Ultimate Wheel Bearings & Hub Kits Buying Guide

Wheel bearings and hubs are two components that work together, with the difference between them being how they're assembled. Separately, they're both types of bearings.

They're both essential components that allow the wheels of your car to rotate. But, because of that constant rotating action, wheel hubs and bearings are a part that you will need to change more frequently than the brake calipers, for example.

And because the two work together, they're almost always sold as wheel bearing and hub kits. To help our customers understand wheel bearings and hub kits, how they work, and how to select the correct replacements online, we’ve created this comprehensive guide.

We'll cover:

• What are wheel bearings and hubs?
• How do wheel bearings and hubs work?
• Why do they matter?
• How to tell if your wheel bearings and hub need changing
• The types of wheel bearings and hub kits available online
• The best wheel bearing and hub kit brands and options
• How to choose the right wheel bearings and hub kits
• Frequently asked questions about wheel bearing and hub kit parts

What Are Wheel Bearings and Hub Kits?

Wheel bearing and hub kits include the wheel bearing and hub assembly in an easy-to-buy, cost-efficient kit. Wheel bearing and hub kits will either include front and rear bearings and hub assemblies or only the rear or front. It depends on how complete a kit you need.

At Parts Avenue, we also sell kits that include parts for the attached steering, braking, and suspension systems. 

One example of a more comprehensive kit at Parts Avenue is:

• 2x Front Wheel Bearing (both sides)
• 2x Front Lower Suspension Ball Joint (both sides)
• 2x Front Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link Kit (both sides)

And that's only one example. We also sell kits that include brake calipers and brake pads.

What Are Wheel Bearings and Hubs?

Wheel bearings are precision-engineered components of the wheel assembly. They are the reason your car's wheel rotates smoothly and efficiently without compromising acceleration or generating resistance.

The wheel bearing assembly is a set of balls or rollers, typically made from steel, held together in a metal ring called the bearing race.

The bearing is designed to withstand the radial loads (the weight of the car) and the loads from the axles (cornering forces). That load-bearing strength is essential in helping the assembly and wheels withstand wear and tear under braking, acceleration, or cornering, and, most crucially, maintain wheel alignment.

You'll find the wheel bearing within the pre-assembled hub unit, commonly known as the wheel hub. That hub connects to the hub carrier through the racer (outer ring), and the driveshaft passes from the transmission to the center of the wheel bearing by the inner ring. Also within the wheel hub are seals and sensors, such as the ABS cord that monitors the speed of each wheel and sends this information to the ABS control unit.

The wheel itself actually bolts onto the wheel hub, connecting to the suspension and steering system. The fact that the wheel bearing is inside the hub is why the two are, more often than not, sold as wheel bearing and hub kits.

You can find the wheel hub assembly between the brake drums or discs (depending on what your car uses) and the drive axle. You won't see the wheel hub and bearing assembly until you remove the wheel, brake caliper, and brake rotor.

You can take wheel bearings and service them, but you can't with wheel hub assembly units.

How Do Wheel Bearings and Hubs Work?

One can't function without the other.

The wheel bearing is designed to support the wheel's rotational load and reduce the friction created by the rotating hub and the stationary suspension or axle housing. Without the wheel bearings, your car also wouldn't maintain its wheel alignment and stability at high rotational speeds.

The wheel bearing contains four main parts:

• Inner race (or ring): Attached to the axle shaft or hub spindle and rotates with the wheel and hub assembly.
• Outer race (or ring): Press-fitted into the knuckle, hub carrier, or axle housing and doesn't move relative to the suspension system.
• Rolling parts: Usually balls (more common in deep-groove ball bearings) or rollers/tapered rollers (more common in tapered roller bearings located between the two races). They carry the load, rolling along precision-machined grooves to allow rotation with minimal resistance.
• Cage (Retainer): The cage houses the rolling parts, specifically and evenly spaced positions to prevent contact between the adjacent rollers or balls.

With acceleration, the inner race turns the hub and the wheel, allowing the rolling parts to rotate between the inner and outer raceways. The outer race doesn't move within the knuckle. Each rolling ball carries part of the load and transmits it from the inner race to the outer race for even weight distribution.

The wheel hub assembly is a compact unit containing essential components. Inside the hub is:

• Hub Flange: Mounts the wheel studs or bolts, and the wheel and disk brake (or drum) attach to it. The flange is essentially a rotating mechanical interface between the wheel and the bearing.
• Bearing Assembly: Contains everything that makes the wheel bearings, as mentioned above.
• Mounting Flange / Knuckle Interface: The rear of the hub assembly attaches to the steering knuckle or the axle carrier, and the outer race also mounts here. This part keeps the bearing stationary relative to the suspension system.
• Splined Inner Bore: For front- and all-wheel-drive cars, the axle shaft runs through the center of the hub and engages with splines that have been machined into the hub bore. That transfers torque from the driveshaft to the rotating hub flange, making the wheel move.
• Seal and Dust Shield: Keeps the bearings' internal grease free from contamination.
• ABS Tone Ring / Encoder (Modern Systems): Most modern cars integrate a magnetic encoder or toothed tone ring within the bearing seal. The integrated ABS sensor monitors the wheel speeds by reading signals that pass through the encoder.

