Top 10 support bearing manufacturers

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

To ensure the mobility of the front shock absorber at the junction with the car body, support bearings are used. Thanks to these elements, wheel turns become smooth and easy, the load from impacts is reduced, and the risk of suspension breakdown on strong bumps and potholes is reduced. Structurally, the part is one of the rolling bearing options. A distinctive feature of the support models is the large thickness of the outer cage, as well as the use of cylindrical rollers. When it comes time to change a worn-out part, the owner is faced with the problem of choosing the right part. Our experts will help you decide on the purchase of journal bearings.

Selection Criteria for Support Bearings

Varieties. Support bearings installed on different car models differ in design. In this regard, the following types are distinguished.

1. There are models in which the outer and inner rings are integrated. Such assemblies are mounted without the use of clamping flanges.
2. In some journal bearings, the inner ring is separated and the outer race is connected to the housing. This variety is characterized by maximum strength and rigidity.
3. Products with a detachable outer ring are used in cases where the accuracy of rotation of the inner race is required.
4. Single split bearings have a split outer contour at one location. Experts attribute long-term operation to the strengths of this type.

Signs of wear on the thrust bearing. The maximum service life of the support bearings is 100,000 km. However, with constant driving on bad roads, as well as in the case of aggressive driving style, this figure can be halved. It is important for the owner to timely notice the moment of wear of the part. The experts identified three main symptoms of the problem.

1. A breakdown of the spring in the shock absorber strut is a reason to diagnose the support bearing.
2. If the controllability of the car has deteriorated, when making sharp maneuvers, the “thoughtfulness” of the car appeared, then it is time to replace the thrust bearings.
3. A knock is heard around the front wheel arches when the steering wheel is turned. Often, the knock is transmitted to the steering wheel. It is also necessary to be on the alert when deaf noises and squeaks appear when turning the wheels.

Reasons for accelerated wear. Experts recommend diagnostics of support bearings after every 20 thousand km of run. Accelerated wear can occur for several reasons.

1. Aggressive driving style negatively affects the durability of the assembly. Harsh acceleration and braking, fast driving over potholes, and cornering at high speed increase the load on the bearing.
2. Short service life of support bearings for machines that are used for trips to the forest or fishing. Moisture and dirt will accelerate wear on the assembly.
3. Poor bearing quality can also be the reason for the rapid failure of a part. Some Chinese manufacturers or artisan workshops use raw metal, the hardness of which does not meet the requirements of Russian or international standards. It is problematic to identify the lack of hardening in appearance, especially when the spare part is carefully packed.

We've selected the top 10 support bearing manufacturers for our review. All of them sell their products on the Russian market. When allocating seats, the opinion of the expert community and the reviews of domestic motorists were taken into account.

Ranking of the best manufacturers of support bearings

Nomination	a place	manufacturer	rating
The best foreign manufacturers of support bearings	1	Lemforder	5.0
	2	SKF	4.9
	3	SNR	4.8
	4	FAG	4.7
	5	AMD	4.6
	6	KOYO	4.5
	7	NSK	4.4
The best domestic manufacturers of support bearings	1	SPZ-Group	5.0
	2	LADA	4.9
	3	TRIALLI	4.8

The best foreign manufacturers of support bearings

A large number of foreign cars travel along the roads of Russia. Support bearings for them are produced mainly by foreign manufacturers. Experts have chosen several brands that have been supplying parts to the domestic distribution network for a long time.

Lemforder

Rating: 5.0

Lemforder, the largest German manufacturer of auto parts, produces high-quality and durable support bearings. One of the main problems that domestic motorists often face is counterfeit products. There is controversy on the forums over the labeling of the original thrust bearings. According to official information, 5 factories located in Germany have the right to put a stamp in the form of a triangle with an owl. The rest of the branches mark their products with a triangle with the letter L. For the consistently high quality, the experts gave the brand the laurels of the winner of our rating.

Users should be careful when purchasing Lemforder journal bearings. Each package must have a sticker in Russian indicating the address of the manufacturer and Rostest conformity marks.

Advantages

• high quality;
• reliability;
• durability;
• a wide range of.

disadvantages

• the presence of counterfeit products.

SKF

Rating: 4.9

The Swedish company SKF is famous for its rich history. Since its foundation (1907), the manufacturer has been manufacturing bearings and lubrication systems for cars. The brand's thrust bearings are supplied to the conveyors of many car factories, until 2010 they were equipped with Lada cars. Parts from branches, of which there are over 140 in 32 countries of the world, most often come to the secondary market. The experts liked the combination of price and quality, which allowed the brand to take second place in our rating. The headache for the manufacturer is the fight against counterfeiting. Therefore, a marking is stamped on the black half of the bearing housing.

Users also include the shortage of support bearings in the retail network as disadvantages. But there are no complaints about the reliability and durability of the Swedish parts.

Advantages

• affordable price;
• good quality;
• durability;
• exact dimensions.

disadvantages

• there are fakes;
• not everywhere you can buy.

SNR

Rating: 4.8

The largest supplier of bearings to European car factories is SNR. The French manufacturer began operations in 1916 with a focus on bearing production. The plant was completely destroyed in 1944, but thanks to cooperation with Renault the plant was restored. Today SNR is an international concern with branches in 120 countries around the world. The hallmark of the brand, according to experts, is the manufacture of high-precision bearings for the Airbus A380. The brand receives the bronze in our rating.

Domestic motorists are satisfied with the quality and durability of SNR thrust bearings. The disadvantages are the high price, as well as the average quality of parts coming from Chinese branches.

