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A warning on wheel hub bearings.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Prius92, Oct 26, 2022.

  1. Prius92

    Prius92 Member

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    It's my understanding that Prius (at least this generation) uses a different style of wheel bearing than most cars to provide greater rolling resistance and thus increased fuel economy, which is why it's always been recommend to use the hubs that have the OEM Japanese Koyo brand bearing in them. The aftermarket companies can't get it quite right, which is why Amazon is filled with bad reviews of them, with the most common complaint being failure in under 6 months.

    Now many brands, including Timken, no longer use the OEM bearing. But many sites including RockAuto still show the Koyo bearing in their pics.

    I would recommend calling the companies to ensure if their hubs use the OEM or not because the OEM bearings will easily last 100k miles, the others will not.

    I do know the FAG (unfortunate name, I know) brand of wheel hubs still use the Koyo bearing, which is what I ordered from RA for about $120 shipped, which is still cheaper than twice that going through the dealership for OEM.
     
    #1 Prius92, Oct 26, 2022
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I hope you meant lower rolling resistance.

    I'm not sure whether the bearings' longevity is directly related to their rolling resistance. There could be something simpler going on, like cheap ones being made cheaply.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Oct 26, 2022
  3. Prius92

    Prius92 Member

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    Yes, that's what I meant, I think the Prius uses a different bearing design which is why there are many more complaints when people use aftermarket hubs with Chinese bearings than the Japanese OEM of Koyo bearings.

    I've used aftermarket parts everywhere else in my car without any issue and so have others. Even my struts are from Detroit Axle, but it also doesn't make sense to use OEM on a car with nearly 200,000 miles, except in something like bearings because bearing failure can cause a potentially deadly accident, especially if it were to seize.
     
    #3 Prius92, Oct 28, 2022
  4. ForAMorePerfectCommute

    ForAMorePerfectCommute Junior Member

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    I'm a bit off topic, but how do you like the Detroit Axle struts?
     
    #4 ForAMorePerfectCommute, Oct 29, 2022
  5. Prius92

    Prius92 Member

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    Not bad. I've never ridden in a new or low mile Gen2 to get a sense a reference. I know they don't have the best ride quality to begin with from what I've heard.
     
    #5 Prius92, Oct 29, 2022
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  6. Prius92

    Prius92 Member

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    So I get the FAG brand hub today and it's not Koyo either. So I paid $120+ for a Chinese bearing.
    I'm wondering since the Gen2 was discontinued 10+ years ago if Koyo just don't make them anymore.
    Not gonna spend $300ish on OEM, especially when it's old.

    So I guess I'll send it back and get a cheaper one, the whole hub is made in China.
     
    #6 Prius92, Oct 29, 2022
  7. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    How many times do you want to do this job?

    I'd pay $180 just not to have to do it again for another 14 years.

    Just another way to look at it.
     
    #7 dolj, Oct 30, 2022
  8. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

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    Koyo is a subsidiary of JTEKT with factories in China. Note attached showing production sites in China
    JTEKT CORPORATION｜Top
    I ordered Timken wheel bearing and hub. Also made in China, most if not all bearing manufacturers have their own factories in China. Timken has eight manufacturing sites in China.
    Timken expands Xiangtan manufacturing plant - BEARING NEWS

    Fag is a part of the Schaeffler Group, a German company, with many factories in China.
    Schaeffler Greater China
     

    Attached Files:

    #8 alftoy, Oct 30, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2022
    SFO likes this.
  9. ColoradoCrow

    ColoradoCrow Active Member

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    $183.96 each at Olathe Toyota Parts. Includes wheel bearing and the hub.For OEM. Looks like the left and right are the same.
     
    #9 ColoradoCrow, Oct 30, 2022
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  10. MCCOHENS

    MCCOHENS Member

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    The quality of parts made in china has been an issue for like 20 years. Manufacturers that set up operations there hopefully control quality of materials and make parts within specs but one never knows. What is the value of buying oem for a car with 200K miles? Well if it is maintained and not crashed it can go to 300k, at least if it is a prius! I hate their commercials, but rock auto shows economy and standard for many parts. I never buy economy, and have often used a name brand in the commercial part number to do a search for a better price.
    Learned this the hard way years ago, buying the cheap rotors for 2 outbacks in our household. Within 6 months both had warped rotors so I had to do it over.
     
    #10 MCCOHENS, Oct 30, 2022
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