The wheel assembly hub is a unit rather than an actual functioning part in comparison to the wheel bearings. It's like the middleman.

Why Do They Matter?

Wheel bearings and hub assemblies keep your wheels rotating freely, with stability and balanced weight. Wheel bearings and hub kits support the entire weight of your car and transfer it to the suspension as your wheels rotate. Without that weight distribution, you risk damaging your suspension and steering system.

And without proper functioning hubs and bearings, it's possible to keep control of your car and maintain precise steering.

How to Tell if Your Wheel Bearings and Hub Need Changing

Some of the common signs you might need new wheel bearings or a wheel hub include:

• Humming, grinding, or clicking noises (especially during acceleration).
• Vibrations in the steering wheel
• Loss of steering control
• The car is pulling to one side.
• Uneven tire wear.

Wheel bearings and hubs are built to last. The average lifespan of wheel bearings is between 136,000 and 160,000 km. High-quality bearings can last much longer, even beyond 400,000 km.

If you replace your wheel bearings, you should also replace the wheel hub assembly. They're integrated, so you can't really do one without the other.

The Types of Wheel Bearings and Hub Kits Available Online

The types of wheel bearings online are based on how they're constructed.

Ball bearings

Ball bearings are the most common. You'll find them on most modern vehicles. They're round metal balls usually made from high-carbon chromium steel. They're excellent for withstanding the weight and forces of a moving vehicle, but they're not suitable for withstanding heavy loads and impacts. That's why you'll only really find them on lightweight modern vehicles.

Roller bearings

A roller bearing uses a rolling element instead of a ball. The rolling element is a cylindrical metal roller that's covered by the inner and outer races. Their consistent diameter means they can spread more of the load across a wider contact area. With this design, they're far more capable of managing heavy loads and are more suited for heavy-duty vehicles.

Tapered roller bearings

Tapered roller bearings are similar in design to straight rollers, but they're designed at an angle and with tapered edges. 

That tapered edge means they can hold combined loads better than straight roller bearings. Their cone-like design also means they reduce the friction created from the axial loads during cornering. The tapered design also protects the roller bearings from the potential of grinding against other moving parts.

Ceramic or stainless steel bearings

You'll often find that wheel bearings are made using stainless steel because it's corrosion and rust-resistant, meaning it has a longer lifespan than other materials. They're also excellent for withstanding the high temperature generated from the friction and the motion of the rotating wheel.

Ceramic wheel bearings are also an excellent material and reduce the rolling resistance better than stainless steel bearings. The downside is that they're more expensive than stainless steel bearings.

We'd say stainless steel is the best option for their low cost and suitability for daily driving, whereas ceramic wheel bearings are better for performance vehicles.

The Best Wheel Bearing and Hub Kit Brands and Options

At Parts Avenue, we only supply the industry's leading original equipment-level manufacturers.

Kugel

Kugel is an excellent manufacturer of premium wheel bearings and hub kits online. Their parts are made from high-carbon AISI 52100 chromium alloy steel, the most durable and reliable on the market. The material offers improved wear resistance and the fatigue strength you need from the best wheel bearing and hub kits.

Coating the wheel bearing and hub is MolyPro NLGI grade 2 molybdenum grease, one of the most premium-quality greases on the market that effectively minimizes wear and friction.

The exclusive multi-lip seals made from ProSeal Nitrile Rubber are another excellent feature for keeping the bearing and hub functioning efficiently under high temperatures.

Although we only supply wheel bearing and hub kits from Kugel, their parts are also sold as a more comprehensive kit that can include brake drums and shoes (LINK TO PRODUCT OR PAGE), wheel cylinders, ABS sensors, and more.

How to Choose the Right Wheel Bearings and Hub Kits

Your vehicle type

A good place to start is knowing the make, model, and year of your car to find compatible parts. On the Parts Avenue website, you'll find the Fitment Check tool on every individual parts page that confirms compatibility for you when you input your car's data.

Bolt pattern and brake type

Because the wheel bolts directly onto the wheel hub assembly, you'll need to know the wheel's bolt pattern to find a replacement. You should also know whether your car has a brake disc or drum, as not all wheel hub assemblies fit all disc brakes or drums.

Again, our fitment check tool can help you, but if you've ever replaced your disc brake or drum with the original part, you might need to double-check compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wheel Bearing and Hub Kit Parts

How long do wheel bearings and hub assemblies typically last before needing replacement?

It depends on your driving style and the roads you drive on. For example, if you do a lot of cornering, the bearings can wear down quickly. On average, it's 136,000 and 160,000 km.

What are the most common signs of a failing wheel bearing or hub assembly?

The most common signs of a failing wheel bearing hub or assembly are if your steering is pulling to one side, humming or grinding noises, or vibrations in the steering wheel.

Can I replace just the wheel bearing without changing the hub assembly?

Yes, you can, but it depends on your car. It's advised to change both at the same time, as they are part of the same unit, but you can remove and service the wheel bearings if needed.

Your wheel bearings and hub assemblies are highly durable, reliable parts. But when the time comes, finding wheel bearings and hub kits online is a far more affordable option, and you don't compromise on quality.

Start your search today with Parts Avenue, the most-trusted car parts provider in Canada.