Advantages

• reliability;
• durability;
• rich assortment;
• good quality.

disadvantages

• high price;
• unstable quality of products from China.

FAG

Rating: 4.7

In 1883, 34-year-old German engineer Frederick Fischer invented a unique hardened steel ball grinding machine. This was the impetus for the emergence of the FAG brand. The plant in Schweinfurt survived the war years, and in the 50s new production sites were opened in the USA, Europe, Brazil. And when factories appeared in China and Korea, FAG became a leader in the Asian market. Experts pay attention to a wide range of bearings, where there is a place for “support”. So why didn't a brand with such a glorious past make it to the pedestal of our ranking?

First of all, users are unhappy with the high price. In addition, along with positive reviews, there are reports of inaccurate dimensions and short service life. Most likely, counterfeit products come across on the Russian market.

Advantages

• a rich experience;
• wide range of models;
• Hi-tech;
• good quality.

disadvantages

• high price;
• there are fakes.

AMD

Rating: 4.6

The Korean company AMD was founded by well-known car manufacturers Kia, Hyundai, Ssang Yong. This was done in order to supply quality parts to assembly lines, as well as for the successful sale of spare parts on the secondary market. Support bearings are put on new cars, and they can get into the retail network in Mobis and Geniune boxes. The experts included the brand in our rating for the low prices for spare parts. The manufacturer explains the attractive pricing policy by subsidies from Korean car factories.

Domestic motorists have no consensus about the quality of AMD support bearings. Some users claim that the details serve faithfully for a long time. Other car enthusiasts believe that it is not worth spending money on such products because of the low reliability.

Advantages

• low price;
• rich selection of bearings for Korean cars;
• good quality;
• reliable packaging.

disadvantages

• short-lived products come across.

KOYO

Rating: 4.5

KOYO thrust bearings are very popular with Japanese car owners. The brand belongs to the large corporation JTEKT, which works closely with Toyota. There are 33 enterprises around the world that produce about 100,000 bearing names. The experts appreciated the high quality of the products and the wide range of products. The brand is in the TOP-6 of our rating. In order not to buy a fake, motorists should carefully study the font (around the letters K and o) and look at the quality of the printing. The original bearings are forged (not printed).

Users praise the quality of the Japanese parts. On the downside, they include a high price and a modest range of support bearings.

Advantages

• high quality;
• durability;
• counterfeit protection;
• reliable packaging.

disadvantages

• high price;
• a modest range of support bearings.

NSK

Rating: 4.4

The Japanese company NSK has been in the bearing market for about a century. The history of the brand began with the supply of industrial products. Today the brand unites 60 factories located in 30 countries of the world. The manufacturer ranks second in the world in terms of turnover. The assortment includes thrust bearings for both Japanese cars and European ones. According to experts, the company managed to achieve success due to investments in the development of new technologies and constant modernization of production. The brand is included in our rating for high quality and reasonable prices.

Domestic motorists note reliable packaging, precise dimensions, and reasonable prices. But it is better to make a purchase in a trusted store, since counterfeit products under the NSK brand come across.

Advantages

• affordable price;
• high quality;
• innovative technologies;
• modern production.

disadvantages

• many fakes on the market.

The best domestic manufacturers of support bearings

Russian manufacturers are called upon to provide the domestic auto industry with support bearings. The main part of the production is addressed to the owners of Ladas. Experts have appreciated the quality of the products of the following brands.

SPZ-Group

Rating: 5.0

The largest Russian manufacturer of bearings is Samara Bearing Plants. She owns the SPZ-Group brand. The manufacturer supplies its products to the Russian car factories KAMAZ and GAZ. The history of the enterprise began in 1935, when the Samara Railway Repair Plant was put into operation. During the war years, the enterprise made bearings for the legendary T-34 tank. Today the SPZ-Group includes several factories, the main supplier of spare parts for cars is SPZ-4. Experts gave the brand the first place in our rating for the optimal combination of price and quality.

Russian motorists in the reviews praise the SPZ-Group thrust bearings for high-quality manufacturing, simple installation, precise geometric dimensions.

Advantages

• good quality;
• reasonable price;
• exact dimensions;
• simple installation.

disadvantages

• not detected.

LADA

Rating: 4.9

A wide range of original products is supplied to the secondary market by LADA. The concern cooperates with several dozen time-tested manufacturers. The main part of the support bearings goes to the VAZ model range, deliveries are made not only to the regions of Russia, but also to neighboring countries. Experts note the stable quality, reliability and durability of the products. The company managed to build an effective sales network, so even provincial motorists have no difficulties in purchasing parts. The brand becomes the silver medalist in our rating.

LADA thrust bearings have proven themselves well on various models, including the “hard worker” Niva. Users say the only drawback is the high price.

Advantages

• high-quality manufacturing;
• reliability;
• durability;
• developed trading network.

disadvantages

• high price.

TRIALLI

Rating: 4.8

Born in Italy, TRIALLI is today considered a Russian manufacturer, since the general distributor is Carville. Parts are offered to consumers in two designs. Qualita designation is used for support bearings in the middle price range. And the Linea Superiore belongs to the premium segment. The entire range of spare parts has quality certificates. The experts liked the neatness with which the manufacturer treats its products. The bearings are sealed in a bag, the inner race is laser-marked “ITALY”.

The brand closes the top three in our rating due to a variety of bearings and a competent pricing policy. But potential buyers should be careful not to buy a fake.

Advantages

• variety of bearings;
• neat packaging;
• reasonable prices;
• quality certificates.

disadvantages

• counterfeits come across.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.