Affordable genuine FAG/SKF rear wheel bearings 30639877 (AWD P2's)

[- Pete -]

If I'm out of line here, just delete this post. I have nothing to do with the seller nor have anything to gain by posting this helpful tidbit, other than helping fellow Volvo geeks.

Historically, I don't buy hard, high mile parts off ebay or the likes. Just so hard to find genuine/OEM stuff.
Anyhow, I found some rear bearings that are indeed genuine, I've put about 5k on a set of them in one of our cars & all is as you'd hope for.

I just wanted to post this to help out any others that are frustrated by the current prices for genuine SKF/FAG Volvo rear wheel hub assemblies & unwilling to pay less for subpar products.

I did my homework on these (not really that hard, after having search for about a week in what little spare time I have).
They are genuine, Italian FAG hub units. They take about 1.5 - 2 weeks to arrive from the UK, and will inevitably show up in a rather tattered box, but who cares. The hub units are pretty indestructible (up to about 150k miles anyway). They come with 4 new mounting bolts & 1 new axle bolt.

I've ordered 2 of these sets (4 hub units in total)of these about 3 weeks apart over the last 2 months. All 4 arrived & all 4 are genuine FAG Italian hub units. My total out of pocket for the first pair was about $235 (factoring in the exchange rate & paypal's currency conversion fee), second set was about $230. Still, ~$115-117/hub unit is pretty damn good for genuine stuff.

The exchange rate has remained pretty stable over the last 6 months - between 1.27-1.31 = Your total cost will likely be around what I ended up paying.

Cheapest I could find stateside for genuine FAG/SKF was around $176/unit w/out shipping.

Hope this helps somebody.

I will post daytime pics.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Wheel-Beari ... SwuspY9DuW

[abscate]

I would hold off buying to post Brexit when the price will plummet!!

Thanks for the link , Jim

OEM Volvo Bearing is $199 at our supporter's sites, FYI

Optimal version about $140 - unknown longevity. On a FWD car the rear hub is an easy bolt on, Im guessing it might be harder on AWD

[- Pete -]

...hold off buying til post Brexit when the price will plummet!!

That’s a very wise recommendation. I know I’ll buy another set or two if the exchange rate goes in our favor.

Thanks for the link , Jim

OEM Volvo Bearing is $199 at our supporter's sites, FYI

Optimal version about $140 - unknown longevity. On a FWD car the rear hub is an easy bolt on, Im guessing it might be harder on AWD

My pleasure. Even though FCP has lifetime warranty on their stuff I just cannot swallow a $200 pill per unit. $230/pair vs $400/pair spread over the same 150k miles you’ll likely get out of them is just less cost prohibitive.

I personally would shy away from the Optimal hub units. I have not run them, nor will I, so I can’t say first hand. Their marketing strategy alone is enough to make me look elsewhere. Reading reviews on various Optimal bearing assy’s just solidifies that. Plus they are back ordered. I’ve had nothing but bad luck with anything Chinese on our 4 Volvo’s (except for the tiny headlight wipers & 1 eBay top motor mount).

The rear hub units for the AWD vs FWD P2’s are very similar, main difference being that the AWD assy’s hub is bored & splined, FWD rear hub assy is not bored whatsoever. Disassembly & reassembly is virtually the same, just need to unbolt & push the driveshaft out on the AWD hubs.

Here’s a 150k mile bearing compared to the new eBay FAG/SKF.

In my situation, the 4 OEM bolts that retain the hubs to the knuckles appeared to be galvanized & still new. I re-used my originals vs using the plain steel (likely grade 5-8) bolts that came with the kit. The new axle bolts are galvanized so I used those vs re-using my originals. If you’re tackling this, feel free to use anti seize on the mating surfaces of the bearing assy & mounting bolts. You’ll thank yourself when you need to revisit this task150k miles later.

[abscate]

We need to move to Iowa. Wheel bearings never fail there. Potatoes are good too.

I’m running a centric on my rear hub on the T5. About 30k miles on it so far.

[cn90]

For those reading this thread.

Volvo PN 30639877 is the Rear Bearing for P2 vehicles with AWD.
FWD Rear Bearing is different.

[arrrxivvv]

Just bought a pair of these, they're made in China now.


Hopefully the quality is maintained.

[cn90]

Chinese bearings are generally bad.

SKF 30639877 is made in Italy, about 200 bones in the US.

[BlackBart]

Just bought a pair of these, they're made in China now.

Wow...