RE: Wheel bearing shopping

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

> Burl, and the list. Most automotive specific bearings are not generally
> available through bearing supply houses, which carry (or have access to)
> general purpose bearings. Standard bearings are often used in automotive
> applications and would be available through these channels, but
> specialized, one application only, bearings would not be available. For
SNIP
> It has been my experience that the generic parts stores often sell
> re-boxed European and Japanese bearings, generally at a substantial
> markup. One example of this is my after normal business hours purchase
> 
While I would tend to agree that you have a bit higher risk that you'll get
the wrong part, IME most of the time you'll get the correct part ... for a
pretty reasonable price.  It is always a good idea to shop around though.
My best example was when I was able to rebuild the propshaft on my ur-q for
the cost of an 6006RSR bearing (<$20) ... Audi's answer was that the
propshaft needed to be replaced to the tune of $800 in parts (at that time).


Up until recently I would shop exclusively at the dealer or the foreign
parts stores.  A friend of mine told me that Kragen (Schucks) has a lifetime
guarantee on their parts and he has been able to save money on starters and
such for his VW GTI with well over 250K miles.  I tried this myself when I
needed a rebuilt starter for the Avant ... they got me the part at the best
price I could find ... and I have saved the receipt so that I can replace it
with another rebuilt if this one ever fails.  On the flip side of the coin,
when I needed a heater core for the 4kSQ I found that Kragen had about the
best price (~$40), but they ended up shipping a heater valve ... which of
course I did not need ...

> You'll have a hard time finding  your bearing anywhere but a foreign car
> parts or service specialist or the dealer as it is used on relatively
> few cars, although more than just Qs. The regular 5Ks after  early '86,
> 100s, and some 200 w/ auto trans, as well as Qs use this bearing.
> 
... another alternative which is more likely to meet with success is to go
through the parts department at Carlsen ... they have access to a good many
Audi parts through the aftermarket.  I've bought brake rotors wheel
bearings, etc. from them at a price considerably less than even the
discounted Audi part price.  I got replacement lenses for the driving lights
in the V8 this way for a really good price ... and when I got them they were
in exactly the same box that Audi supplies them in!

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)