will not deal with them for anything now,but that's another story.
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[raygreenwood]

[jeffinohio]

Yup,Malibu.Several of their cars use the same design.Thats why I just went ahead and did both.
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