Wheel Bearing Replacement Cost: Front, Rear and Labor Hours

Your shop says a wheel bearing is going, and your wheel bearing replacement cost arrives as a price for one corner of the car. The bearing can be the cheap part: how your car holds it, bolted on or pressed in, is where the shop's time goes.

What the quote won't show you is the carmaker's own time for the job. The Ram's rear bearing starts at $8.88, less than one shop hour at $120 to $159.

The bulletins we read give their dealers from 0.7 hours for one rear wheel to 2.9 hours for both fronts. Below you'll find the parts and labor by car, the extras on the bill, why new bearings fail again and how to check your quote.

How much does it cost to replace a wheel bearing?

On the Accord, F-150 4WD and Ram 1500 we priced, the bearing or hub alone runs $8.88 to $248 a wheel. Labor comes on top, and both the part and the hours depend on the bearing's design.

Front and rear can differ more than you'd expect. All three cars we priced use one design at the front and another at the back, so the box lists them separately.

Labor is the hours times the shop's rate. In a 2025 survey of US shops, almost half charged between $120 and $159 an hour.

Where a carmaker bulletin prints the time for the same car, we multiplied it out. The table shows labor alone, with no parts in it.

Read those hours as warranty times, what a carmaker pays its own dealers on the bulletin's models and build dates. Your independent shop prices from its own labor guide, so use the table as a yardstick, not a promise.

Put the two together for one car, and you get a whole-job figure. A 2015 Subaru Forester's front hub runs $51 to $138 for the part, and Subaru's 0.8 hours, which includes a noise test, adds $96 to $127 in labor, so one front wheel comes to about $147 to $265, parts and labor.

We found no carmaker time for this job on the Accord, F-150 or Ram 1500. There, your labor line is the shop's hours at the same rate, so first ask which kind of bearing your car has.

Bulletin labor times5 documents

• 2014 to 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, Forester, Impreza0.8 hours for one front hub and 1.2 hours for both, "INCLUDES noise testing," Subaru bulletin 05-76-20, August 2020, page 2.
• 2014 to 2018 Subaru Forester and other models1.0 hours for one rear backing plate and hub, 1.5 hours for both, Subaru bulletin 05-70-19R, revised December 2020, page 2.
• 2013 to 2014 Chevrolet Malibu and Impala (VIN 1)"Replace Wheel Bearing and Install Both Deflectors," 1.0 hour on the Malibu and 1.1 hours on the Impala, GM bulletin 16-NA-348, March 2017, page 2.
• 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, built January 19, 2013 to February 21, 2014, with 18 or 20-inch alloy wheelsFor a steering-wheel vibration at 65 to 80 mph, 2.0 hours to "Road Test Vehicle, Balance Tires, And Replace Both Front Hubs," plus 0.6 hours for 4x4 or AWD, FCA bulletin 22-003-14 Rev. A, October 2014, pages 1 and 3.
• 2022 Chrysler Pacifica, built November 17, 2021 to March 4, 20221.0 hours for one front wheel bearing and 1.4 hours for two, FCA bulletin 02-005-22, April 2022, page 2.

Is it really the wheel bearing?

Not always, so make sure before you pay for one. Carmakers' bulletins describe a worn wheel bearing as a hum, growl or roar that grows louder as you speed up.

The noise can also travel. GM found a front bearing's noise amplified in the transmission, so it told dealers to replace the bearings before removing a transmission.

A little grease on the hub isn't proof either. For some Ram pickups, FCA told dealers not to replace a bearing that only seeps grease unless there's visible damage.

Our bad wheel bearing guide covers each sign, how to find the corner and when to stop driving. If you're unsure which wheel it is, start there before you book the repair.

Signs in bulletins4 documents

• 2025 Chevrolet EquinoxThe noise is often "the front wheel bearings making noise and the noise being amplified in the transmission," GM preliminary information PIT6272, October 2024, page 1.
• 2014 to 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, Forester, Impreza"A growling -type sound may become audible when vehicle speed exceeds 25 MPH," Subaru bulletin 05-76-20, August 2020, page 1.
• 2015 to 2017 Ram 1500 and 2500For front hubs "appearing to leak grease," dealers are told to "proceed with repair, but do not replace bearing(s) unless there is visible damage," FCA bulletin 9003805, October 2017, as summarized in NHTSA's bulletin index (no document filed to open).
• Genesis modelsNoise "which gets louder when driving with more speed," Genesis bulletin 24-DS-003G, August 2024, page 1.

Bolt-on hub or press-in bearing?

Wheel bearings come in two broad designs, and the design changes the work involved. In a bolt-on hub, the hub and bearing are sealed as one unit that bolts to the steering knuckle, the part the wheel turns on.

The bulletins we read show three or four mounting bolts holding a bolt-on hub. Undo them, and the whole unit comes off in one piece.

