What Is a High Copy Bearing?  
A “high-copy” bearing is a colloquial industry term for a premium-grade replica or aftermarket bearing that visually and dimensionally mirrors an original equipment (OE) unit, yet is produced by a third-party factory at significantly lower cost.

Built on the foundation of standard deep-groove, angular-contact or cylindrical-roller designs, it adds tight dimensional tolerances (typically P6/P5) and upgraded grease fill so it can drop straight into OE housings without modification.

When the bearing reaches the end-user, its part number, laser mark and even laser-etched QR code are deliberately cloned 1:1 from the OE sample—hence “high copy”—while internal geometry may be subtly tweaked to avoid patent conflict.

Compared with generic “no-name” bearings, a high-copy unit not only offers OE-like fit and appearance, but also delivers 70-90 % of OE life at 30-50 % of OE price, greatly lowering maintenance budgets for price-sensitive fleets.

Working Concept of a High Copy Bearing  
The core idea is to replicate every visible feature of the OE bearing while keeping internal cost out of IP-protected zones.

Its life cycle can be understood in two layers: outward cloning and performance matching.

1. Outward Cloning  
CMM scans of an OE sample generate a 3-D point cloud.  
CNC turning, grinding and super-finishing reproduce:

- OE raceway curvature and shoulder height ±2 µm  
- OE steel shield or rubber seal color match ΔE ≤ 1.0  
- OE laser mark font, depth and serial prefix

2. Performance Matching  
Steel purity is upgraded to 99.9 % GCr15 (AISI 52100) and heat-treated to HRC 61-65.  
Grease fill volume is raised 5-10 % to offset lower base-oil viscosity, giving:

- Noise level ≤ 75 dB(A) at 3 000 rpm (OE ≤ 73 dB)  
- Life test L10 ≥ 0.7 × OE value under same load-speed matrix

Example of Quality Gate

- Dimension audit → 100 % pass  
- Vibration test → High copy 28 µm/s vs OE 25 µm/s (green light band)  
- Salt spray 96 h no red rust equal to OE

Importance of High Copy Bearings  
Rapid Parts Availability  
OE bearings for older transmissions or niche European trucks can carry 12-week lead-times; high-copy inventory sits in regional warehouses, cutting downtime from weeks to days.

Cost-Controlled Fleet Maintenance  
A long-haul trailer needs eight hub bearings per service. Swapping OE (USD 120 ea) for high-copy (USD 45 ea) saves USD 600 per axle while still passing DOT inspection.

Compliance with Local Content Rules  
Many emerging markets levy 30 % import duty on OE-branded spares but only 10 % on “non-branded” equivalents. High-copy units let workshops stay legal and competitive.

Types of High Copy Bearings  
1. By Cloning Precision  
Grade-A Clone:  
Bearing steel, cage geometry and grease source copied to ≥90 % OE spec; marketed as “OE equivalent.”

Grade-B Clone:  
Visual clone only—internal clearance or heat-treatment recipe relaxed; sold into secondary aftermarket.

2. By Application Segment  
Automotive High-Copy:  
Wheel-hub, tensioner and clutch-release bearings that carry SAE/ISO part numbers identical to OE catalogs .

Industrial High-Copy:  
Deep-groove 6200 series or spherical 22200 series cloned from SKF/NSK samples for fans, pumps and conveyors.

3. By Branding Strategy  
White-Label Clone:  
No logo; distributor adds own brand sticker.

Ghost-Label Clone:  
Laser mark mimics OE font but changes one letter (e.g., “NTC” vs NTN) to skate around trademark law .

Applications of High Copy Bearings  
Passenger Car Aftermarket  
Timing belt idlers, wheel hubs and clutch bearings are the top three cloned parts; technicians use them to cut customer quotes without sacrificing perceived OE quality.

Heavy-Duty Truck Fleets  
Hub-unit BR30207 and BR28682 are cloned worldwide; fleet owners accept 700 000 km life instead of 1 000 000 km when truck age exceeds 8 years.

Agricultural & Construction Equipment  
Combines and mini-excavators operate seasonally; high-copy bearings offer “good-enough” life at 40 % cost, keeping total repair below machine resale value.

Selection Recommendations  
For daily-drivers under 3 years old, choose Grade-A high-copy that publishes vibration and grease data—gives 90 % OE life with full warranty.  
For off-highway or seasonal machines, Grade-B clone is acceptable—inspect after first 500 h and replace as part of economic wear cycle.

High-copy bearings are now an indispensable layer of the global aftermarket, perfectly balancing OE resemblance and cost control in one box.

Their wide use in passenger cars, long-haul fleets and farm equipment reflects their importance in keeping repair bills low and vehicles in service.

At Union Bearing, we are committed to transparent high-copy programmes: each unit is laser-etched with a unique trace code, 100 % vibration-tested and backed by a 12-month unlimited-mileage warranty.

To learn more, visit the Union Bearing official website—and feel free to contact us for cross-reference lists or bulk pricing.