I don't have anything useful to say, but a few years ago I changed out the front wheel bearings in a Ford Pinto. The factory-original bearings were "made in Japan" NSK. A few weeks later I did a Mazda B2000 pickup. Its original bearings were "made in USA" Timkens.
I think there's a lot of "global" in the bearing industry...
I also have an Aisin automatic transmission wrapped in plastic bags out in the shop. It has two large ball bearings on the output shaft. They were in bad shape, so I tried to buy some replacements... not available from Suzuki, Chevrolet, or Toyota, all who used that particular transmission. I called the NSK rep in California, who contacted his opposite number in Japan; they were customs for Aisin, made in one big lot in the 1980s, not a catalog item, none in stock, no plans to make more.
Well.
I wound up getting rid of the car. Now I have a partially-reassembled transmission, what's left of the rebuild kit, a box full of custom-made tools, and an engine stand adapter occupying space in the shop.
I think there's a lot of "global" in the bearing industry...
I also have an Aisin automatic transmission wrapped in plastic bags out in the shop. It has two large ball bearings on the output shaft. They were in bad shape, so I tried to buy some replacements... not available from Suzuki, Chevrolet, or Toyota, all who used that particular transmission. I called the NSK rep in California, who contacted his opposite number in Japan; they were customs for Aisin, made in one big lot in the 1980s, not a catalog item, none in stock, no plans to make more.
Well.
I wound up getting rid of the car. Now I have a partially-reassembled transmission, what's left of the rebuild kit, a box full of custom-made tools, and an engine stand adapter occupying space in the shop.