Front wheel bearing hub assembly choice

[dfox52]

Looking at new wheel bearings for my 2013 XLT and am seeing some brands (Moog for instance) list two different part numbers: one for steel wheels (512460) and one for aluminum wheels (512641). Searching through the specs I cannot find anything that shows what the difference is. Some brands list their same part for "front or rear" with no mention of wheel material, but a few brands list a separate part number for "aluminum wheels." Does anyone know what the deal is on these and why some manufacturers show a different part for aluminum wheels?

 

[JohnelP]

try parts.ford.com. use the search with VIN. sometimes their prices are better than generic stores. I was able to get the front wheel bearing for 70$ few month ago ordered at ford , and picked up from the dealer. Autozone, Advanced, oReilly were all at 150$. Now i see the prices are up again... not sure where you are looking, but, i cannot see the steel vs aluminum you mention. wheel hub with the bearing is steel, the knuckle where you press the hub in is aluminum.

 

[dfox52]

try parts.ford.com. use the search with VIN. sometimes their prices are better than generic stores. I was able to get the front wheel bearing for 70$ few month ago ordered at ford , and picked up from the dealer. Autozone, Advanced, oReilly were all at 150$. Now i see the prices are up again... not sure where you are looking, but, i cannot see the steel vs aluminum you mention. wheel hub with the bearing is steel, the knuckle where you press the hub in is aluminum.

I'm looking at Rock Auto, Amazon, Moog web site, they all list a separate front hub assembly for "aluminum wheels" but only on certain brands. Other brands like Timken, SKF, *** have the correct bearing but make no distinction for aluminum wheels. I just wondered why some brands would offer a separate hub assembly for "aluminum wheels."

 

[JohnelP]

i see what you mean. they look slightly different. not sure the real differences. description varies from one to another even if it is the same part. do you plan to do it yourself? if not, make sure you find a shop willing to install a part sourced by you. not many do that. they should help you get the correct part. looking at the prices, excluding the economy ones, i doubt you will go wrong with any of those

 

[dfox52]

i see what you mean. they look slightly different. not sure the real differences. description varies from one to another even if it is the same part. do you plan to do it yourself? if not, make sure you find a shop willing to install a part sourced by you. not many do that. they should help you get the correct part. looking at the prices, excluding the economy ones, i doubt you will go wrong with any of those

Ya I do have aluminum wheels. So I think I'll just get Timken or SKF and buy from Amazon or someplace else where returns are easy... just in case.

 

[peterk9]

try parts.ford.com. use the search with VIN. sometimes their prices are better than generic stores. I was able to get the front wheel bearing for 70$ few month ago ordered at ford , and picked up from the dealer. Autozone, Advanced, oReilly were all at 150$. Now i see the prices are up again... not sure where you are looking, but, i cannot see the steel vs aluminum you mention. wheel hub with the bearing is steel, the knuckle where you press the hub in is aluminum.

I've found the Ford parts website to be the most expensive. For example, on part BB5Z-1104-A there is a difference of $95.09
Levittown Ford is a forum vendor and offers a discount to members. Tasca is another lower cost supplier.

https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/brakes/drums-rotors-and-hubs/hub-assy-wheel-6386881-1#/partMatched?pdp=y

Original 2011-2019 Ford Hub & Bearing Assembly BB5Z-1104-A | Levittown Ford Parts

2011-2019 Ford part # BB5Z-1104-A - Hub & Bearing Assembly

parts.levittownfordparts.com

Peter

 

[mguy13sport]

Pretty sure only Police units have steel wheels however all civilian units have a steel spare tire (donut) so I'm not sure what could be different other than strength possibly.

 

[JohnelP]

I've found the Ford parts website to be the most expensive. For example, on part BB5Z-1104-A there is a difference of $95.09
Levittown Ford is a forum vendor and offers a discount to members. Tasca is another lower cost supplier.

https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/brakes/drums-rotors-and-hubs/hub-assy-wheel-6386881-1#/partMatched?pdp=y

Original 2011-2019 Ford Hub & Bearing Assembly BB5Z-1104-A | Levittown Ford Parts

2011-2019 Ford part # BB5Z-1104-A - Hub & Bearing Assembly

parts.levittownfordparts.com

Peter

I meant this part. Indeed, I see there are two listings on the wheel bearing hub, one with MSRP 171$
Part #: HUB376 (1104)

https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/transmission/powertrain-engine-parts/hub-assy-wheel-7838249-1?pdp=y

and a second one like you mentioned
Part #: HUB87 (1104)
Has the MSRP 271$
=============================================.
Anyway, I got the part with 70$ while the MSRP was 90$. It was on April 14 2022. A.k.a 3 months ago.
Put a picture to believe me.

It is still hard for me to swallow the part price in April was MSRP 90$ and now it is 171$ for the same part. Keeping politics aside, still, double the price, c'mon...
Given now a ford Fiesta with a slightly raised suspension starts at 22k $ ( I mean the renamed Fiesta to Ecosport), i should have seen that coming