A press-in bearing is a bare cartridge pressed into the knuckle and held by a retaining clip, with the hub pressed through the bearing. To change it, the shop presses the old cartridge out and a new one in.

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SKF, a bearing maker, says the bolt-on designs are held by their flange instead of a tight fit. That tight fit is where a press-in job's extra work goes.

Schaeffler, which makes FAG bearings, says a special tool lets the shop press the bearing with the knuckle still on the car. If the knuckle comes off instead, ask whether your quote includes an alignment.

We found no carmaker document that puts a press-in time beside a bolt-on time for one car, so we can't give you a multiple. A knuckle assembly comes with the bearing and hub already pressed in, so the shop presses nothing, but the part costs more, as the box above shows.

Hub design by car6 cars

• 2010 Honda AccordA bare press-in bearing at the front and a hub assembly at the rear, by the part types in RockAuto's listings.
• 2016 Ram 1500The front is sold as a hub assembly and the rear as a bearing on the axle shaft, by the part types in RockAuto's listings. No Ram document we read says how the front mounts.
• 2018 Ford F-150A hub assembly at the front and a bearing on the rear axle shaft, by the part types in RockAuto's listings.
• 2022 Chrysler PacificaBolt-on front hub: "the four knuckle to hub bearing mounting bolts," FCA bulletin 02-005-22, April 2022, page 2.
• 2022 Dodge DurangoBolt-on front hub: "the front three hub bearing mounting bolts," FCA bulletin 02-002-23, February 2023, page 2.
• 2025 Ford EscapeFront bearing in the knuckle's bore: it sits in "the bearing bore of the front wheel knuckle," Ford special service message (SSM) 53608, page 1.

How long does it take to replace a wheel bearing?

The carmaker bulletins we read give their dealers 0.7 to 1.6 hours for one wheel and 0.9 to 2.9 hours for both on one axle. Some of those times include a road test, a noise test or an alignment.

Does four-wheel drive cost more? In the one hub-replacement bulletin we read that prices it separately, yes: in a 2014 Grand Cherokee vibration repair, FCA adds 0.6 hours for 4x4 or AWD to the time for both front hubs, which is $72 to $95 in labor at $120 to $159 an hour.

A truck's rear axle can be a different job. For 2021 and 2022 F-150s with the 9.75-inch heavy-duty three-quarter-float axle only, Ford allows 1.0 hour to inspect the axle bolts and replace both rear axle and hub assemblies, which is $120 to $159 in labor.

The second side never doubled the time: both sides took about 1.4 to 1.8 times as long as one. The bulletins don't say why, though by then the car is already in the air and the tools are out.

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None of them makes pairs a rule for every car, and GM says plainly the bearings can be replaced one at a time. Some replace both for their own condition, such as a vibration or a recall, and one minivan bulletin requires the front hubs in pairs.

One-side and both-side times8 documents

• 2023 to 2024 Jeep Compass, Commander, 2024 Renegade0.7 hours for the right rear wheel bearing, FCA bulletin 17-001-24, January 2024, page 1.
• 2015 to 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback, 2015 to 2019 WRX0.8 hours for one front or rear hub unit, 1.2 hours for both fronts and 1.1 hours for both rears, Subaru bulletin 05-67-19, January 2019, page 2.
• 2022 and 2023 Chrysler Pacifica, built November 2022 to April 20230.8 hours for one front hub and 1.2 hours for both, FCA bulletin 02-001-23, January 2023, page 1.
• 2025 Chevrolet Equinox1.6 hours for one front wheel bearing and hub, 2.9 hours for both, and "the wheel bearings can be replaced one at a time," GM PIT6272, October 2024, pages 1 and 2.
• 2023 Nissan Kicks2.2 hours to replace both front hubs, and the "labor operation time includes a 4-wheel alignment," Nissan bulletin NTB24-001, January 2024, page 4.
• 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier 2WD, Xterra0.9 hours to "Replace Both Wheel Hub and Bearing Assemblies," Nissan recall bulletin NTB12-080a (recall 12V-462), October 2012, page 7.
• 2021 to 2022 Ford F-150 with the 9.75-inch heavy-duty 3/4-float axle1.0 hours to inspect for a broken axle bolt and, if one is broken, "replace both rear axle and hub assemblies," Ford program 22B34, February 2023, page 6.
• 2009 to 2010 Volkswagen Routan"Front wheel bearing hub assemblies must be ordered and replaced in pairs!" Volkswagen bulletin 40 12 03, July 2012, page 1.

What else can end up on a wheel bearing bill?

