30-60794A2 Gimbal Bearing Fits MerCruiser MC-1 R MR Alpha One Bravo Sterndrives

30-60794A2 Gimbal Bearing — Fits MerCruiser MC-1 R MR Alpha One Bravo Sterndrives, Replaces 30-60794A4, 30-879194A02, Sierra 18-2100

Check drive S/N + removed bearing stamp before you order. GHMarine gimbal bearing — the roller bearing pressed into the gimbal housing on compatible MerCruiser sterndrives. Supports the drive shaft while the drive tilts and turns. Primary OEM 30-60794A2; common crosses 30-60794A4, 30-879194A02, 18-2100.

Single bearing only. Full transom kit with bellows → 17B3005. Bearing+seal+gasket kit → 20BG004.

Which part is this?

Metal gimbal bearing in the transom gimbal housing — NOT a rubber bellow, NOT a water pump, NOT a gasket kit.

If water entered through a failed U-joint or exhaust bellow, inspect and replace the bearing when the drive is off.

Signs yours is due

·       Growling, grinding, or rumbling from the transom / gimbal housing when you turn or trim the drive — classic failed gimbal bearing noise.

·       Water in the U-joint or bellows cavity rusted the bearing — replace the failed bellow AND the bearing; a new boot alone will not fix a rough bearing.

·       Drive is already off for transom service — shops replace the gimbal bearing whenever the sterndrive is removed and the old bearing feels rough or corroded.

·       Match the stamp on your removed bearing: 60794A2 / 60794A4 / 879194A02 family vs later 862540A3 maintenance-free numbers — wrong generation means pulling the drive twice.

Before you order — two-minute check

Sterndrive serial number matters more than the model name. Two bros can both say Alpha One and still need different bearings. Flip your removed bearing and read the stamp. Then grab your drive S/N off the nameplate.

·       Sterndrive serial number (S/N) is non-negotiable — even if your drive model name matches your bro's letter-for-letter. Mercury splits parts by S/N break, not by "looks the same."

·       Step 1 — removed bearing stamp: read what's etched on the metal — not the box someone guessed from five years ago.

·       Step 2 — drive S/N: read the sterndrive serial off the nameplate sticker on the upper drive housing (usually visible before you pull the drive).

·       Stamp shows 30-60794A2, 30-60794A4, 30-879194A02, or 18-2100 → early greasable family this listing covers.

·       Stamp shows 30-862540A3, 62540, or 18-2102 → later maintenance-free line. Do not order this SKU.

·       Two bros can both say Alpha One, same HP, same engine — and still need different bearing generations because the drives were built in different years (different S/N ranges).

·       Engine horsepower alone does not prove fit. Removed stamp + drive S/N together — that's how you avoid pulling the drive twice.

Why so many part numbers for one bearing?

Honest answer: Mercury didn't pile on part numbers for fun. This bearing lives in a brutal spot — salt splash, bilge humidity, trim and steering loads — and it has to match the gimbal housing for that drive generation.

Early drives used a greasable bearing (this listing). Owners meant to grease it "next season" and never did → rust, noise, play. Later drives moved to maintenance-free sealed bearings so "I forgot to grease it" isn't the failure mode anymore.

You'll also see 60794A2, 60794A4, and 879194A02 on paperwork and kit BOMs. Catalogs cross those as the same early replacement family on compatible drives — superseded numbers and kit paperwork, not five unrelated bearings.

But early greasable and later maintenance-free are not the same product line. Wrong generation → wrong press fit or alignment — same as buying the wrong-year brake rotor because it "looks close enough."

Will it fit my drive?

Early greasable gimbal bearing family per catalog tables on MC-1, R/MR, Alpha One, and Bravo. Drive serial number required — same model name does not prove fit. NOT later maintenance-free 862540A3 / 18-2102 without label match.

Brand	Model / Drive	Rated HP	Type	Years	OEM Part No.
MerCruiser	MC-1	120–260	Sterndrive	1974–1982	30-60794A2
MerCruiser	R / MR	170–300	Sterndrive	1983–1997	30-60794A2
MerCruiser	Alpha One Gen I	190–260	Sterndrive	1983–1990	30-60794A2
MerCruiser	Alpha One Gen II (early greasable)	190–300	Sterndrive	1991–1997	30-60794A2
MerCruiser	Bravo I / II / III	260–430	Sterndrive	1988–1995	30-60794A2
OMC	Cobra	190–280	Sterndrive	1986–1993	30-879194A01

 

OEM & swap numbers

Type	Part Number	Notes
OEM	30-60794A2	Primary — Heavy Duty / early greasable gimbal bearing
OEM	30-60794A4	Superseded / maintenance-free evolution in kit catalogs
OEM	30-879194A02	Transom repair kit BOM ref (inside 17B3005 full kit)
Aftermarket	18-2100	Replaces 30-60794A2 / 30-60794A4 per Sierra p857
Aftermarket	18-21001	Early gimbal bearing — 879194A01 family
Aftermarket	21906	GLM catalog row — kit Contains context
Aftermarket	9-72410	Mallory cross — PROmarine p347

 

Wrong part? Read before you order

·       NOT for full transom repair kit with bellows + gasket + hoses — see GHMarine 17B3005 (30-803097T1).

