RE: Wheel bearing search

[Jason A Whyte <Jason.Whyte@dreco.com>]

Hi John.  If my info is correct at my end, that bearing number indicates
a bearing approximately 80 mm OD x 40 mm ID x 18 mm wide, open type
bearing, single row ball.  Is that right or is my cross reference wrong?
That seems to be about the right size and type of bearing to me, but I
haven't taken apart the hub on a quattro.  Let me know.

Jason

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	John Larson [SMTP:jdlarson@ix.netcom.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, December 08, 1998 11:27 AM
> To:	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject:	Wheel bearing search
> 
> Jason, a little search of bearing houses over the phone may surprise
> you. In my 25 years as a wrench and 22 years as a shop owner, I have
> that the average bearing supply house has few of the more expensive
> specialized bearings used in German cars, especially the double row
> ball
> bearings used in the driven wheels. The few they do have are often
> priced somewhat higher to much higher than other sources. Alternator,
> A/C, non-driven wheel bearings and perhaps some transmission bearings
> may be available from them. However, many transmission bearings may
> not
> be exactly the same as their non-automotive counterparts, some use
> uncommon combinations of inner and outer races not normally available
> over the counter, and some may have specialized retaining grooves. The
> int. plate mainshaft bearing in a 901 transmission has a cage made of
> brass instead of the steel used in it's non automotive, and much
> cheaper, counterpart.
> Finally, the wholesale cost of these specialized bearings is
> frequently
> substantially lower than list when purchased through Import WDs than
> it
> would be through a bearing house, due to the nature of their business.
> I
> doubt the price of the bearing in question, 443 498 625 E (565636)),
> would be much less than $35 from a bearing supply house, even if they
> did have it. I could be wrong.
> John