Wheel bearings?

What's the difference between the wheel bearings made for a Ferrari and a high quality aftermarket bearing of the same inner/outer diameter and thickness? Are they interchangeable?

 

Yes.

There are differing degrees of quality, seal type and speed rating out there but in general, bearings are made to a dimensional spec and are interchangeable.

There are some bearings that are made to an OEM spec (like the one pictured) that would be hard to find anywhere else.
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Interesting point -- I'm going through this trying to find replacement bearings for an old lambo.

The factory part is $150 per bearing and I guess it cross-references to a SKF part number:

SKF NU1009ECP bearing_45*75*16_Cylindrical roller bearing_SKF ONLINE SHOP

This NU1009ECP part is also hard to find and sometimes it pops up as NOS for about $130 each.

However, the dimensions of the part are 75 mm OD, 45 mm ID, and 16 mm thick.

With that in mind there look to be quite a bit of bearings of that spec, ex:

Radial Ball Bearings | MSCDirect.com

at around half price.

 

What's the application? I might have a "good used" one.

 

Often bearings are made in many specifications. Most in Porsche gearbox for example are very expensive high tolerance or special seals or something that COULD be replaced cheaper, but would you?

Same with many other examples, for a 'museum' type resto, driven on and off a trailer, cheaper might well be OK. Apples and oranges, another reason for caveat emptor at modern auctions...........

 

Try chatting up these guys:

The region's leader distributor in mechanical, power transmission and industrial products | Golden Industrial Supply | Golden Industrial Supply

I've taken in a few unobtainable bearings for old Fiats and they've matched them, asked pertinent questions, and gotten me product.

Jonathan
Denver, CO

 

I need a total of 8 bearings for the four corners of a '79 Countach LP400S. 2 of them are the ones I mentioned, still working to find the details of the others.

Buying direct from Lambo it'd be around $1-1.2K in wheel bearings which is just plain dumb in my opinion...I'm sure whatever wheel bearings they used in '79 can be easily replicated with the newer technology as long as the dimensions are correct.

 

In this case you're probably right. Early Lambos weren't engineered for a long road life.

 

Or engineered!

 

Take the bearing to a bearing supply shop and they will give you a match equal to or better than what you give them. Works for me every time. And saves serious $$.