w123 front wheel bearings, which mfg is best?
 

Really need to do my front brakes, and rotors. While I have the hubs/rotors out I would like to replace the inner and outer wheel bearings.

I cannot afford the 110$ per side for Genuine MB but can probably afford the next best option.

Which manufacturer is best. Needs to be Japanese, or real german, not Chinese german.

Which tool would be best for removing the races? I was gonna pick up a punch and chisel set.

Any good threads on this procedure? For a 1979 240D btw
Thanks in advance :)

FAG or SKF are both respected names.

On "saving money on parts." I learned my lesson on buying cheap, off-MB branded parts one breakdown time too many - just my 0.02.

I've been buying bearings from the dealer recently.

For my W201 differential the branded names within the box from the dealer were SKF and NG

For my W201 front wheel bearings they were SKF

It strikes me that some people think that Mercedes themselves employ lots of little elves or something like that to make every part for their cars. They don't. The art is to find exactly the same item with out the Mercedes box for less money. That is possible but don't rule out the dealer - sometimes they are cheaper. At the moment - factoring in the cost of postage and the fact that SKF don't sell the seal you also need!- the SKF bearings at the dealer worked out to be a better deal. They also arrived quicker than they would have from a box shifting bell end in Germany...

I agree with Stretch, the inner SKF seals don't fit, I destroyed 'em trying to make them fit.

The dust caps needed to be banged on too. I gave away the bearings themselves, haven't heard anything bad about 'em.

I have the German/Chinese (I think) ones on one car.

Timkens on the other, the small bearing is made in the USA, the large one in France.

Timkin bearings working good on my car.

I would expect Mercedes bearings to be the best.

As was said above, Mercedes doesn't make bearings, so they won't be "best", just reliable.

SKF , FAG, Timken, National should be good. Country of origin matters. I have had good service out of anything made anywhere in Europe, USA, Mexico or Japan.

Here's the FSM procedure.

^^^

Auto makers "make" very little of a car, most stuff comes from suppliers. Usually they stamp sheetmetal, assemble engines and finish building the car. Frequently auto makers will get together to make transmissions as they are very complicated and expensive to build. ( For example, Jaguar , Rover, Land Rover, Ford, Mazda, VW & Seat all use a JATCO brand , JF506E. Japanese Automatic Transmission COmpany. )

All good brands. I've installed countless bearings in all sorts of cars / industrial equipment. I don't use any bearings from China / Taiwan / Taiwan R.O.C. ( Republic Of China ) Some of the stuff coming from Italy is really from China.

I've used KOYO from Korea with good results

FAG

....no, that was not a pejorative.

Either FAG or Mercedes. I've always put FAG because they were about $20 cheaper and it's what I took off of my car when I first did them.

I did one side wheel bearings several months ago. I got the F*A*G kit from my usual online supplier.
I had no problem with the seal. What is the problem with the SKF seal?
Also, every aftermarket dust cap I have seen has been utter crap, don't fit (too small), waste of money!
Here's a hint: get the bearing number off the bearing(s) you need. The bearing number, not the oem part number. If you are not in a super rush, do some hunting on e bay for quality / German bearings. I've bought countless old stock German SKF / F*A*G bearings on ebay, CHEAP, and I usually have a nice supply on hand for my vehicles and/or shop projects. There is no need to pay dealer prices for the same bearing you'd get at a bearing supply house or on e bay.
I fully agree, there are no MB gnomes making bearings. I have a few NOS MB boxed bearings, and they are no different than the same brand / part number bearings I have bought elsewhere, other than being in an MB logo box. I guess if you want to pay top dollar for a pretty box, that is your prerogative, but I'd rather spend my money on something else.

"Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of shi*. That’s all it is, isn’t it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer’s sake, for your daughter’s sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me."

Reminds me of some of the replacement parts available these days.

FYI: I took my hubs to the local NAPA dealer here in Portland, and they were kind enough to press out all four races and install the new ones for $20! At that price I would not even consider fooling around with a hammer and punch.

Kurt

I usually drive out the old Race with a Brass Drift. Been a while since I did some, but I used the old Race to push in the new one, then knocked the old Race out with the Brass Drift.

Don`t remember the seal brand, but went right in. Got what ever Phil sent me at the time.

SKF and FAG could be made anywhere. I just got one of each for a Pilot Bearing, and both were made in Argentina. they could be made in China as well.

NATIONAL brand is a Chicom made bearing.

I believe every brand of bearing is made where ever it can be made the cheapest.

The best place for original German Bearings would be in PNP, but you would damage the Races driving them out probably. not saying to source them there, just saying that is the last source for some German parts.

Charlie

Not always, check the box on a case be case basis. National / BCA-Bower all same company owned by Federal Mogul ( FM )

Front wheel bearings on these cars are industry standard taper roller bearings. Be sure to order a cone and cup to make a set as only auto parts generally pair them up to make a set. ( A2, A15 and so on )


I've has no problems with a SKF front wheel seal, they were uncoated so adding some aviation sealer helps install and prevents leaks.