Not to be a damper on your win on those hubs, but I just went through this about 4 or 5 months ago.
I also was under the impression that SKF and Timken were premium hubs with at least one of those brands supplying bearings for a majority of the US airlines. Pretty good resume if you ask me.
However, these bearings are manufactured in different factories with different standards. Timken used to be US until several years back I believe and SKF was made in Canada (at least the rear bearings I bought 8 years ago were).
Now, both are made in China just like Moog. They’ve all sold out for better margins and I don’t blame them (If) they can maintain the same quality.
I didn’t bother with the SKF as the design was very different from the original hubs. I then got Timkens (design is also different) and after i noticed a horrible creaking that ended up being my lower ball joint I did the old wheel jerk and noticed play at 12 and 6. Turned out that play was in the hub itself - not loose bolts on the knuckle - but between the inner and outer races!
I returned and bought Motocraft at $107 a piece and no issues at all. I want to say they were made in US but I can’t remember, they weren’t manufactured in a China.
Ymmv, but I said this in the other thread, ball joints and hubs are crucial components that hold your wheels on and possibly your life. I’m a new parent and the few hundred in savings was not worth the risk of my child’s life. I even spent $60 buying new hub bolts at the dealer as recommended.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
