Hyatt Clark wheel bearings

[Wincks2]

To decide what type of wheel bearings to put in I googled the ones I took out. On them is stamped HYATT CLARK LM501349. A newspaper article says they were located in New Jersey and were a subsidiary of GM used to make bearings for GM and went bankrupt in 1987 http://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/03/bu...pagewanted=all . Another site says they were bought, I guess out of bankruptcy court, in 1987 http://www.fundinguniverse.com/compa...y-History.html Looks like the company that bought them now has some things made overseas.

So I am wondering whether the ones I just took out are 23 years old or whether bearings are still being made and stamped with the Hyatt Clark trade-mark.

All goes to the question of whether there is much difference in wheel bearings. For front inner and outers one place here has offered to sell me a set for about $58 or a set from overseas for about $30. From other threads here I wonder whether the $58 set is also from overseas.

[87Bob]

Originally Posted by Wincks2

To decide what type of wheel bearings to put in I googled the ones I took out. On them is stamped HYATT CLARK LM501349. A newspaper article says they were located in New Jersey and were a subsidiary of GM used to make bearings for GM and went bankrupt in 1987 http://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/03/bu...pagewanted=all . Another site says they were bought, I guess out of bankruptcy court, in 1987 http://www.fundinguniverse.com/compa...y-History.html Looks like the company that bought them now has some things made overseas.

So I am wondering whether the ones I just took out are 23 years old or whether bearings are still being made and stamped with the Hyatt Clark trade-mark.

All goes to the question of whether there is much difference in wheel bearings. For front inner and outers one place here has offered to sell me a set for about $58 or a set from overseas for about $30. From other threads here I wonder whether the $58 set is also from overseas.

I can't comment directly on your wheel bearings but I can share what happened to me. I have had two Chevy Astro Vans that had wheeling bearing and center unit bearing failures in the rear ends. Both were covered under warranty by GM. I was told it was as a result of a material failure. The bearings were made in China of Chineese Steel. They looked like the bearings had been sand blasted. If it were me I would use a a quality wheel bearing made in the US or another country other than China. Remember you are the consummer! Buy cheap you may have to do the job again is it worth it? Is the additional 60.00 worth a breakdown at a most in opputune time wotrth it?You haveto decide.

[Wincks2]

Difficult to know where what I'm buying is made. Also looks like price is not an indicator of where they are made.

The supplier says the more expensive ones are SKF and the less expensive are Fenco. He said Fenco are made in Japan. Looks like SKF might be made in China http://www.trader-china.com/Industri.../Bearings.html.

Two other suppliers offers NTN/Bower Looks like the http://www.ntnamerica.com/company.htm company is Japanese, Web site says over 70% of the bearings sold by NTN in North America are manufactured by one of the seven manufacturing plants the company operates in the USA and Canada. So, 30% chance they are made elsewhere.

Another offers Monroe brand. Their site makes it unclear where the product comes from http://www.monroe.com/aboutMonroe/de...ufacturing.asp.

So, can anyone report anecdotal evidence of good longevity with any of the above brands? They seem to be the ones available from the most popular suppliers where I am in Canada.

[87Bob]

Originally Posted by Wincks2

Difficult to know where what I'm buying is made. Also looks like price is not an indicator of where they are made.

The supplier says the more expensive ones are SKF and the less expensive are Fenco. He said Fenco are made in Japan. Looks like SKF might be made in China http://www.trader-china.com/Industri.../Bearings.html.

Two other suppliers offers NTN/Bower Looks like the http://www.ntnamerica.com/company.htm company is Japanese, Web site says over 70% of the bearings sold by NTN in North America are manufactured by one of the seven manufacturing plants the company operates in the USA and Canada. So, 30% chance they are made elsewhere.

Another offers Monroe brand. Their site makes it unclear where the product comes from http://www.monroe.com/aboutMonroe/de...ufacturing.asp.

So, can anyone report anecdotal evidence of good longevity with any of the above brands? They seem to be the ones available from the most popular suppliers where I am in Canada.

I would be less concerned with a product made in Japan, USA, Canada than those made in China.

[Wincks2]

OK. Do you know of a brand that is known to be made here and has good longevity?

Maybe I can find a local distributor.

[87Bob]

I'd go with Timken or SKF

[LostMy65]

Is there a way to tell if the bearings are good, bad, or close to failing?