NTN

About NTN: A Century of Precision Bearing Engineering

NTN Corporation traces its roots to 1918, when investor Noboru Niwa and engineer Jiro Nishizono joined forces to design and produce the first NTN ball bearings. From that single-product origin, the company grew into one of the most respected bearing manufacturers on the planet, earning recognition milestones early on — including becoming the first Japanese industrial manufacturer to receive the prestigious Deming Prize for statistical quality control in 1954.

NTN Bearing Corporation of America was established in 1963, giving North American customers direct access to NTN's expanding lineup of ball bearings, spherical, tapered, cylindrical, and needle roller bearings, as well as automotive constant velocity joints. Strategic acquisitions deepened the catalog further: by the mid-1980s, NTN had acquired the Bower™ brand from Federal-Mogul Corporation, expanding its tapered and cylindrical roller bearing offerings, and later added the BCA™ brand to round out its automotive clutch release bearings and specialty agricultural bearing assemblies.

Today, NTN stands as the world leader in OEM wheel hub assembly market share, supplying more than 30% of North American OE vehicle production from its Elgin, Illinois facility — the largest single hub assembly manufacturing plant on the continent. That depth of OEM involvement translates directly to aftermarket buyers: replacement parts are engineered to meet or exceed original factory specifications, not merely approximate them.

NTN's Core Automotive Product Categories

NTN's automotive aftermarket catalog is built around the wheel end — the critical interface between a vehicle's suspension and the road. Their Wheel Hubs and Wheel Bearings are among their highest-demand products, reflecting decades of OEM-level engineering refined for everyday drivers and professional technicians alike. For those seeking complete, ready-to-install solutions, NTN's Wheel Bearing Assemblies and Wheel Bearing and Hub Assemblies offer integrated units that simplify installation and reduce the risk of improper fitment. Rounding out the wheel-end ecosystem, NTN's Gaskets & Seals protect these precision components from contaminants, moisture, and the harsh conditions that shorten bearing life.

NTN has also invested heavily in next-generation hub technology. Their Generation 1, 2, and 3 hub bearing designs address the evolving demands of modern vehicles — including electric and autonomous platforms — with smaller, lighter designs that improve torque efficiency without sacrificing the durability the brand is known for.

Why Technicians and Enthusiasts Trust NTN

• OEM Heritage: NTN parts are engineered to the same specifications used by major vehicle manufacturers worldwide.
• Vertically Integrated Manufacturing: From raw materials to finished assemblies, NTN controls quality at every step.
• Broad Coverage: With over 800 part numbers in the automotive aftermarket, NTN covers a wide range of domestic and import applications.
• Proven Brands: The NTN, BCA, and Bower families each bring decades of specialized engineering expertise to their respective product lines.