A wheel bearing quote can carry more than the bearing, and each extra has a written reason from a carmaker or a bearing maker. Here they're in the order a shop meets them, and each one adds to your wheel bearing replacement cost:

1. Axle nut

On a driven wheel, a large nut on the end of the axle clamps the bearing together. Timken, a bearing maker, calls a loss of that clamping, such as a nut that has backed off, the leading cause of hub bearing damage.

So Timken says to always fit a new axle nut and torque it to the carmaker's figure. Kia went further on one model, replacing both nuts with a thicker design during the bearing repair.

2. Knuckle or axle housing

On a press-in car, the bearing sits in a bore in the knuckle, and that bore has to hold it tight. Schaeffler says dark patches across the bearing seat mean it has worn oval, and if in doubt, replace the whole knuckle.

Ford traced a loose front bearing on one SUV to how the knuckle's bearing bore was machined. Its fix was a new knuckle and bearing together, so a knuckle line on your press-in quote isn't automatically padding.

On a pickup's rear axle, the bearing sits in the axle housing instead of a knuckle. Ford fixed a rear click on some pickups with a new axle housing, after finding the click may come from a bearing bore that wasn't machined.

3. Backing plate or dust shields

A thin steel plate or shield sits behind the brake, and on some cars it decides how long a new bearing lasts. Subaru found an uneven rear backing plate could pull the hub out of round, so it replaces the plate and hub as a set.

GM wants a dust shield, which it also calls a deflector, fitted on both sides each time one rear bearing is replaced on some sedans. If your car has a bulletin like these, the part belongs on your quote, and leaving it off can mean doing the job twice.

4. Alignment

An alignment sets the angles of the wheels, and a bearing job that disturbs the suspension may need one. Schaeffler says no alignment is needed when the bearing is pressed with the knuckle left on the car.

Some carmakers build it into the time: Nissan's time for both front hubs on one small SUV includes a four-wheel alignment. So ask whether your quote has one, and why.

5. ABS sensor

A hub can carry the ring the ABS wheel-speed sensor reads, so a hub problem can show up as an ABS or stability light. In one pickup recall, damaged sensor rings were enough for the carmaker to inspect the front hubs and replace them where needed.

Timken says a new hub unit can come with the sensor wire already attached. If the light stays on after the new hub, our guide to testing a wheel speed sensor covers the next check.

Extras the documents name8 documents

• Axle nut"Loss of bearing retention is the leading cause of hub bearing damage"; "Always use a new axle retaining nut," Timken LV7, page 1.
• 2014 Kia Forte, built February 18, 2013 to February 5, 2014Front hub bearing and both castle nuts; "the improved castle nut collar is thicker," 1.4 hours, Kia bulletin CHA 082, December 2017, pages 1 and 3.
• Knuckle boreDark patches in the bearing seat indicate "oval forming"; if in doubt, replace the steering knuckle, Schaeffler FAG wheel bearing brochure, page 27.
• 2025 Ford EscapeA loose front bearing from "the machining of the bearing bore of the front wheel knuckle"; replace the knuckle and the bearing, Ford SSM 53608, page 1.
• 2019 Ford F-150, built March 1 to October 31, 2019A left-rear click "may be caused by a wheel bearing bore surface that is not machined"; the fix is a new rear axle housing, Ford SSM 48493, page 1.
• 2014 to 2018 Subaru Forester, 2012 to 2019 Impreza, 2013 to 2019 Crosstrek"The backing plate and hub / bearing assembly must be replaced AS A SET," Subaru bulletin 05-70-19R, page 1.
• 2013 to 2014 Buick LaCrosse, Regal, Chevrolet Impala (VIN 1), MalibuA dust shield "for that side and the opposite side as well" every time a rear bearing is replaced, GM bulletin 16-NA-348, March 2017, page 1.
• AlignmentWith the special tool, "the steering knuckle does not have to be removed, which also means axle alignment is not required," Schaeffler FAG wheel bearing brochure, page 28.
• 2025 Ram 1500Front hub encoder rings "may have been damaged prior to assembly"; inspect and "if necessary, replace the front wheel bearing hub assembly," recall 24V-794, 33,777 trucks.

Why does a new wheel bearing fail again?

A new wheel bearing can fail again because whatever wore out the first one is still on the car. The documents we read point to four things beside the bearing that can wear out a new one:

• An axle nut that has lost its clampTimken calls lost clamping the leading cause of hub bearing damage.
• A backing plate that's out of trueSubaru replaces the plate and the hub as a set.
• A missing dust shieldGM wants one on both sides each time a rear bearing is replaced on some sedans.
• A bore that doesn't hold the bearing tightFord's fixes were a new knuckle on one SUV and a new axle housing on some pickups.

Replacing the bearing and leaving the cause is paying twice for the same noise. So before the job, ask whether a bulletin covers your car and whether the quote includes the part it names.

