Whether you are a technician, retailer or distributor, it is important to select and recommend quality aftermarket parts to your customers. When consumers purchase a vehicle, they expect parts to be designed and manufactured to the highest standards of the vehicle manufacturer. However, When replacing these parts, they often face the problem of choosing between high-priced quality parts and low-priced economical parts, so they usually follow the technician's advice.
There are many factors that contribute to the difference in quality and reliability of premium parts compared to economy parts. The quality of the raw materials used to make aftermarket parts can vary widely. In this article we will focus on the quality and reliability of premium parts. Bearing materials and how to choose them.
First, the quality and cleanliness of the steel used in the housing, cage and roller elements have a huge impact on the quality and reliability of the final product, and in the case of wheel hub assemblies, the strength of the wheel studs. A bearing made from low-quality steel will not be able to withstand the same stress as a bearing made from high-quality, clean steel.
Economical bearing manufacturers may also choose to cut corners on sealing materials and use lower quality rubber instead of nitrile to reduce costs. Lower quality sealing materials may cause seal failure, contaminate the bearing and cause the bearing to fail prematurely.
In addition, there is low-quality lubrication. The main function of lubrication is to reduce the friction between bearing components and adjacent components, and plays an important role in preventing corrosion and stabilizing the bearing structure. Economical bearings usually use lower levels of lubrication, which will cause the bearing operating temperature to increase, thereby affecting the life of other bearing components and affecting the reliability of the bearing. Since many modern bearing designs are permanently sealed and not serviceable, there is a need to ensure that the lubrication will last the life of the bearing.
In addition to the above components, many Generation 3 wheel hub assemblies also include wheel speed sensors, which are key components of braking, traction and stability control systems and are increasingly used in advanced driver assistance systems. Economy hub assemblies often use lower quality sensor and cable materials, lower grade connectors can allow water and debris to enter the connector housing, and the connector ends are not always soldered but instead rely solely on less Reliable crimping method.
Therefore, when choosing vehicle bearing accessories, it will be beneficial to try to choose high-quality parts at high prices.