Best Wheel Bearing Hub Assemblies: Boost Safety and Performance
Buying a good one means you won’t need to do this job again for a long time.

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When a wheel bearing goes, you'll feel the need to throw the whole dang car away. At least, that's the case here in the rust belt, where nature loves welding crappy parts on so well that removal almost isn’t an option. To add a little spice to stress levels, wheel bearings have an incredibly important job. So between all the bashing, smashing, and pressing, you need to make sure you're taking your time to do things the right way. Sorry to start off on such a negative note. But there's a good reason for doing so—this is not the kind of job you want to do twice. A big part of making sure you don't have to is buying quality parts in the first place, which you've come to the right place for help with.

Timken Bearing and Hub Assembly
- High quality construction
- Excellent service life
- Protected by 1-year warranty
- Expensive
- Mis-packaged products are a somewhat common issue
Detroit Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly
- Affordable pricing
- Includes two wheel bearings
- Backed by 10-year warranty
- Quality control issues are common
- Relatively short service life
Moog Wheel Bearing and Hub Assembly
- Premium quality
- Excellent service life
- 3-year warranty
- Expensive
- Quality control issues are somewhat common
Summary List
- Best Overall: Timken Bearing and Hub Assembly
- Best Value: Detroit Axle Front Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly
- Honorable Mention: MOOG Wheel Bearing and Hub Assembly
- Best OE Replacement: ACDelco Original Equipment Front Wheel Hub and Bearing Assembly
- Best Kit: Detroit Axle Front CV Axle and Wheel Bearing Hub Replacement
Our Methodology
Wheel bearing hub assemblies aren't the kind of thing you want to spend a lot of time with. Therefore, any wrench slinger quickly learns what the best names in the business are along with the best practices. Between hands-on experience in our personal lives and plenty of research, we are able to produce a buying guide we're sure will serve the general public well.
Best Wheel Bearing Hub Assemblies Reviews & Recommendations
- Manufacturer: Timken
- Part Number: SP500300
- Warranty: One Year
Pros:
- High quality construction
- Excellent service life
- Protected by 1-year warranty
Cons:
- Expensive
- Mispackaged products are a somewhat common issue
Specs:
- Manufacturer: Detroit Axle
- Part Number: 513188 x2
- Warranty: 10 Years
Pros:
- Affordable pricingt
- Includes two wheel bearings
- backed by 10-year warranty
Cons:
- Quality control issues are common
- relatively short service life
Specs:
- Manufacturer: Moog
- Part Number: 515036
- Warranty: Three Years
Pros:
- Premium quality
- Excellent service life
- 3-year warranty
Cons:
- Expensive
- Quality control issues are somewhat common
Specs:
- Manufacturer: ACDelco
- Part Number: FW331
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Pros:
- Direct match to OE quality
- Perfect fit and finish
- Protected by lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Lifetime warranty only applies to select product
- Expensive
Specs:
- Manufacturer: Detroit Axle
- Part Number: 80412-4A
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Pros:
- Relatively affordable
- Includes hub assemblies and CV axles
- Protected by lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Short service life
- Quality control issues are somewhat common
Our Verdict on the Best Wheel Bearing Hub Assemblies
Again, the Timken Bearing and Hub Assembly takes our top pick. Personal experience shows Timken to be the name to call on whenever bearings are needed. However, the Detroit Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly is representative of a solid value option for many applications.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
Q. Can I change a wheel bearing hub assembly at home?
A: Yes. However, it can be difficult to remove the old assembly if it has seized in place, which is common on older applications and in the northern parts of the country. At which point, hours of work and special steps may be required.
Q: How do I know if my wheel bearing assembly needs replacing?
A: Wheel bearings can make a lot of strange sounds. Everything from grinding to sounding like a spaceship is possible. If you hear a noise you suspect is a wheel bearing, jacking the car up and checking for play in the assembly can confirm the problem.
Q: How much do wheel bearing assemblies typically cost?
A: Wheel bearing hub assembly prices are highly dependent on the application. For some 2WD vehicles, $80-$100 is about average, whereas a big 4WD truck might have hub assemblies listed for $120-$150 or more. Therefore, it's hard to say what you can expect to pay. The only valuable bit of advice to provide here is that wheel bearings that list for half of what the majority do are not to be trusted. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't shop around for the best price on the good stuff. Just don't waste your money on the really cheap offerings, as you will be replacing it shortly.
Q: Can I just buy any wheel bearing assembly for my car?
A: Wheel bearing hub assemblies are an application-specific item. That's good news, as it means 90% of the work you need to do is simply making sure whatever you're considering is a direct match to your car. Make sure you take your time and go through all of the details, though. If you're working with a truck, make sure you match the drive-type, double-check if you need ABS sensors on all applications, and so on. The last thing you want is to realize you made a mistake when the old wheel bearing is sitting in your lap.
Q: How often should I replace my wheel bearings?
A: 85,000 to 100,000 miles is about what you can expect from wheel bearings. However, there's a lot of room for play in that life expectancy. Driving habits, maintenance and upkeep, and the environment the car lives in can all change how long you should expect wheel bearings to last.
Q: Why should I replace my wheel bearing hub?
A: Bad wheel bearings cause all kinds of issues from uneven tire wear and brake problems to failure to keep the wheel mounted on the vehicle. They’re incredibly important and should be kept up with accordingly.

Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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