just ordered a new bearing just giving the heads up that they are made in korea now not japan.
Is the bearing supposed to be very hard to rotate with hand?

 

Which bearing is this for? New bearings are likely to have resistance turning, but when it does turn, it should be smooth.

 

The whole world's going to a $hi+ bucket and a handbag really quick!

 

Front wheel bearing right side

 

I wouldn't risk a cheap-o.

 

lol

 

timken are supposed to be very high quality.
so should i worry that it isnt good does turn very smoothly. just very hard to do by hand ( that must cost in gas and on the trans)

 

I've almost always gone with Timken for bearings. They seem to be very high quality in my experience.

In fact, I just installed a fresh right rear Timken onto my little sister's Solara.

I've always had a little resistance from them when turning by hand, so I think it's pretty normal. I think it really depends on how hard it really is to turn by hand. They've never been "very hard" to turn as you describe, just had a bit of resistance. It wasn't exactly a skateboard bearing or anything.

 

2 years ago I replaced my oem bearing at 194K... ordered a set of the timken and they were stamped Japan... 20K latter no issues... did you buy the bearing locally or over the internet?

 

rockauto stamped timken and korea
they are pretty hard to turn