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I emailed Duane about this but I don't know if he received it or not so I'm pretty sure he will read it here and offer his help.
I'm rebuilding a /5 4 speed and I have 2 bearings that need replaced. They are very common bearing numbers available from half a dozen brand name bearing companies. I'm finding that the price varies from under $10 to over $40 for the same bearing depending on the brand. Perhaps some are a more precise grade than others.
Does anyone know if it is going to make any difference anyway? I've rebuilt a number of motorcycle engines and replaces engine and transmission bearing as well as wheel bearings and never gave a second thought to buying the higher priced bearings and have never had a failure or 'complaint' from anything I've use them on.

Any experienced suggestions from someone who's done this? Thanks - Rod

Bearings have a rating system to indicate precision, such as abec 3, 5, 7 and 9, 9 being the highest. I would stay away from Chinese bearings. Japan makes good quality, USA does, as well as the Germans. Your best bet would be to go to a bearing house that specializes in supplying bearings to get some feedback on brands. Like anything else, quality and precision costs more.

Are those prices all for C3 bearings? That is the high clearance bearing classification. As jagarra said, use bearings from a good firm/country and you will be fine.

I don't recall getting any email about transmissions lately. What address did you use?

Duane Ausherman wrote:
I don't recall getting any email about transmissions lately. What address did you use?

Diane's.

My failed output shaft bearing was a SKF, with China written on it. I think I've also seen FAG bearings with Korea on them?

Duane - w6rec@softcom.net
Thanks for all the replies guys - that's what I needed to know - Rod

Using off shore suppliers for name brands is becoming the wild card. I bought some Timken bearings for one of my vehicles, made in China on the box. Seems many of them are doing the same. I guess you have to rely on whoever manufactures the bearing following the specs of the item.
When we used to buy hundreds of bearings to put into our repairs I had really good luck with bearing made in the Eastern block countries, like Yugoslavia.
Still believe that talking to a bearing supplier will give you an idea who is making good bearings now, he gets feedback from other customers on failures and quality. I used to rely on my supplier to find what I needed by checking excess inventory and old stock of bearings.

Ron, Look for a bearing with ISO 9001 Certification, I know a guy at Purvis in OKC that I used for years at work, also Fleck has a store in the city too