Hub Bearing Assemblies

[MKing7]

Here's cheap. Can't speak to quality.

2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Truck Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly - AM Autoparts

These are Timken for under $400 for a pair.

2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Truck Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly - AM Autoparts

 

[JPauley]

Great find MKing7. Thanks for posting the link. Also, although I know what Timken bearing are, are they better in this application than the OEM bearings? If so, then how?

 

[MKing7]

Don't really know if they're better than stock but Timken is a respected bearing manufacturer. The fact that they list the bearing manufacturer on the Timken ones and not on the others tells you something. That being said, if the Timken's don't come back in stock in the next week or two I'll be the guinea pig on the cheaper no-name bearings.

 

[DennyDay]

Great find MKing7. Thanks for posting the link. Also, although I know what Timken bearing are, are they better in this application than the OEM bearings? If so, then how?

I really feel the problem isn't the MFG of the Dodge front bearing packs - - Timkin or OEM - - the problem is the engineering - - there is not enough space between the inner and outer bearings, they won't have any life AND not being able to grease them

 

[Yo Hoot]

I just picked two hubs up from NAPA. SKF $297 each.

 

[WoodChuck]

Transtar is now carrying wheel bearings by LuK FaG

Transtar Industries, Inc. - Transmission Parts - Catalogs

 

[dieselpowered]

I found this. Wheel Bearings & Wheel Hub Bearing Assemblies - USA

 

[RChriste]

Dodge Ram 3500 4WD 03 04 05 Front Wheel Hub BearingI've been running one of these since November, it seemed atleast as good as the OEM in "fit and finish" and smoothness and it has a lifetime warranty. Shipping was $20 and I had it within 3 days. They also have a waterpump subsidiary with reasonable prices.

 

[rashwor]

Dodge Ram 3500 2WD 03 04 05 Front Wheel Hub Bearing



Appears that they have the 2WD version as well. The price is right... $96 each.

 

[MKing7]

Here's cheap. Can't speak to quality.



2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Truck Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly - AM Autoparts



These are Timken for under $400 for a pair.



2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Truck Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly - AM Autoparts

I had to do something so I ordered a pair of the top ones. I'll let you know what they look like when the arrive. I had given real thought to a hub conversion but I figure at $315 a pair delivered to my door I can swap them several times and still not have spent what I would have on the dynatrac setup. Don't get me wrong, it has advantages but it just got harder and harder to justify the cost so I decided to back this route.

 

[RChriste]

Dodge Ram 3500 2WD 03 04 05 Front Wheel Hub Bearing



Appears that they have the 2WD version as well. The price is right... $96 each.

It's my gut feeling that you won't be disappointed, do a little research on GMB and you'll find that they are an OEM for several of the big auto brands. I wasn't excited about the fact that these are Asian manufactured but at least it's S. Korea, not China, and they're probably better than the "American" stuff that Dodge slings at us, at 1/4 the cost.

 

[RChriste]

I had to do something so I ordered a pair of the top ones. I'll let you know what they look like when the arrive. I had given real thought to a hub conversion but I figure at $315 a pair delivered to my door I can swap them several times and still not have spent what I would have on the dynatrac setup. Don't get me wrong, it has advantages but it just got harder and harder to justify the cost so I decided to back this route.

Just like everyone else, I too have lusted for lockouts, but the benefits just don't justify the costs IMO. I'm not saying that anyone shouldn't buy them if that's what they want, just don't try to claim any money savings in any less than a half million miles of driving and by then the Dodge that your Cummins is wrapped in is gonna be pretty well, overall clapped out anyway.



It's also my opinion that the price of the lockout conversion kits is much higher than it needs to be because of the typical high cost of replacing these OEM bearings from the dealer, the conversion kit price being the most that the market will bear based upon the known high cost of replacing the OEM bearing assemblies when needed. On that thought, I wonder if the price of the kits will come down any now that many sources of much lower priced bearing hub assemblies are available? I also wonder if anyone has tried to do any backward engineering against other vehicles which ran Dana 60 front axles and had lockouts? Doesn't have to be a Dodge. Might have to adjust some dimensions to fit the AAM axles but I'll bet it's not brain surgery. Maybe 1980s Cheby parts?

 

[ChadS]

Ordered two a couple weeks ago from RockAuto, used some coupon code I found online. Both delivered for less than $300. Ordered Timken bearings, they were stamped SKF - Made In Mexico

 

[MKing7]

Here's cheap. Can't speak to quality.



2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Truck Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly - AM Autoparts



These are Timken for under $400 for a pair.



2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Truck Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly - AM Autoparts

As I posted previously I ordered the cheap ones. They came in Precision branded box fwiw.

 

[rscurtis]

Just like everyone else, I too have lusted for lockouts, but the benefits just don't justify the costs IMO. I'm not saying that anyone shouldn't buy them if that's what they want, just don't try to claim any money savings in any less than a half million miles of driving and by then the Dodge that your Cummins is wrapped in is gonna be pretty well, overall clapped out anyway.



It's also my opinion that the price of the lockout conversion kits is much higher than it needs to be because of the typical high cost of replacing these OEM bearings from the dealer, the conversion kit price being the most that the market will bear based upon the known high cost of replacing the OEM bearing assemblies when needed. On that thought, I wonder if the price of the kits will come down any now that many sources of much lower priced bearing hub assemblies are available? I also wonder if anyone has tried to do any backward engineering against other vehicles which ran Dana 60 front axles and had lockouts? Doesn't have to be a Dodge. Might have to adjust some dimensions to fit the AAM axles but I'll bet it's not brain surgery. Maybe 1980s Cheby parts?

The price of the kits have come down- witness the cost of an EMS or Spyntec compared to an early (or present) Dynatrac. The cost is based in all the extra pieces required in a true free-spin assembly. If it was that easy to reverse engineer, the manufacturers would've have done this already and marketed its benefits. Ford has attempted this with their "stub hub" setup, which is a crime to use on such an expensive truck. The fact of the matter, like it or not, is that the unit bearings we have today are the cheap way to do the job, and they're good enough for most users.



As far as value is concerned, keep in mind that with a free-spin kit you're not wearing out front u-joints or the front DS, there is a FE benefit, the truck drives better, and replacement bearings are readily available and relatively inexpensive.