Replaced the factory hub with a Timken hub around 15k GENTLE miles ago, now bearings are noisy again.

Not paying $100 again for "the best", just ordered a $33 "special" from RockAuto.

I wager it lasts longer than the Timken.

Angry rant over.

 

Yep, just checked online and Timken have outsourced to China and India, as have most.

I can't remember when I installed the Timken hub where it was made, but I would have made a mental note if it said Made in the USA.

The AC Delco front pads I just bought were made in India.

Damn.

 

America no longer 'makes'. We just buy 'goods' and sell 'services'.

 

So, if you choose to buy parts for your vehicle that are well known brand names, parts that you think are quality US made, parts that cost more than the "budget" ones, you are actually wasting your money as they all come from the same damn Chinese factory anyway!

The last 2 alternators I bought were Chinese, one from Summit, one from Amazon.

Damn, damn, damn.

 

As much as I hate to admit it, not all Chinese goods are created equal. If the company isn't paying for proper QC, then of course you're going to get a junk product. If they do pay for proper QC, it will probably be alright. That being said, I sorely miss US manufacturing.

 

Ok, how do you determine if the quality control is done correctly by the Chinese, brand name?; that means nothing, cost of part?; again that means nothing.

I paid just around $100 for a "Timken" wheel hub, supposedly the best, it lasted less than 15k miles.

The factory hub, which I believe was an AC Delco lasted 65k miles, but that was made over 20 years ago when my Blazer was built.

I will see how long the £33 hub lasts.

Bob Dylan got it spot on.

 

How much is Timken paying them for QC? It all revolves around money. Look at Apple with FoxConn, they pay top dollar for QC for their Apple phones and conditions are so bad at the FoxConn factories that they have suicide nets on their buildings. **** companies and practices but the QC is there. Another company that has items manufactured in China is Vortex optics. They're not bad optics whatsoever, I've owned a few of them before I moved onto better built stuff like Aimpoint and Eotech. The sad fact of the matter is you have to do your research nowadays in our globalist economy. The old days are dead and gone.

 

A simple question, or is it?

Which of these alternators would you buy for your stock vehicle?

https://www.summitracing.com/int/sea...rder=Ascending

As far as I can tell, none of them, either new or reman say where the hell they come from.

Should I call Summit and ask? I bet even they don't know.

Just asking.

 

Honestly, I have an AC Delco one in mine, but yeah we operate under the assumption that it's made here even when it's probably not. My Blazer was made at Linden Assembly in New Jersey, which doesn't exist anymore. Nowadays it would probably come from Mexico.

You can call up Summit and ask, but likely most of the stuff we put in our vehicles now is foreign unless expressly stated otherwise.

 

Yes it is almost impossible to find stock US made parts for these old vehicles, and my Blazer was made in Linden also, says so on the door jamb.

Only thing I am CERTAIN was US made is my Dart Little M Block and AFR heads for my race car.