Mercury MerCruiser OEM Perma-Lube Gimbal Bearing Kit 879194A01 | Alpha One Gen II Bravo Vazer Sterndrive

Mercury MerCruiser OEM Perma-Lube Gimbal Bearing Kit — Part 879194A01

• Part Number: 879194A01
• Full Catalog Number: 30-879194A01
• Brand: Mercury Marine / MerCruiser (Genuine OEM)
• Official Product Type: Sterndrive & Transom Parts — Perma-Lube Gimbal Bearing Kit
• System: Sterndrive transom assembly — gimbal housing / transom plate
• Position: Gimbal housing bore — supports and aligns the sterndrive input shaft through the transom assembly
• Kit Contents: 879194A02 Perma-Lube gimbal bearing + plug for the original grease-fitting location
• Lubrication Type: Permanently lubricated (sealed) — does not use the original external grease fitting
• Application: Alpha One Gen II (1998 and newer), Bravo One / Two / Three, and selected Vazer sterndrive transom assemblies
• Replaces: 862540A3 / 862540A04 / 862540T1
• GTIN / UPC: 745061849556
• Weight: 1.2 kg

Perma-Lube — permanently lubricated sealed bearing: 879194A01 is the current OEM gimbal bearing kit for applicable Alpha One Gen II, Bravo, and Vazer transom assemblies. Unlike earlier greaseable gimbal bearings, the 879194A02 Perma-Lube bearing is permanently sealed and does not use the original external grease fitting. The kit includes a plug for the former grease-fitting location. Do not attempt to grease this bearing through the old fitting port.

What It Is

The gimbal bearing supports the sterndrive input shaft as it passes through the transom assembly, keeping the drivetrain centered and properly aligned while the drive trims and steers. A worn or rough gimbal bearing causes vibration at the helm, steering play, driveshaft misalignment, and accelerated bellows wear. 879194A01 supersedes earlier Mercury gimbal bearing kits 862540A3, 862540A04, and 862540T1 and is the correct current OEM replacement for applicable transom assemblies.

Compatible Applications

Confirm fitment by MerCruiser sterndrive or transom assembly serial number and the Mercury parts diagram before ordering. This kit applies to later Alpha One Gen II and applicable Bravo/Vazer transom assemblies only. Earlier MC-1, R, MR, Alpha One Gen I, and early Alpha One Gen II applications may use a different gimbal bearing configuration.

Alpha One Gen II

• 1998 and newer — Serial 0L100040 and up

Bravo One / Bravo Two / Bravo Three

• Selected Bravo transom assemblies — 1996 and newer
• Serial 0F730000–0M100000
• Serial 0M100001–0W249999
• Serial 0W250000 and up

Vazer

• Selected Vazer transom assemblies — 1996-and-newer family applications where the Mercury parts diagram specifies 879194A01

Not sure it fits? Send us your MerCruiser drive or transom assembly serial number before ordering.

Kit Contents

• 879194A02 — Perma-Lube gimbal bearing (sealed, permanently lubricated)
• Plug for the original grease-fitting location (the Perma-Lube bearing does not use the external grease fitting)

Part Numbers

• 879194A01 — Current Mercury / MerCruiser OEM Perma-Lube gimbal bearing kit
• 30-879194A01 — Full Mercury / Quicksilver catalog number
• 879194A02 / 30-879194A02 — Bearing assembly included in the 879194A01 kit
• 862540A3 / 30-862540A3 — Superseded by 879194A01
• 862540A04 / 30-862540A04 — Earlier reference, superseded by 879194A01
• 862540T1 / 30-862540T1 — Earlier reference, superseded by 879194A01

When to Replace

Inspect or replace the gimbal bearing when:

• A growling, rumbling, or rough bearing noise is present from the transom area under power or at idle
• The bearing feels rough or catches when rotated by hand during sterndrive removal
• Corrosion is visible on the bearing surface
• Water intrusion has reached the gimbal-bearing area (common with a failed U-joint bellows)
• Excessive play is found in the gimbal housing area during sterndrive removal
• The U-joint bellows has failed, leaked, or is being replaced as a precaution
• Major transom service or overhaul is being performed and the bearing has not been recently replaced

A noisy gimbal bearing is easily confused with U-joint or drivetrain noise. The bearing, U-joints, and engine-to-drive alignment should be inspected together when diagnosing transom area noise or vibration.

