Disappointed
 

I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill about this, but anyway.

I ordered an Original Equipment rear wheel bearing hub assembly for my ZT-T.

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-RLB100292 This is an SNR/NTN part.

I didn't order the aftermarket part.

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-RLB100292P

The obvious difference is the ABS ring.

I received this.

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...bf1377ab47.jpg

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...bf137c0577.jpg
https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...bf137d50e8.jpg

This is not original equipment. This is an aftermarket part. I've been told that Xpart can source parts as they see fit, so this is now OEM apparently.

So the same part is both aftermarket and OEM for 2 different prices. I feel this is mis-selling. Disappointing.

They have been doing it for years, reboxed chinese NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD- parts at 10 times the price.

Yup... on one side of the coin who can blame them? On the other, the parts are c.rap now.

I just had to re-engineer an indian fuel tank strap. It is now how it should have been made in the first place and solid as a rock, zinc primed, extra welding, correct 5mm stud welded etc..

I'd have been happy paying 30% more just not to get the garbage that is coming out of India.

You know its bad when you yearn for the "good old days" of Chinese parts.

X-Part, sort it out.

That looks very much like the original SNR bearing has been removed from the packaging, and a different one put back in it's place FAG.

FAG is a trading name of Schaeffler AG, who own INA and LUK, so it's unlikely to be tat, and if you look at the labelling on the box, you will see there are actually two stickers.

This can happen if a part is returned under a QA audit, or a warranty claim, or simply if returned to the CDC as unused, and the system will reassign a new "in stock" date code.

I suspect this has been a return from an unscrupulous dealer, as it would not have had SNR literature in with a FAG bearing.

Send it back for exchange, both bearings I bought from XPart were SNR, and resembled the original items identically, with drop forged housing, not as in the case here with a machined mild steel housing with induction hardened outer races.

Brian :D

With any manufacturer of cars, most parts used are purchased in from another company, and are made to a standard agreed with the motor Manufacturer and the supplier. These suppliers usually also supply the same part to the Manufacturers parts department as spares. Once the part ceases to be used on production, the Parts department then has to agree continued supply either from the original manufacturer or another one depending on circumstances. In the case of MG Rover , it now does not exist and the original nominated parts supplier XPart has continued. Unfortunately I don't believe it even has the original specification for all the parts it supplies, and that certainly the case with some body panels where they reversed engineered to get a design to have made.
You could argue there is no such part as Original Equipment, as stock that came from production sources has long since passed. All have been remanufactured to one degree or another, some from original production suppliers and many not, the tanks straps being a case in point.

I was under the impression that SNR were / are a manufacturer, not a parts distributor as I have been informed.

I would have thought it unlikely that SNR would re-distribute a FAG bearing as their own? :shrug:

More and more seems to be re-branded re-boxed not what is says on the tin but same money if your lucky. :duh:

Although I agree that if your paying for something which specifies a particular component and you don't receive it then your not getting what you've payed for. Especially when something is advertised as oem and isn't.
However, fag are a very reputable company and make good quality bearings so I wouldn't be disgruntled if that's what I'd received. Although not the point I know.
I'd be surprised if the original manufacturer even make the bearings anymore...

I would tend to go with Brian's proposed rationale i.e. a returned item with intentional or otherwise swap of parts during the return process.

A phone call to Rimmers should clear it up.

Well, I owe X-Part and Rimmer Bros apologies.

I ordered SNR bearings from an alternative supplier. I received SNR boxes with the correct SNR part no. R161.27 and . . . . FAG bearing in the box. :mad:

I'm sure this part is fine, but I'm so tired of ordering items and not receiving the part I've ordered. :getmecoat:

FAG bearings are top quality - generally considered to be the same quality level as SNR/INA. So you can rest knowing that the items you are using will not be of poor quality.

But from what I can see the OP didn't order an SNR item. He ordered an OEM item and if FAG is now the selected OEM manufacturer of part of the OEM assembly, there is no deception involved.

Things would be different if the OP specifically ordered an SNR item and he was sent something different. Even then, I am not sure he could claim it was fraud unless it was marked up as SNR i.e. pretending to be SNR and was not.

I did specifically order an SNR part for a second time, and for a second time I have not received what I ordered.




https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...7b18ada890.jpg

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...7b18b1feb9.jpg

Nothing wrong with FAG bearings (FAG Kugelfischer AG, Schweinfurt) now part of SNR. Worked closely with them in the 80's/90's on specialised bearing products, top quality manufacturer (Tornado gyro system supplied by FAG); in the late 1800's Dr. Fischer invented the machine to mass produce perfecty round ball bearings. Schweinfurt was the subject of multiple visits by the US 8th Airforce during late WW2 as is was strategically determined the Nazi war machine would literally come to a 'grinding halt' if the supply of ball bearings were to be seriously interrupted/disrupted - that worked out nicely didn't it, they virtually ran out of new tanks, trucks and aero engines.

