2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Are the Napa Wheel bearing hubs any good?

[Silver Bullet Ram]

My 01 Ram 4x4 has a left hub clicking.



Gary

 

[JasonCzerak]

For my 3rd gen the hub was a factory OEM replacement, just 50% less.



Not sure about the 2nd gen. tho. Hope this kinda helps.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

Actually I just bought some SKF bearing hubs from Ebay. $189 a pop made in the usa too.

 

[HLEschenko]

I have 8K on Napa hubs on my 97, about 250 a pop. So far so good.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

gotta imagine they're the same units or of equal quality. you know Dodge isn't making them!

 

[AFoulk]

I replaced my driver side one with a Napa unit and its been making clicking noises since I put it on, but theres no play in it yet, so I'm assuming everything is ok with it yet.

 

[JKinney]

I have not bought napa wheel bearings for our rigs, but I bought a set for my bmw, they were made in italy. The inner race poped out of both of them while installing them. I took them back, got my money back, went to the foreign auto parts bought oem replacements and they went right in.

 

[JFlagg]

I hope they are, I just put one on my truck! They were cheaper here than the rest, Auto Zone, OReillys, Advance... . And the guy at the counter when I went in was the owner and had his 01 2500 in the parking lot! So I know from talking to him that he keeps parts in stock.

 

[MKreiberg]

When did they become available?



I swear they weren't 2 months ago when I did my left front - from the dealer for $400 something...

 

[Joe G.]

My 01 Ram 4x4 has a left hub clicking.



Gary

Are you sure it's the bearing and not the U-joint? When mine did that it was the axle U-joint.

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

I put one on my truck last year, about 65,000 miles ago. Still working good. I bought the lifetime warranty one. I learned my lesson a few years aog about buying the cheaper line parts from NAPA.

Now, if you ask me about their steering boxes, you'll get a different answer. I stopped trying to get a good one after 4 tries. Problems were no assist at idle, no assist to the left, binding at full turns and a bent pitman shaft(before I installed it).



Joe

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

U joints were replaced 50,000 miles ago with greaseable ones. Its in the hub, it wanders and vibrates and a low speed rumble.



Gary

 

[CFAR]

Better get it out, soon you will be throwing sparks and smoking.

Did my left front a couple months ago, did the ujoint and ball joints also, about $485 total, Napa 4 wheel abs hub was $269. I was up to portland hauling a pw back down, and started to feel the same 70mph shimmy I felt when the left one went out. So as I drive up along I-5 I call all the napa along the way trying to find one. Found one in Salem, bought it and the ball joints and ujoint. Just waiting for it to get worse, or maybe I'm lazy, I only drive 13 miles to work. 135k on the drivers side one, about 140k on the right side one so far.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

I'm waiting for them to get here. I parked the truck in the mean time.



Gary

 

[Pavemen]

they are fine units. timken bearings and stuff.

I put a lot of hard miles on several sets on my 1500 (4 sets total, 200,000 miles, 35-37" tires on wide wheels, hard wheeling) and am happy they lasted as long as they did.

 

[CumminsPower98]

55k miles on 33x12. 50x16. 5 tires with a fair amount of off roading. 265k miles on stock '01 alloy wheels with 265/75/16 tires running OTR transporting RVs. Grease is the key to longevity. I added grease fittings last year. The bearings are still tight and smooth as are the ball joints. Not sure of total mileage on parts as this is a replacement axle. I have put 320k on them. Axle had 126k when I installed it so if original parts they have about 446k. See the bottom of this page for pictures and info on adding zerks: Ram Modifications

I haven't tried the Napa units but I did install a set in a '97 I picked up at Carquest for $150ish each and they are still doing fine as far as I know.