toy4x4runner
1/2 ton status
Took a set of wheel bearings out of some hubs I got, they're "BOWER". I've never heard of them. Have ya'll?
CK5
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Ever hear of BOWER bearings?
- Thread starter toy4x4runner
- Start date
the Bower Company is older than I am, and I am not the youngest person in the world. 
toy4x4runner
1/2 ton status
so what's better, bower or timken?
89GMCSuburban
1/2 ton status
Well, Timken is starting to make their crap in India. So if Bower is made in USA...or at least in Canada, that's better than the india crap.
Old time Co..
Bower BCA bearings were around for many many years--they might still be in bussiness,but I think I remember hearing Fedral-Mogul bought them out..Timken dates back to the turn of the century I think too..its true they are now farming out the manufactring overseas,but so are most all others..
I used to sell Bower-Bca bearings,amomg other brands,at several of the parts stores I worked at..the boxes have a spot on them that says "point of origin",or "made in" ,and the country's name it was produced in was printed there..many throwout bearings were from Istanbul,or Pakistan..often many other countries names were on wheel bearing boxes,and ones used in tranny and diff's..not all the forigen stuff is crap..Sweeden,Italy, and Germany have a good reputation for steel and tolerance ,but I'd guess tiwan and china are the worst,since they are mass produced,and in quantity more than quality...
Bower BCA bearings were around for many many years--they might still be in bussiness,but I think I remember hearing Fedral-Mogul bought them out..Timken dates back to the turn of the century I think too..its true they are now farming out the manufactring overseas,but so are most all others..
I used to sell Bower-Bca bearings,amomg other brands,at several of the parts stores I worked at..the boxes have a spot on them that says "point of origin",or "made in" ,and the country's name it was produced in was printed there..many throwout bearings were from Istanbul,or Pakistan..often many other countries names were on wheel bearing boxes,and ones used in tranny and diff's..not all the forigen stuff is crap..Sweeden,Italy, and Germany have a good reputation for steel and tolerance ,but I'd guess tiwan and china are the worst,since they are mass produced,and in quantity more than quality...
89GMCSuburban
1/2 ton status
Agree that not ALL foreign stuff is junk, I think anybody here would take a German bearing over an India bearing, though.
I watched these Timken matched bearing/cup sets change quality when they went to India. Total shame. Also, it'll state country of origin on the actual bearing/race.
I watched these Timken matched bearing/cup sets change quality when they went to India. Total shame. Also, it'll state country of origin on the actual bearing/race.
toy4x4runner
1/2 ton status
ok, I'll use timken, but make sure they're from a good country.