What you are buying is not just a bearing, it is a hub/ flange assembly etc and surely its not inconceivable that NTN(SNR) is using a FAG part in that assembly as a way of producing it without having to make all the parts themselves

Yes, but as the outer race is actually formed as part of the hub assembly, they are one and the same.

As an aside, I dislike this type of bearing immensely, they are machined mild steel with induction hardened outer races.

The original equipment (SNR) were drop forged then the flange face, spigot and outer races machined and then induction hardened.

The result is a much stronger, lighter bearing which contributes to less unsprung weight.

Interestingly, this is being marketed as SNR, and I could well believe that, however it is overlaid with an NTN watermark, so do what do we think of the correlation between those two brands???

Take a look HERE


https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zhwAA...17T/s-l400.jpg


So, do we think that SNR are part of the Schaeffler Group, owners of the FAG bearing brand?

Doubtful, take a look HERE

The fact remains, I would still favour the drop forged type as pictured above.

Brian :D

Given how long our cars have been out of production, I would guess that the best that OEM can mean is the part meets the OEM specification. In reality, it probably means that consideration has been given to the OEM specification.

This in my view would still be better than a generic aftermarket part where it is highly unlikely that OEM specifications/requirements have been considered in most cases.

It would be interesting to know whether a SNR and a FAG part is available in an SNR marked box and under the same part number.

The original design was of the type as I pictured as a NTN/SNR.

When you look at bearings manufactured by machining mild steel as opposed to drop forging, there is a reason for this and the answer is simple, they are manufactured to a price, not manufactured to the sort of standard where you might expect a decent service life.

So anyway, what makes the difference between something like the FAG manufactured one pictured originally, and say THIS.....the clue being the wording used in the advert

" This item is the Genuine MG Rover part - as fitted at Longbridge during production, made by SNR (France)"

Now I happen to know Mat dabbled with some wheel bearings of the machined steel type, and now doesn't, as I fitted one to a rather nice 75 tourer, it lasted for 1500 miles :getmecoat:

Thank Brian, useful information but tangential to my point.

As you know, maufacturing processes often change for an OEM part during a product's life. Often in order to reduce cost.

The pertinent question remains - is the FAG bearing based item now the OEM standard, or do SNR still manufacture the "original production OEM" standard part?

The questionable longevity of the part that Mat played with could be for all sorts of reasons, including rubbish materials being used in the manufacture as is now the case very often.

I would say that the SNR bearing in original format is still available, I bought two fairly recently LINK


These are the original production standard part, and not some Micky Mouse effort made by the Guang Dong Bearing, Lawn mower, and Dangerous Toy Company.

So if the OP wishes to fit a component in every way as good quality as fitted on the production line, let's just say a perfect facsimile, then the link is there to the supplier I used to obtain mine ;)

Brian :D

Thanks Brian.

Much appreciated. 3rd time lucky hopefully.

I have no issue with the FAG bearing as such, however as Brian has pointed out, the manufacturing process achieves a lower quality product.

I think we all just wish that manufacturers, suppliers etc just sold what they advertise, and advertise what they sell instead of misrepresenting things.

I've just bought two of the rear SNR hubs/bearings using Brian's recommendation in the link above (used AutoDoc app got 40% discount today).

Can anyone tell me if I am likely to get this original/genuine part or are they going to be a cheap version with the external reluctor ring clipped on? I might just have to wait to find out what I get, but was hoping someone has purchased them recently?

Tommy :-)

Not trying to crucify Reamers any more but the last wheel bearing fitted to my ZT was supposedly from them and marked as a SNR , and that lasted 4500 k miles . and after I sent the duffer to SNR for checking ,twas declared " not one of ours" :eek:. but that might have been them sloping shoulders..
Did get a refund ..


Replaced with a FAG and 50 k miles on so far ..

Mind the original OEM on the NS is 163+ k miles ;)



C

The originals seem to last like nothing else - absolutely gutted that I didn't buy all 2,700 on 4 pallets I was offered 5 years ago!
I'd be able to retire by now :D

Quality is very variable it seems - we're working on a bearing made by the OE supplier to SAIC MG coming over in the next few months, but thanks to the shipping shortages we have no ETA yet.
We do know it'll cost £59.99 and have an unlimited mileage 4 year warranty (and no clip on magnetic ring) though! :cool:

I have these in my stock just in case one of mine go rouge

https://i.imgur.com/Xjle6Qul.jpg1

https://i.imgur.com/KhPmcyZl.jpg2

https://i.imgur.com/cDvgGAll.jpg3

I am hoping they will be good as the original Rover ones.

Still got a FAG Bearing from DMGRS in its box spare just in case ..



And Not yet fitted so probably wasted most of its 5 year warranty :duh: :D



c

Don't worry, those are excellent and you certainly won't need the warranty! :D