Rear hubs from ebay

[joshwilson3]

This they 'said' on the phone - that it's made in Michigan?

You'd be surprised at the legal definitions of some words. A product can be assembled, made, processed, milled, each in a different place, and still be called, 'made' in X place.

Laws and definitions in commerce might surprise many, if read.

Once I happened to read my receipt for gas. I bought a candy bar too, and saw that as a 'NON-food', the sale of the candy bar was subject to 'NON-food' tax here in NC. I found later that night that most snack grub is 'NON-food'.

NON-food, huh? You think you know the definition of food? I thought I did too... :confused

I'm not worried about it. It is at least put together here in the USA with F A G bearings. But I'd be willing to bet they made the whole thing here. I know WBI talked bad of Chinese hubs and said to avoid them. So, it would be funny if theirs were China and told me to avoid China hubs.

It was either WBI or Timken. And I think Timken ball bearings are just reboxed. So, no telling where Timken was made. WBI even said sometimes Timken gets their hubs from WBI.

I know the guy at Rock Auto recommended that I go with something other than Timken as he said he's noticed more problems with Timken hubs in the last few years.

 

[gmjunkie]

It was either WBI or Timken. And I think Timken ball bearings are just reboxed. So, no telling where Timken was made. WBI even said sometimes Timken gets their hubs from WBI.

I know that we have 2 Timken bearing plants within 15 miles of me in Be-U-T-Full McDowell Co NC,I've never had a problem with a Timken Bearing!

 

[joshwilson3]

I know that we have 2 Timken bearing plants within 15 miles of me in Be-U-T-Full McDowell Co NC,I've never had a problem with a Timken Bearing!

I have generally heard good things about Timken in the past. But when searching here and other places on the rear hubs. I've read that Timken doesn't make ball bearings, but they make everything else. So, according to that, Timken farms out anything that has ball bearings in it. But that is just what I've heard. I know WBI told me that Timken has ordered hubs from them before when they got behind or something. So, at least with regards to a hub, you don't know what you are getting from Timken.

There's been some people who said Timken hubs aren't good. And the Rock Auto guy said he's noticed more problems from the Timken hubs in the last few years compared to other brands.

Maybe it is how you drive it. As I know some guys go through a hub every track event, etc. But I just drive around town, so I'm sure I'd be fine. But Summit said they've been selling the WBI rear Corvette hubs for at least 3 years, and only had 1 returned under warranty. So, that's what I ordered.

Though, on the other Corvette forum, a couple of guys had gotten a WBI hub years ago, and later found some of the studs spinning when taking off the lug nuts. Though, these guys were Autox guys that drive their cars hard. But I asked WBI about it, and they did say around 5 years ago they did have some problems with the studs spinning. But tightened their tolerances and hadn't had any problems since.

 

[joshwilson3]

Summits packing sucks. They put the small WBI box into a large box and just threw in one large bubble. So the hub shifted in shipping and put a hole in the WBI box and tore the styrofoam it was sitting in to pieces.

I noticed there were several brown stains on the hub. I'm assuming it must be dried assembly oil or something as the inside of the WBI box was dry. I also noticed on the two seals where the edge touches the center roating piece. That it was wet on the edge of the seal where it touches the metal. So, I'll have to call WBI to see if that is normal.

 

[TedC]

I had AZ order Timkens rear hubs. They were my first aftermarket replacement choice. Both boxes said MADE IN CHINA. Those hubs looked no different that the ones I ended up buying on e-bay. I'm not pushing e-bay, but those Timkens were twice the price. I've always been a Timken fan, but today, buyer beware. Buy an AC Delco relay for a MAF and on the top it says MADE IN CHINA in bright white. Geez, couldn't they stamp that on the bottom.

 

[joshwilson3]

I had AZ order Timkens rear hubs. They were my first aftermarket replacement choice. Both boxes said MADE IN CHINA. Those hubs looked no different that the ones I ended up buying on e-bay. I'm not pushing e-bay, but those Timkens were twice the price. I've always been a Timken fan, but today, buyer beware. Buy an AC Delco relay for a MAF and on the top it says MADE IN CHINA in bright white. Geez, couldn't they stamp that on the bottom.

If you had AZ order them, how come you didn't buy them? I bet they were mad.

 

[TedC]

No issues with AZ refunding my money. AZ will keep the parts for 30 days at the store in local stock and will send them back to the warehouse if not sold by then. Store manager owns a 67 vette.

 

[joshwilson3]

No issues with AZ refunding my money. AZ will keep the parts for 30 days at the store in local stock and will send them back to the warehouse if not sold by then. Store manager owns a 67 vette.

Why did you return them though?

 

[TedC]

Not paying 2 times the price for MADE IN CHINA hubs.

 

[joshwilson3]

Not paying 2 times the price for MADE IN CHINA hubs.

Oh, okay I see.