rubbish needle rollers
 

There have been threads on here a few times about the lack of quality of modern caged roller bearings as found in transmission and rear hubs. This also pertains to the outboard bearing behind the differential pinion gear. I've just stripped my Columbia, less than 2000 miles since complete rebuild using all new parts throughout. For the outboard pinion bearing #18-4625A, I had fitted a brand new MADE IN USA Bower R-1304-B bearing. It is now rooted!! the end plates are soft as butter and the rollers have worn into them, also they are worn on o/d and i/d from rubbing on the races. So beware, even Yank made stuff can be crap!

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

My .02 is that they can get away for the most part because us old collector types will sometimes put 100 miles a year on our 'stored' cars.

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

Brian, I had German made rear hub bearings that did that little trick with the soft end plates and they were new from Macs a few years ago. Best find some old old NOS ones somewhere. Hyatt brand were good. Regards, Kevin.

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

when I see a usable original bearing I keep it. if it is not pitted, or shedding metal I will use them. far superior to what is available today. I have also had to redo the sleeves after they had been done

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

I'd help you out but don't work for NTN anymore. They got rid of all their direct sales force (boots on the ground guys) in favor of marketing rep agency guys who don't know squat.
Case hardening issue..... which would be unusual for Bower/NTN.
Most of that stuff comes out of Hamilton Alabama or McComb Illinois, which are old Federal Mogul (National) manufacturing facilities.

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

So you are saying that NTN (whoever they are) would or would not be a good source?

Sorry, I'm not up on traditional American bearing manufacturers. The only thing I know is I read an article a few years back written by one of the last members of the family that started and operated Timken for years. He told the story of how it was purchased by some corporate raiders and systematically dismantled and most operations moved "offshore".

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

At my last place of employment [prior to my retirement], we used pretty well exclusively SKF branded bearings. The printing on the individual boxes they came in said where said bearing was manufactured...just about every country in the world it would appear has the manufacturing capabilities to manufacture SKF bearings.

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

NTN is another 100 year old bearing manufacturer…..
Timken (like all bearing manufacturers) buys from others that which they don’t make themselves. Basically a completely whored-up market.

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

I believe this is going to be a big issue, nothing is made too last anymore. Its got me buggered how modern cars last as long as they do.. :mad: :mad: :mad:

Re: rubbish needle rollers
 

Some of the best parts are found in salvage yards, off of original cars, cleaned up, serviced and reused. Or at swap meets, in the original boxes.