·       NOT for bearing + oil seal + gasket 3-piece repair kit — see GHMarine 20BG004.

·       NOT for duplicate single-bearing listing keyed to 30-879194A02 — see GHMarine 20BG003.

·       NOT for Gen II / later maintenance-free bearing 30-862540A3 or 62540 / 18-2102 families — match removed label.

·       NOT for any rubber bellow (exhaust / U-joint / shift) — those are 17B1015, 17B1004, 17B1005, not a bearing.

·       NOT for water pump or impeller parts — gimbal bearing only.

What ships in the box

·       1 × Gimbal bearing (30-60794A2 / 18-2100 family)

·       No bellows, gasket kit, oil seal, or transom hoses

·       Bearing driver / alignment tool sold separately unless shown

Often ordered with transom service parts

·       Full transom repair kit — GHMarine 17B3005 (bellows + bearing + gasket + hoses).

·       Rubber-only kit — GHMarine 17B3001 when bellows only are due and bearing is OK.

·       Bellows singles — 17B1015 exhaust · 17B1004 U-joint · 17B1005 shift.

·       Tools — 22ET001 expander · 21B1001 sleeve driver on applicable jobs.

·       Gasket only — 20GK002 when housing gasket is needed without full kit.

Install tips

1. Remove sterndrive; inspect bearing for rust, roughness, or play.

2. Pull old bearing with slide hammer / bearing puller.

3. Drive new bearing square into gimbal housing with bearing driver.

4. Check alignment before reinstalling drive.

5. Reinstall drive; verify smooth trim and steering on muffs.

FAQ

Can I just search "MerCruiser gimbal bearing" and buy this?

Please don't. The counter name is the same on a lot of listings, but the stamp on your removed bearing and your drive serial tell the real story. Five minutes with the removed part beats paying twice for shipping and pulling the drive again.

Why did Mercury update the bearing if it's "just one bearing"?

Salt, vibration, and owner maintenance habits. They went from grease-it-yourself bearings to sealed maintenance-free units, and they changed numbers as drives (Gen I → Gen II, Alpha, Bravo) evolved. It's right bearing for that housing, not one universal "Merc bearing."

Are 30-60794A2 and 30-60794A4 the same size?

Catalogs treat them as the same early greasable replacement family on compatible drives — often supersession or kit paperwork differences. Still confirm your removed stamp. Maintenance-free numbers (862540A3 / 18-2102) are a different evolution — don't assume same dimensions.

How do I read the stamp on my old bearing?

Pull the drive, remove the old bearing, and read the OEM-style number on the metal (30-xxxxxx). Phone photos help if you're ordering from the dock. If it's rusty, clean the face gently — you're looking for digits, not guesswork.

My drive is Gen II — is this still the right bearing?

Maybe — if your removed label is in the 60794 / 879194 / 18-2100 family and your drive falls in the early greasable catalog range. Many Gen II drives moved to maintenance-free bearings. When in doubt: removed label first; drive S/N second.

My bro has the same drive model — can I order what he ordered?

No — not without checking. Same model name on the nameplate does not mean the same sterndrive serial range. Mercury changes bearing generations at S/N breaks while the marketing name stays "Alpha One." Read your drive S/N off the tag before you order.

Is this the same bearing inside the 17B3005 transom kit?

The 17B3005 full repair kit (30-803097T1) includes a gimbal bearing component referenced as 30-879194A02 in kit BOMs. This listing is bearing only — order 18MB001 when you need just the bearing without bellows, gasket kit, or hoses.

What is the difference between 30-60794A2, 30-60794A4, and 30-879194A02?

Buyers often see different stamps on removed bearings and kit paperwork. Sierra 18-2100 crosses the early greasable gimbal bearing family used on MC-1/R/MR/Alpha/Bravo per catalog tables. Later maintenance-free bearings (862540A3 / 18-2102) are a different evolution — confirm your removed part.

What is in the box?

One gimbal bearing (30-60794A2 family). No oil seal, no gasket kit, no bellows, no grease tube unless shown in photos. Bearing driver, slide hammer, and alignment tool sold separately.

How is this different from a bellow?

Bellows are rubber boots that seal transom openings (exhaust, U-joint, shift). The gimbal bearing is a pressed-in roller bearing in the gimbal housing that supports the drive shaft. A torn bellow lets water in and destroys the bearing.

Do I need 20BG003 or 20BG004 instead?

20BG003 is another single-bearing listing keyed to 30-879194A02. 20BG004 adds oil seal and gasket components. This 18MB001 listing leads with 60794A2 and is the preferred single-bearing SKU on GH-Marine when your removed label matches that family.

Please note

Aftermarket replacement. Not affiliated with engine manufacturers referenced above. There is not one universal "MerCruiser gimbal bearing" for every sterndrive — drive serial number is mandatory, even when the drive model matches your bro's nameplate. Confirm removed bearing stamp + drive S/N before order.