16 replies to this topic

[miniman24]

Hi guys, my Mini is in need of a set of front bearings sooner rather than later, it has 7.5" Cooper S discs so am I right in thinking it needs the taper roller type? However, there is no way on earth that I can currently afford the £110 ish cost of a set of Timken front bearings. The non gen equivalent is only £27 for a set, and Minispares say that they are "well tried". These ones:

 

http://www.minispare...px|Back to shop

 

Does anyone here run them? How do they last? Cheers

[KernowCooper]

They have been people who have run non Timken bearings and have had trouble, the best advice I can give is Use Timken but if you cant stretch to that price then its a gamble that you end up doing them again in a short while and buying Timkins then, SKF I understand make them which maybe cheaper

[Fast Ivan]

http://www.engineers...-TIMKEN/P195260

[[email protected]]

These have been trailed by us and for us at some considerable time and cost. There are other brands on the market that we have trialed that have failed within a few hundred miles, safe to say we have never put these on the market.

[miniman24]

Rob - those sound too good to be true! Would I need 4 of them at £10.69 ea? Plus dust and oil seals.

[TORZIEnJIM]

I use minispares on 13x7s.....no issues.

[TORZIEnJIM]

Fit them properly and then they will be fine

[[email protected]]

 

Fit them properly and then they will be fine

 
Its not just the fitting unfortunately

Buying the tape rollers on their own is no help, as they need to be matched to the spacers ideally

[jaydee]

Those non genuine bearings they sell at minispares are as good (if not better!) as timkens.

[Ethel]

As Simon says, 

 

Put your hands..... sorry....

 

The correct preloading of the bearings relies on both bearings and the spacer having the correct dimensions as an assembly. It's harder to achieve that if the first time the components come together is when you fit them.

[TopGearRules]

Arggggg I wish I saw this thread before I bought some new wheel bearings!! I got a couple of sets from ebay (old_skool_classic_car_parts) and are branded as 'Autonational'... anyone used these? Are they any good or just junk?? 

[KernowCooper]

Not a brand I've come across, time will tell and hopefully they will be ok? you just never know with bearings from a unknown manufacturer

[[email protected]]

 

Arggggg I wish I saw this thread before I bought some new wheel bearings!! I got a couple of sets from ebay (old_skool_classic_car_parts) and are branded as 'Autonational'... anyone used these? Are they any good or just junk??

 
www.minispares.com/GHK1140MS.aspx

[ian2000t]

I used the Timken ones last time in 2009. Done 20,000 miles since then. One still going strong, one given up and replaced.

 

 

When I replaced the front left, I used the £13 Minispares set. 2,000 miles on so far and all ok.

 

I run 13x7's in summer, and 155/75/12 snow tyres in the winter - car used all weathers.

[miniman24]

Looks like Ill be ordering a set of the Minispares ones in the nest few weeks then, cheers for the help guys!