Service Interval

Inspect at every bellows service — the gimbal bearing is accessed whenever the U-joint bellows are removed, making it a natural inspection point at each transom service. Mercury typically recommends bellows inspection every three years or 300 hours. If the bearing shows any roughness, corrosion, or play when inspected during a bellows service, replace it at the same time. Because the Perma-Lube bearing is sealed, there is no greasing interval — the plug in the old grease-fitting location should remain installed and undisturbed.

Installation Notes

• Remove the sterndrive before accessing the gimbal housing and bearing
• Inspect the U-joint bellows for water intrusion and damage — replace if there is any doubt about their condition
• Inspect the input shaft and U-joints for wear or corrosion while the drive is removed
• Inspect the bearing bore in the gimbal housing for wear, scoring, or corrosion before installing the new bearing
• Install the Perma-Lube bearing squarely using the correct Mercury gimbal bearing installation and removal tools — do not drive the bearing in without the correct tool, as this can damage the bearing race or the housing bore
• Install the supplied plug in the former grease-fitting location as directed by the Mercury service manual
• Do not attempt to grease the sealed Perma-Lube bearing through the old fitting port
• Verify engine-to-drive alignment before reinstalling the sterndrive
• Follow the applicable MerCruiser sterndrive transom service manual for torque specifications and final assembly sequence

Technical FAQ

Q: What makes 879194A01 different from the older gimbal bearing kits it replaced?
879194A01 uses the 879194A02 Perma-Lube bearing — a permanently lubricated sealed bearing that does not require external greasing. The older bearings it replaces (862540A3, 862540A04, 862540T1) used an external grease fitting to maintain lubrication. Because 879194A01 is sealed, the grease fitting is no longer used and the kit includes a plug for that location.

Q: Does 879194A01 fit early Alpha One Gen I or MC-1 / R / MR transom assemblies?
No. 879194A01 is specifically for later Alpha One Gen II (serial 0L100040 and up, 1998 and newer) and applicable Bravo and Vazer transom assemblies. Earlier MC-1, R, MR, Alpha One Gen I, and early Alpha One Gen II drives use different gimbal bearing configurations. Confirm the correct part by the exact drive model and serial number.

Q: Should I replace the bellows at the same time as the gimbal bearing?
Yes, in almost every case. The sterndrive must be removed and the transom assembly disassembled to access the gimbal bearing. Since U-joint bellows are also accessed during this disassembly, replacing the bellows at the same service avoids repeating the job if the bellows fail shortly after. Water intrusion from failed bellows is also one of the leading causes of gimbal bearing damage, so their condition is directly related.

Q: Do I need special tools to install 879194A01?
Yes. Mercury specifies dedicated gimbal bearing installation and removal tools for this service. Installing the bearing without the correct tools risks damaging the bearing race or the gimbal housing bore, which can turn a straightforward bearing replacement into a more involved and costly repair.

Q: Can I just grease the new Perma-Lube bearing through the old grease fitting?
No. The 879194A02 Perma-Lube bearing is permanently sealed. The plug supplied in the 879194A01 kit is installed in the old grease-fitting location — attempting to inject grease through it will not lubricate the bearing and can contaminate the surrounding area.

Related Parts

• Gimbal Bearing MerCruiser / Volvo Penta 47-21001
• Mercury MerCruiser Gimbal Housing Bushing Kit 805041A2
• Mercury MerCruiser Gimbal Housing Washer 21900
• Mercury MerCruiser Gimbal Housing Lock Nut 11-34087
• Mercury MerCruiser Bellows Assembly 8M0062406
• Mercury MerCruiser Bellows Assembly 816431A1
• Mercury MerCruiser Sterndrive Transom Seal 455771

Parts Desk Insights

The key detail with 879194A01 is the Perma-Lube design — customers with older transom assemblies that had a greaseable gimbal bearing sometimes ask whether they can still grease the new bearing, and the answer is no. The plug in the old grease-fitting location stays installed. The most common real-world scenario for this kit is a transom service prompted by a failed or leaking U-joint bellows — water that got past the bellows is usually what accelerated the bearing wear in the first place. If the bellows are already being replaced, the gimbal bearing should be inspected and typically replaced at the same service. Also worth noting: customers searching for 862540A3 or 862540A04 should be directed to 879194A01 as the current OEM replacement.