Wheel bearing's made in China

[GSchneuer]

Today I replaced the front axle bearing packs (Dexter Never-Lube). They were Made in China. It seems like American company's want to fatten there bottom line and sell low Quality products to us American consumers. I sure will be looking for American made bearings when it comes time to replace the rear axle bearing's. Has anyone else run into this situation.



We need to get America back on its Manufacturing feet again. Thanks for listening.



Gary

 

[jelag]

Most bearings are made off shore... it takes very special expensive equipment to make bearings... and some of the bearings that come from American companies are made in their plants someplace else in the world. . If they have the funds to get into the bearing business they make them to meet most US & Federal standards...

We use a very common bearing in our pull type clutches and they are made in Europe and are at least 1/3 the cost of a US bearing. . we've been using the same vendor for at least 10 years with no ill effects...

The front hubs on our trucks are available from an off shore vendor, they are OE tier 2 vendors, which means they supply those companies that make axles etc. and deliver them to the OEM's...

I just had my trailer apart, again its like yours with Dexter axles and China bearings... I put all of them back in except for the 1 I damaged when I removed it... I called my bearing supplier and he said the Timkin was $18 something each and the China bearing was $3 something... . the trailer now has 40K miles or so and we've not had problems, this was a tear down, inspection of the brakes, re-lube and re-assembly...

I was watching our President today. He was giving a rah, rah, rah speech to the AFL-CIO, it sounded like a campaign speech not loaded with very many facts... . I was thinking how I import and have casting and other items made off shore... We tried to have our casting made in the USA and we couldn't find a foundry to work with us even though we had an engineer on staff and his drawings... but it was simple to connect with an engineer and casting company in Europe and have the goods made...

Understand we chose Europe, instead of China because the metallurgy of gray iron is still not good in China, but fine in Europe... the machining of these castings is the same in both locations because they are all using CNC machining equipment... . It won't be long until the foundry's in China are as good as any in the world... those of you that are old enough will remember the Japanese products after the war... now look at their quality... As I remember it took Japan 25 years to get there. . I'm guessing with the education base coming on in India and China they will be there in another 5 years...

Last fall at AAPEX / SEMA I ran across a vendor making fuel pumps for vehicles and they had on display all models used in most of the American made vehicles... their plant makes close to 10 million a year. . so they have to be selling to the OEM's... . They are an off shore company...

We make choices and I've made the choice to still be in business with imported parts instead of closing my business and laying off my employees..... Even the OEM that I compete with for most of my business now uses and off shore casting company and assemblies their product in MEXICO to hold costs down...

I don't have an answer but that's really the way it is.....

 

[pullya]

A little off subject but close----can you recomend a good bearing packer or do you do it the "old fashion" way by hand? I also just purchased new bearing for my trailer(flat bed). Your correct about the price difference but I bought the Timkin anyway--didn't like the price difference but it made me feel better. My trailer however probably won't know the difference, but I will.

Jay

 

[Crazy Horse]

Here's a good little packer I've used since the 60's. The post screws down into the base. After you put the bearing over the post, put the lid on, hold down and pump grease into the bearing via a hole in the shaft (top to bottom). It's available at most auto parts stores. Performance Tool W1218 - Performance Tool Bearing Grease Packers - Overview - SummitRacing.com

 

[Adventure Bob]

Made in china doesnt mean quality is any worse than anywhere else: Timken makes bearings in China on par with or better than any where else in the world. The plants are , supervised by Timken engineers, run as a Timken plant. What makes Chinese products inferior is those companies who dont go over and institute their quality systems and manufacturing techniques. They do a first article inspection and go into production and the quality is "good enough" for whover is stamping their name on it. This has absolutely nothing to do with the chinese or their ability to produce good products. You can get crap from any country on the planet, not just China. Theres a lot of US made garbage out there as well.

 

[HBarlow]

From a simple "patriotism" point of view I'd also prefer to buy American.

The reality is that most of us cannot afford to buy American products or, are unwilling to pay the much higher price.

It is not China's fault. It is the fault of many American companies who are simply no longer competitive in the world market. The price and quality of American goods result from a combination of bad management, excess taxation and regulation, and excessive labor costs brought about by labor unions.

 

[jelag]

Let me share the costs of labor... My contact in China tells me that a good factory worker who can run machinery will make about $150 a month... that same worker in India might make $225, and the country in Europe where we have casting done makes close to $1500.

