Anybody run the SKF bearings and top mounts on a MK 5 chassis vehicle as replacements for the OEM?

I can get a decent price on the OEM, but the SKF stuff is still a lot cheaper.

What I don't want to do is fit them, then replace them 2 years down the line with all the labour costs.

Thoughts appreciated.

I used to work for SKF so I am probably a bit biased.

But I have fitted them to both my Mk1 and my Mk2 and never had a problem - SKF make a lot of suspension bearings OE....the rubber mounts and bump stops are sourced from OE quality suppliers.

You wont have a problem

That's what I'm hearing generally, but was hoping that somebody might have run them and for a long while.

Can I ask how many miles you've put on the car since you fitted them?

Ta

You are thinking along the same lines as me :-) - I wonder why!

I take it all I will need extra to the B12 kit is new top mounts for the front, and I'll replace the front ARB drop links at the same time as I had to butcher them a bit the last time I had the struts out.

Do I need anything new for the rear in terms of spring seats or shock mounts? I can't remember what the rear set up is like as I always seem to be working on the front of the car!

Anyone got any exploded diagrams of the front and rear suspension setups?

The Mk1 has been running them since early 2009 and the car is still in the family as I gave it to my dad. I fitted them with OE shock absorbers and the SKF protection kits with bump stops and have had no problems at all. The car does around 6000 miles per year and lots of that is inner city, so speed bumps, pot holes, traffic calming etc.

The Mk2 I did fairly recently to be honest, but they have been on for over a year now and it does 10k a year.

Hope this helps.

I have SKF on mine, been on for 3k including a long run down south no issues so far but its only been months since i done it.

For the 9 plus years I worked for partco I never had a warranty on a skf part,

You are thinking along the same lines as me :-) - I wonder why!

I take it all I will need extra to the B12 kit is new top mounts for the front, and I'll replace the front ARB drop links at the same time as I had to butcher them a bit the last time I had the struts out.

Do I need anything new for the rear in terms of spring seats or shock mounts? I can't remember what the rear set up is like as I always seem to be working on the front of the car!

Anyone got any exploded diagrams of the front and rear suspension setups?

Fronts I'd get a new bolt/nut that holds the shocker to the hub.

Rears I'd look at shortened bump stops if you're not already in a VRS and any new bolts.

Yep - new pinch bolt was on the cards anyway as they are very rusty

Shark are matching the ECP discounted price for the front mounts I

F you ent to save a bit of hassle.

Hth

Front top mounts and bearings? How much?

I'll compare to TPS trade :-) for OEM

Top mount, bearing and bolts are just shy of £33 for the pair.

About half the price of tps.

Whoosh - I'll give Ben a call tomorrow then and pick these up when I pick up the shocks and get the EGR delete done.

Still got mine cheaper from my local motor factor, mounts, bearings and bolts £25 each side.

Still got mine cheaper from my local motor factor, mounts, bearings and bolts £25 each side.

£33 for the pair? I assumed that meant both sides?

£33 for the pair? I assumed that meant both sides?

Correct £33 for the pair (eg both sides).

Bloody hell fire!!!, were you sleeping with him?? lol

Bloody hell fire!!!, were you sleeping with him?? lol

If I was, I wasn't aware of it

Like I said on the GB thread, if you're looking at new top mounts, bearings and bolts, then give them a call

SKF is very good material, they are used at the company where I work. (put them on my MTB cubes)

Their are 2 types of SKF. Ones sealed with metal and other with rubber.

From experience at work, not my area, the sealed metal plated are the best as long as they aren´t in contact with water, the rubber sealed ones are better for this.

Their are also modes that have the letters RZ (ex. SKF6001 or SKF6001 RZ), they are suppost to be even better.

Their is also a brand name KOYO, that is japonese and is very high rated also.