Checking the wheel bearings is part of your car’s regular maintenance schedule. If you hear an annoying humming sound or wheels wobbling while driving, it might be time to replace the bearings. And before buying wheel bearings, beware of some brands selling low-quality products.
Low-quality wheel bearings can fail prematurely, leading to wheel rotation issues, loss of control, and serious accidents. Knowing which wheel bearing brands to avoid can be essential if you want to enjoy a smooth and quiet driving experience.
I provide various brands you should avoid when purchasing wheel bearings. I’ll also highlight some of the best brands to consider.
Answer: Wheel Bearing Brands to Avoid
Low-cost bearings from some manufacturers tend to bend easily, make pop noises, and fail even before clocking the first 30K miles. Generally, a good wheel bearing should last between 85K and 100K miles. However, the lifespan will depend on driving habits, road conditions and maintenance.
Below is a list of the worst wheel bearing brands:
MOOG
MOOG is a reputable brand that produces reliable steering, suspension, driveline, and wheel end parts. The brand has been in business for over 100 years, priding itself as a problem solver for vehicle chassis.
This brand is among the top producers and suppliers of wheel bearings globally. However, its MOOG 513179 hub assembly, featuring the bearing, has a bad reputation. Although designed for a hassle-free installation, this wheel hub bearing wears out quickly and can fail in less than five months.
Before purchasing this wheel hub bearing, read a few online reviews to see if it’s worth the money. Most reviews show that this bearing will likely have performance issues when temperatures get high. That happens even though the brand designed this component to reduce heat and stress in the assembly.
Timken
Timken is a global producer and distributor of bearings, gearboxes, power transmission, and other automotive products. The brand is famous for its engineered bearings, so you must be surprised why it’s among the worst wheel bearing brands.
Despite manufacturing top-of-the-line products, the Timken HA590036 can’t meet your expectations. It’s a poor-quality axle bearing and hub assembly prone to heating up easily. The excessive heat from this component is likely to damage the ABS sensor.
The wheel hub bearing is also costly, meaning you’ll spend much on a poor-quality component.
WJB
WJB prides itself as the leading producer and supplier of superior-quality bearings in the industrial sector. It provides taper, ball, spherical, cylindrical, and mounted bearings for multiple industries. But despite such a reputation, the quality of their bearings is still lagging.
The worst wheel hub bearing assembly with this brand is the WJB WA512326. If you buy WJB wheel bearings, expect them to make rumbling or humming sounds after a few months. When turning the wheels, these sounds will get louder, coupled with an excessive wheel vibration.
Such wheel bearings will affect your car’s speed and performance. And the worst part is that WJB bearings come at higher price tags than other brands. You’d instead seek elsewhere instead of buying a poor-quality, costly bearing that will fail in a few months.
Dorman
Dorman is a renowned vehicle parts and components producer, including wheel bearings. This brand has been in existence since 1918, priding itself as the automotive aftermarket’s problem solver. It aims at producing wheel bearings that are simple, fast, and safe to install.
The Dorman 950-001 is the brand’s veteran wheel hub bearing for Toyota models. It’s an OE FIX pre-pressed hub with all the critical components ready for installation. You can install it right out of the box without purchasing additional parts.
Despite being simple, fast, and safe to install, this hub assembly has several negative user reviews. It has a subpar build quality and will wear out prematurely. Besides, the bearing makes clunking noises after eight months, even on smooth roads.
Rolltec
Rolltec is a popular wheel bearing kit manufacturer in the automotive industry. Light commercial vehicles and passenger cars use the brand’s wheel bearings. Rolltec offers the following types and generations of bearings:
- Tapered roller bearings – single-row
- 1st generation hub – double rows
- 2nd generation hub – one mounting flange
- 3rd generation hub – two mounting flanges
Although the brand designs these bearings to last long under severe conditions, they’re not immune to problems. Since these bearings are products of Chinese inventors, they often have a compromised quality. These bearings will fail even at low mileage, thus inconveniencing the consumer.
Bearing degradation is a common issue you’ll likely experience after installing Rolltec wheel bearings. Moreover, the brand has warranty issues due to rapidly deteriorating wheel bearings.
Detroit Axle
Detroit Axle is one of the worst wheel bearing brands to avoid. Though it’s among the world’s leading auto parts retailers and distributors, the brand’s 4WD wheel hub bearing is not up to par. It’s a cheap product compatible with multiple automobiles, including Ford Explorer, Subaru Impreza, Forester, Outback, and Mercury Mountaineer.
The most common issue with this bearing is that it wears out quickly, usually lasting about four months. Upon installing this component, some customers have reported that their cars experience problems with the ABS sensor.
This hub assembly can fail in a few months and affect the longevity of your car tires. Accidents can occur when driving with a bad Detroit Axle wheel hub bearing.
GSP
GSP is another wheel bearing brand you should avoid. It’s a Chinese-based brand manufacturing wheel bearings for many countries, including the US. GSP wheel bearings are relatively inexpensive but have a bad reputation among users.
Most of the brand’s products are cheap and don’t meet quality standards common with other reputable manufacturers. The bearings are of inferior quality and don’t offer a long-lasting performance. In most cases, you’ll need to replace the GSP bearings within the first year of installation.
Best Wheel Bearing Brands to Purchase
Below are some of the best wheel bearing brands you can buy for your automobiles:
- FAG
- NTN
- SNR Ruville
- MAC Auto Parts
- AM Autoparts
- SKF
Answer: What to Consider When Selecting Wheel Bearings
The best wheel bearings should guarantee the best performance, durability, and compatibility. Always consider the following factors when selecting wheel bearings for your automobiles.
- Durability: Go for wheel bearings that last longer despite the rigors of driving conditions like bad weather and rugged terrains.
- Load capacity: Choose wheel bearings that can sustain your vehicle’s weight. Adequate load capacity prevents premature wear while maintaining vehicle stability.
- Compatibility: Different automobiles may require varying wheel bearing sizes or configurations. Ensure the wheel bearing you select is compatible with your car’s make and model.
- Level of thermal conductivity: A good wheel bearing should have a high level of thermal conductivity. High thermal conductivity protects the bearing against damage from high friction.
- Material: Choose a wheel bearing whose material prevents it from breakage or bending. The material should also be resistant to corrosion.
- Cost: Replacing a wheel bearing ranges from $350 to $600, including labor. Choosing affordable but high-quality wheel bearings would help you save some cash. If you’re a DIY enthusiast, you can install the bearings to cut labor costs.
Wrapping Up
I’ve detailed some of the worst wheel bearing brands to avoid. Remember, the wheel bearing you choose can make or break your driving experience. So, before purchasing, read customer reviews to see if a particular bearing is worth buying.
Consider factors like durability, compatibility, load capacity, thermal conductivity, and material used before buying. You may also consult an experienced mechanic or the dealership when buying and replacing wheel bearings.