I was in India at the Sheraton for a buffet lunch with an engineer from the company I was meeting with... the Buffet was $20 US and was a big and as good as any buffet in the US chain of Sheraton Hotels... The engineer was told to pay the bill and bring the receipt back to the owner... there were I think 6 or 7 of us eating so with drinks the bill was close to $200 with fees and taxes... . the engineer had never eaten there before and was amazed that our lunch meal was close to 60% of his monthly wages... . something he and his wife couldn't afford... . ever... . as you can see there are those who have and have not... . Slum Dog Millionaire to me showed the true India.....

Crazy Horse, we use the same style of bearing greaser, but its connected to a 55 gal drum and can hold and grease 75 bearing at a time for our HD clutches... .

BTW - when I left, that engineer was about to have his first child, my wife and I gave him a little envelope to help them purchase some of the needed items... He was a great guy...

 

[Crazy Horse]

Crazy Horse, we use the same style of bearing greaser, but its connected to a 55 gal drum and can hold and grease 75 bearing at a time for our HD clutches... .

I know the bennies to the packer, the reply was for Jay's question.

 

[Adventure Bob]

Cost of labor is a reason buyt not hte only reason companies go to China. To get the business the Chinese government subsidises start up costs. If you company is big and bringing a lot of work theyll even build the plant for you to your specs.

As far as taxation goes, companies dont pay taxes! We collect them. They are simply a rate applied to the cost of goods or services. Companies arent moving offshore because the american tax structure. In most cases companies come here becuase of it. Name a big foreign company or even a big US company and they are getting bennies ont heir taxes.

 

[pullya]

Thanks for the info on the bearing packer.

Jay

 

[AMink]

The price and quality of American goods result from a combination of bad management, excess taxation and regulation, and excessive labor costs brought about by labor unions.

This country is systematically choking companies out of business using feel-good reasons to tax and regulate. I am sure that many companies would love to stay in the US, but the reality is they can't afford it. There are those who say they should stay here to be "patriotic", but what's the point if you go out of business?

 

[ceastmen]

In 1989 I worked for Lockheed Martin in Denver.

I and another toolmaker were sent to Bridgeport Conn. to Moore Tool to learn how to run our new CNC Jig Grinder. We were the only Americans in the class.

There were Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese all were sent there by there governments to learn how to manufacture. Most went on to Europe to SIP and Kellenberger etc. for more training.

The kicker is for me I remember the Chinese guy telling me his country was committed to becoming the Worlds leading manufacturer, well it's happened.

We are not on level playing fields, give all of them the EPA and some California style legislators and it would be a start.

I don't beleive I'll live long enough to see us come back to what we once were if ever.

 

[RMcKinney]

AMink and everybody else,

"This country", Is us. As long as we worship money this can not get better.

The wars we have had have been won with the Manufacturing Support we have.

All of the third world supporters([US consumers) will make all of us reap their efforts some day. INVEST THE EXTRA COST HERE. RMcKinney 1995 2500 stock 160000

 

[HBarlow]

AMink and everybody else,
"This country", Is us. As long as we worship money this can not get better.
The wars we have had have been won with the Manufacturing Support we have.
All of the third world supporters([US consumers) will make all of us reap their efforts some day. INVEST THE EXTRA COST HERE. RMcKinney 1995 2500 stock 160000

No thanks. If I have a choice I'm not paying inflated labor union wages.

I buy the best products. If it is made in Japan, Germany, even Communist China I'll buy it. Or if the product is comparable at a lower price, I buy the better price.

I happen to agree with AMink above.

 

[AMink]

AMink and everybody else,

"This country", Is us. As long as we worship money this can not get better.

The wars we have had have been won with the Manufacturing Support we have.

All of the third world supporters([US consumers) will make all of us reap their efforts some day. INVEST THE EXTRA COST HERE. RMcKinney 1995 2500 stock 160000

You are correct. I should have stated "this government", though in theory that is us too. And I don't just mean the Obama gov't, I mean all gov't in the US. California is at the lead of choking the life out of business. There are farmers who are not receiving water because of some damn minnow and the greenies are pushing to save it. What's more important here? What this means is that part of our crop raising capacity will be taken up in foreign countries. Same thing goes for manufacturing.

 

[LBARTLETT]

let's expand the tire war with China (still in it's infancy stage) to include bearings! fighting with a country that holds in excess of 40% of the US debt makes perfect sense to me!



whether they send us crap or not is not my issue, my issue is we haven't even began to see hard times if they dump our debt but I guess I should put that thought in the political forum but I couldn't resist#@$%!