Unit bearing recommendations?
- Thread starter AlaskanRedneck
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- dana 30 unit bearings
I bought my current Jeep with less than 60k miles and stock size tires. The unit bearings had already been replaced once and both were loose when I bought it. One was so loose I could feel the play in it after I removed it and held in my hands. It was clearly marked as a Moog unit.
I certainly won’t be buying any Moog bearings anytime soon.
I certainly won’t be buying any Moog bearings anytime soon.
Sad to hear about the Timkin problems. Used to be a no-brainer. I'd like to hear who's had good experiences with different manufacturers recently. Mopar is likely a good bet, but they will be expensive and may drop support at any time.
I’ve had problems with any hub bearing for a Tj that has the silver colored bearing dust cover. Can’t remember which brand I got last but they had a black dust cover on the bearing and are still good at one year.
I had one Timkin go bad, bought a 20.00 Chinese knock off as a temp fix. It worked flawlessly. I ordered 2 obscenely expensive Mopar bearings hoping they would be better. Made in China and look like my $20.00 temporary fix.
Andy Maurer
TJ Enthusiast
That's it, didn't realize there were two versions. My fault, the OP stated he had a 00 and Chris provided the correct part for his year TJ. Off to make returns & buy more parts...
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Do the unit bearings have a life expectancy or recommended change interval? My LJ has 225,000+ miles so I'd assume they've been changed at least once already but I'm curious if I should change them when I do my bbk.
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It is one of those things I think you should only replace when they go bad. It is possible yours are original especially if you have run close to stock wheels and tires most of those miles.
I think it would be safe to assume with 225K+ on the clock you could consider the bearings a maintenance item. As far as a brand of choice, while I had one newer Timken fail, I would not turn my back on the brand. I think many companies outsource their products and it can be a roll of the dice no matter who you use. I replaced my second set with MOPAR, good so far. I could buy a lifetime supply of Chinese bearings for the cost of the MOPAR, and the Mopar are Chinese as well.
I just received the ones for the wife's '96 XJ, and it was marked the same. I knew that was the case, however. I was just operating off the notion that the Timken name might still mean something in regards to quality. Only time will tell...
Yup, we'll find out in time. I've always been a SKF guy just because work but I'm reading now that they're still out sourced for the bearings I/we would need. Guess if these fail prematurely I'll give SKF a try.
Not even sure the XJ needs 'em, to be honest. Just ordered them as part of the "It's got 180,000 miles on it" maintenance program. If the originals are still good, then I'll just save 'em for my TJ, which has about 25,000 more miles on it than the XJ. Same part number...
Welp, so much for SKF now I suppose. Pick your made in China unit bearing that you like best...
I think the last one I got was from raybestos. I can’t remember the COO but it’s lasted longer than any of the timken or value line Mopar I have used.
Found the box, also made in China.
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If you're old enough...
Remember when things were all made in Japan and how you felt about that? Now, we'd be happy if that was the case.
Remember when things were all made in Japan and how you felt about that? Now, we'd be happy if that was the case.
Haha....I use Koyo bearings now instead of Timken for gear installs. I guess you get what you get nowadays.
Timken diff bearings appear to still be made in the USA.
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