Front wheel bearings for my wife's van

[look 171]

Sienna van. Front wheel bearings are protesting finally after 180k miles. I know I have to put a few bucks into it but dealer parts are too much I want to spend on an older vehicle. I like to see us get 250,000 out of this thing. Really trying to get my money's worth. I am not sure where my wrench get their cheap parts from, but they kept pushing dealer parts and I understand the reasons. NAPA, Rock Auto? What are their quality like? I don't to buy the cheap amazon Chinese junk special for 40 bucks only to fall apart on my 10,000 miles later. What do you smart folks suggest?

[Bob Kontak]

OK - standard type bearing on the front. Ugh. National Beck/Arnley Timken on Rock Auto

[sammyg2]

How about partstotoyota.com or similar? That one is from thousand oaks toyota, but there are many dealerships that sell OEM parts online and for a pretty good price.
Here's another:
https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/

A while back I bought brake parts for a lexus on one of these sites, got OEM toyota parts for about half what the dealer might charge.

And FWIW, I spent a career in rotating equipment reliability and it was agin' the rules to use Chinese bearings, unless they were SKF bearings made in an SKF factory in china.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

And FWIW, I spent a career in rotating equipment reliability and it was agin' the rules to use Chinese bearings, unless they were SKF bearings made in an SKF factory in china.

SKF is double the cost of other better quality bearings on Rock Auto. Good info.

[look 171]

Thanks

Dean, I just looked at that Toyota site, its 395 bucks and Rock auto's Timken is 130 bucks. That's what I often wonder about the quality knowing the dealer parts will get us close to 200,000 miles compared to the after market. I know there are good after market parts out there, finding them is the issue and don't know where to look, I just don't know anymore. I have always heard great things about Moog and they are in the same price range. I think these Timken parts will last me 60-80 k? I need to get on this. SKF is the gold standard, right?

[sammyg2]

General rule of thumb: SKF bearings are the same from all over the world, their quality control was that good. The standard.
now is that level required on all applications? No way.

I'm about the "thriftiest" person you'll ever meet and I love saving money, but cheeping out on bearings was usually not a good way to save a buck IMO.

But if you can get a high quality bearing for less money, well that's just gold.

[Bob Kontak]

What year is the van?

[sammyg2]

I've never had a problem with a timken bearing. That lower cost bearing will be fine as long as it's not a knock-off.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

What year is the van?

06 limited

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I've never had a problem with a timken bearing. That lower cost bearing will be fine as long as it's not a knock-off.

Rock auto shouldn't sell knockoffs or they don't even know themselves?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by look 171

06 limited

Thanks. Interesting exercise. Heading out of shop and will sniff around for data when I get to the homestead.

[sammyg2]

Is that price just for the bearing, or for the bearing ASSSEMBLY?

If you're paying for the entire assembly with hub and everything, you can save some good $$$$ by just replacing the bearing in the old assembly.
That will require pullers, a press, etc

[sammyg2]

At carparts.com, I'm seeing a set of front wheel bearings (timken, 2 ea) for



https://www.carparts.com/wheel-bearing/toyota/sienna/2007

[sammyg2]

Looks like the same bearings fit siennas from 2004 to 2010.

[mgatepi]

Just did this job on my Sons Chevy Cruze. I priced the OEM Chevy bearings at $120 a side. Then went to Amazon and bought the Chinese set of 2 for $60. $240 vs $60 = $180 savings. Took me 2.5 hours to replace the assemblies total. Easy job. Car has 130K on the clock. No way its going another 130K so even if he gets 50K miles out of them.....I am still ahead.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Is that price just for the bearing, or for the bearing ASSSEMBLY?

I think he's looking at the Timken rear bolt in bearing/hub on Rock Auto. They would be roughly $130 each with shipping and a little over $130 if tax is charged. (Advance does not sell Timken or would have used that as a comparison)

For discussion the National front bearings are $90 each walk-in price at Advance Auto. They are $32 each on Rock Auto same part number. Timken are a dollar or so cheaper on Rock Auto and if you buy two the shipping is $10-$12.

That said, will the wrench buy into sourcing these from the discount places or allow you to buy them?

I see genuine Toyota for $63 each on Ebay.

[908/930]

INA, NSK, Timken, SKF will all be good, have used all when building equipment years ago.

I had a rep give us samples of no name bearings, never used them.

[Baz]

Got mine from Amazon. For the '02 Silverado. Looked like this - complete hub assy. $115 each.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Thanks. Interesting exercise. Heading out of shop and will sniff around for data when I get to the homestead.

Thanks. I think you re in the auto business?

My wrench is cool and understands my situation. He's suggested OEM but said due to the miles, put something else in. I have been going to them for 25 years so we are old friends. They are Toyota specialist and normally don't install anything but factory parts. They were jsut going to buy them from Autozone up the street. I know they are really cheap junks that may last until the end of the year only have to go back and install another. Labor isn't cheap.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Baz

Got mine from Amazon. For the '02 Silverado. Looked like this - complete hub assy. $115 each.

I saw the same thing from Rock Auto for similar price. Any immediately issues with them after install? I hear those Chevy truck are know to be hard on front wheel bearings