wheel bearing and hub assembly

What is a Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly

A wheel bearing with hub assembly combines the bearing, the hub flange the wheel bolts to, and often the ABS wheel speed sensor into a single sealed unit.

You might think: Is a wheel bearing and hub assembly the same thing as a standalone wheel bearing? Not quite. A standalone bearing is just the bearing itself, meant to be pressed into an existing hub. A hub assembly is the complete pre-assembled unit, hub and bearing together, which is why most modern vehicles use this design: it removes the need for a bearing press during replacement.

Signs Your Hub Assembly Is Failing

How do you know if your wheel bearing hub assembly is bad? Listen and feel for changes as you drive rather than waiting for a single obvious symptom, since failure usually shows up gradually. A failing hub assembly announces itself well before it becomes dangerous.

What are the first signs of bearing failure? A faint humming or droning noise that grows louder with speed is typically the earliest indicator, often showing up before any vibration is noticeable. As wear progresses, watch for:

• Grinding, growling, or clicking noise that changes with wheel speed
• Vibration through the steering wheel or floor
• Play when you rock the top and bottom of the tire by hand
• ABS or traction control warning lights, since a worn sensor ring inside the hub can throw off wheel speed readings

At what speed will a bad wheel bearing make noise? There's no fixed threshold, but most drivers first notice it in the 50 to 80 km/h range, where road and wind noise are low enough for the bearing sound to stand out. As the bearing deteriorates further, the noise becomes audible at lower speeds too.

Driving on a Bad Hub Assembly

Can you drive a car with a bad hub bearing? For a short distance at low speed, yes, but it's not something to plan around. How urgent is a wheel bearing repair? Treat noise or play as an immediate inspection item rather than something to schedule for next month.

How long will a wheel bearing last once it starts making noise? There's no reliable timeline; some hold on for a few thousand kilometres, others fail within days of the first noticeable sound, which is exactly why the safest approach is to get it checked as soon as you notice something off.

Front Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly

The wheel bearing hub assembly front position typically carries more load and absorbs steering forces, which is why front units tend to wear faster than rear on most passenger vehicles, especially front wheel drive models. A front wheel bearing and hub assembly replacement addresses both the bearing and the hub flange in one part, so there's no separate bearing press step involved.

Front Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly Replacement Cost

Front wheel bearing hub assembly replacement cost typically runs $200 to $500 CAD per side installed at a shop, with import and luxury vehicles carrying integrated ABS sensors trending toward the higher end. Sourcing the part from Geobrakes and doing the labour yourself cuts that down substantially.

Front Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly Torque Specs

Front wheel bearing hub assembly torque specs vary significantly by make and model, generally ranging from 35 to 250 Nm for the hub retaining bolts and considerably higher for the axle nut on many front wheel drive vehicles. Always confirm the exact spec for your vehicle before final torque, since under tightening can allow bearing play and over tightening can damage the bearing itself.

Rear Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly

A wheel bearing hub assembly rear unit generally sees less steering load than the front but still wears from age, contamination, and mileage. Rear wheel bearing hub assembly torque specs also vary by vehicle, and on many rear wheel drive and all wheel drive platforms the rear hub nut torque exceeds the front, so it's worth checking your service manual rather than assuming the same value applies to both axles.

Hub Bearing Assembly Replacement Cost

Beyond front and rear specific pricing, a general hub bearing assembly replacement runs $200 to $550 CAD installed depending on vehicle type, with fully integrated ABS sensor units at the higher end. How many hours does it take to replace a hub assembly? Most shops budget 1 to 2 hours per side for a bolt-on hub assembly, longer if corrosion has seized the hub to the knuckle or if a hub puller is needed.

Replacing the Wheel Bearing and Hub Assembly

How to change a front wheel bearing hub assembly? Starts with removing the caliper, rotor, and axle nut, then unbolting the hub assembly from the steering knuckle and swapping in the new unit as a complete part, no pressing required. A wheel bearing hub assembly tool such as a torque wrench rated for high axle nut torque, a socket set, and sometimes a hub puller for corroded units covers most jobs.

Can I replace a hub bearing myself? On a bolt-on hub assembly, yes, it's a manageable DIY job for anyone comfortable with basic tools and torque specs. Is replacing wheel bearings a big job? On this style of unit, it's moderate rather than major, since the whole hub and bearing come as one part. Can I just replace the wheel bearing and not the hub? Not on a sealed hub assembly design, the bearing isn't sold or serviced separately from the hub on most modern applications.

Can I replace just one wheel bearing? Yes. Unlike brake pads, hub assemblies don't need to be replaced in pairs, since wear on one side doesn't accelerate wear on the other.

Wheel Hub Assembly Kits

A wheel hub assembly kit typically bundles the hub assembly with mounting hardware, and in some cases a matched ABS sensor or wheel stud set, which simplifies ordering when you're doing a full corner rebuild. Geobrakes stocks wheel hub assembly kits for common front and rear fitments alongside standalone units for anyone replacing just the assembly itself.

Wheel Hub Lifespan

Most wheel hub assemblies last 150,000 to 200,000 kilometres under normal conditions, though water crossings, curb impacts, and worn CV boots that let contaminants past the seal can shorten that considerably. In Canadian climates, regular road salt exposure and standing water during winter months are common accelerants for earlier failure.

Why Geobrakes for Wheel Bearing Hub Assemblies

Wheel bearing hub assembly near me searches usually lead to a local parts counter with limited stock and a markup to match. Geobrakes confirms the correct hub assembly for your exact year, make, model, and axle through our vehicle selector, ships fast to every province, and backs every unit with a manufacturer warranty, without the drive to a local shop or the wait for a special order.