Front wheel bearings

[TrapperAH1G]

Replaced a little over a year & 13K miles ago....with All Balls. Found one side had failed today. Took wheel to my shop and they recommend going back with OEM bearings.

MAS, DL, all you other experts.....what is your recommendation?

Thanks

[DragonLady58]

Well, the AllBalls are usually fine, but with all things you can get a bad one, or one that didn't recieve the right amt. of grease from the factory....Quality Control these days aren't what they used to be on the machine line....

As far as parts quality/longevity, you can't beat the the OEM parts or the new old stock. Its just the price you can beat. That being said, for wheel bearings, I'd just grab a set from Ronayers.com and throw a set in. Damn near $50 a set from MaKawa...
After Trump gets thru pissing off our parts makers there in China, our parts are liable to triple.
The Japanese still make superior parts, though China isn't too far behind. Another 20 years, they'll be top notch too....and probably their prices also....
They're even building a big cruiser over in China these days....It looks good. Don't know if I'd want to ride it though....
https://www.visordown.com/news/new-b...iser-due-month

[redjay]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the brand Allballs are rebranded bearings from China.

[DragonLady58]

Originally Posted by redjay

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the brand Allballs are rebranded bearings from China.

Yes, they are RedJay....Reason for my China crack... I have a set of AllBalls in my neck, and my front wheel, also....
Me, myself, I go down to my local bearing house, hand them the bearing, have them do a cross reference....and wala....a good bearing thats is cross referenced....
Usually that $22 bearing from MaKawa can be had for at least 1/2 price or better....
When I first put my Thunder 1500 into my Nomad....Poked and stroked and cammed monster, which I was doing burnouts on a fairly regular basis....
Besides eating my bearings up twice in the ole angle drive, I had to replace the bearings in the rear end, so-to-speak.
that was4 years ago....