Cheaper quattro wheel bearings.

[james accordino]

--- "Livolsi, Stephane"
<Stephane.Livolsi at investorsgroup.com> wrote:
> When I needed a wheel bearing for my 5KTQ I was in

> bearing and heavy equipment place, Kaman Bearing I
> think, and he looked
> up the specifications for the wheel bearing in one
> book(inside dia,
> outside dia, ball arrangement, etc), got a part
> number out of another
> book, an viola! A top quality exact replacement
> bearing for....drum roll
> please.......half the cost.  It pays to shop around
> and think outside
> the regular supply chains.

I don't doubt your story, but rather am interested.  I
also have a Kaman Bearing here in NE Pa.  I didn't
connect with them (I think their phone was busy) I did
try 4 other bearing places.  They all told me they
were "proprietary automotive design" or some such
jargon and said they couldn't sell them to me.  One
said he LOVE to sell them to me, but he couldn't.  I
didn't ask for much of an explanation.  I bought 4
from vm autohaus.  They were like $38-42 or something.
 They are some Italian made, I can't remember the
name, and they're across town in a box with the
receipt, so I really can't even tell you how much they
actually cost.  I would have really liked some new
German made FAG bearings, but oh well.  How much
should/could I have paid.  The theory of outside
suppliers is very valid.  Fasteners, clirclips,
snaprings etc.  Audi wants a fortune for their
fasteners.  You can meet or exceed their OE specs for
strength or corrosion resistance and still pay $.20 on
the dollar for them.

Jim Accordino