Impact is a cause Nissan's warranty won't pay for. Nissan tells its dealers a collision or other suspension damage can leave dents too small to see in the bearing surfaces, and those dents can make noise.

Will a recall or warranty pay for a wheel bearing?

Outside the new-car warranty, a wheel bearing is your bill unless a recall or a carmaker program covers it. Nissan, for one, tells its dealers that damage from an impact isn't a warranty repair.

The two extended programs we found for hubs have ended. A safety recall is different, because the carmaker's dealers fix it free, so find your VIN and check it on NHTSA's recall lookup before you pay.

Recalls and programs6 documents

• 2025 Ram 1500Recall 24V-794, 33,777 trucks: front hub sensor rings damaged in handling; inspect and replace the hub as necessary.
• 2019 Toyota C-HRRecall 18V-710, 681 cars: the rear axle hub bearing bolts may loosen.
• 2012 Nissan Frontier 2WD, Pathfinder, XterraRecall 12V-462, 2,417 vehicles: hubs below hardness specification; both hub and bearing assemblies replaced.
• 2021 to 2022 Ford F-150 with the 9.75-inch heavy-duty axleProgram 22B34 for a loose rear hub bolt, "in effect through February 28, 2024," Ford, page 1. Ended.
• 2017 to 2018 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, plus the 2017 Chevrolet SuburbanProgram 17456 for a loose rear hub nut, "in effect until February 29, 2020," GM, page 1. Ended.
• Impact damage"Hub/bearing replacement due to impact (collision or other suspension damage) is not a warrantable repair," Nissan bulletin NTB10-126C, February 2023, page 1.

How do you check a wheel bearing quote?

A quote is easier to judge once you can put a number beside each line. Work through the 6 steps below to check a wheel bearing quote, in order, before you say yes:

1. Check for a recall. Put your VIN into NHTSA's recall lookup, because a recalled hub is fixed free.
2. Ask which design your car has. A press-in bearing has to be pressed out of the knuckle and a new one pressed in, which a bolt-on hub doesn't need.
3. Ask for the hours and the rate separately. Compare the hours with the carmaker times above: 0.7 to 1.6 hours for one wheel in the bulletins we read.
4. Ask whether a bulletin covers your car. If it names a backing plate, dust shields or new nuts, they belong on the quote.
5. Ask whether the axle nut is new. Timken says always fit a new one, torqued to the carmaker's figure.
6. Ask whether an alignment is included, and why. Schaeffler says it isn't needed when the knuckle stays on the car, and Nissan includes one in its time on one SUV.

Each step can stall, so here's what to do when a quote check hits a wall:

• No recall on your VINA carmaker program can still apply, so ask a dealer whether one covers your VIN.
• The shop can't say which designAsk for the part type on the quote: a hub assembly usually unbolts, and a bare bearing is pressed in.
• No published time for your carThe Accord, F-150 and Ram 1500 have none, so ask to see the shop's labor guide hours; our page on reading a repair estimate shows where they sit.
• No bulletin for your carOur documents stop there, so judge each extra by the reasons in the section above.
• The shop reuses the old nutTimken says always fit a new one, so ask why.

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Common questions

Asked most often

Is replacing a wheel bearing a big job?

Not usually: the carmaker times we read run 0.7 to 1.6 hours for one wheel, labor only. A press-in bearing adds work, because the old one has to be pressed out of the knuckle and the new one pressed in.

Is it OK to drive with a bad wheel bearing?

For a short while, if it only hums: a faint hum is a reason to get quotes soon. Grinding, play in the wheel or jerky steering is a reason to stop, and our bad wheel bearing guide sets out each stage.

Should both wheel bearings be replaced at the same time?

No, not as a rule: GM says the bearings can be replaced one at a time, and most bulletins we read print a one-side time. Some replace both for their own condition, and one minivan bulletin requires the front hubs in pairs.

Is a front wheel bearing more expensive than a rear one?

It depends on which end carries the hub. On the Accord the rear hub costs more than the bare front bearing, while on the F-150 and Ram 1500 the front hub costs more than the rear axle bearing.

Can I replace a wheel bearing myself?

Yes, with the right tools: a bolt-on hub needs common tools plus a torque wrench, because the axle nut and hub bolts have set torques. A press-in bearing also needs a press or a special tool to push the old cartridge out and the new one in.

Does warranty cover a wheel bearing?

Sometimes: the new-car warranty can, though Nissan, for one, doesn't cover damage from an impact such as a collision or other suspension damage. The two extended programs we found for hubs have ended, so check for an open recall instead.

Prices are ranges compiled in October 2026 for the US market and vary by region, engine and shop rate. Prices from $10 up are rounded to the nearest dollar, so $14.13 reads as $14 and $14.52 as $15. Below $10 they're exact. This article is general information, not advice about your specific vehicle. See the disclaimer.