I just bought a Timken hub assembly and want to know who else has bought these from autozone. The part# is HA597449. Then on the orange bearing seal is a number DH559335, looked it up and I says chinese bearing? Sigh...wtf?! Then the hub flange has Slovakia stamped on it. Has anyone who has boughten these seen this same markings?? And how long has the hub assembly held up for you?

 

I hear Timken is a decent brand regardless... Just throw it in. If it came from Autozone it has a warranty.

 

Being a machine technician for years. ( I repair turning centers) I would run into them a lot. Some of Timken bearings are made by other vendors. (as you mentioned above) But they are held to the Timken standards. Thus having the Timken name on them.

 

The hub assembly seems good and the bearing seems fine. It just bothers me that there are two different parts from two different company, and those two parts are combined into one and a Timken box is wrapped around it. Im sure Im blowing this out of proportion but, the day I picked it up the bearing had a rough spot, so I went back to AZ and exchanged it for another and the second one spun great but had these foreign countries stamped on it.

 

ive heard they make good quality bearings from car and trucks to the aviation industry because one of there bearing factories is up in vermont where im from sooo judging from the tolerences the aviation indusrty requires of them they must make quality stuff but i don't know anything about wat they make in az

 

If you have big tires and lift and wheel alot like me they only last maybe 6 months or so less if your in mud alot, I trail ride daily drive mine., that's why I just bought the cheaper ones from Oreally $79.99 ea.

 

Timken makes quality bearings. They are used in a lot of industrial applications.

 

I have 31" of rubber and 4" lift (4" front 3" back) but my rig sees more asphalt than mud. I was actually thinking of Precision from oreilly (which are probably chinese made!) which is what I think you buy, but might just say screw it, I already have the bearing at hand and the warranty is 3 yrs as is the orielly. UNLESS, when I call Timken, they say these numbers and what not are not matching then I will return it to AZ and question where they purchased it from Then go to Oreilly. They are ususally my first choice anyway.

 

However, Timken did say AZ is a Timken distributor so....

 

I would stick with the timeken since you already bought it, there one of the best bearing and seal companies IMO, I get a discount through work for Oreally's is only real reason I went with the cheapos.precision is good too I belive there a part of spicer or a knock off of spicer anyway I run there ujoints too

 

I installed a pair of the AutoZone Timkens on my TJ with 35s last year. All seems tight to this day. I check them regularly because they did come from AutoZone, call me paranoid.

 

Completely understandable

 

RED LIGHT!!!! The Timken hub assembly is 4/16 shorter then the one that was on there originally. Does not sound ok!

 

Measuring from the bottom of the assembly were the 3 bolt flange sits on the steering knuckle, to the top part of the hub....The one that was on there measures 2 3/16. The Timken measures 1 15/16. What's going on???

 

Chinese isn't always automatically bad. If Timken sets a certain standard, it'll be met...just as those who set a maximum price point with less regard to quality will have their goal met. (avoid the latter)

Timken built their own bearing plants in China, sent over American engineering, and ships the raw steel from Ohio. In fact they just built another plant to supply the Chinese power industry with wind turbine bearings.
I'd use them without a second thought.