Home › Vehicles › Ford › Explorer › 1995-2001 Ford Explorer Wheel Bearing Part Numbers
The short version
- 1995-2001 Ford Explorer front: tapered set SET5 inner, SET2 outer, seal 9150S. That is the 2000 Explorer wheel bearing answer too.
- Rear axle bearing: cylindrical 6408 with seal 8835S, same across the whole run.
- 2WD and 4WD share the identical front tapered set on this generation.
- This is a serviceable design. Repacking and preload matter here, unlike later Explorers.
This page covers the 1995 through 2001 Ford Explorer, the compact-frame body that kept serviceable tapered bearings up front to the very end. The 2000 Explorer wheel bearing question, like every year in this range, has one answer front and back.
1995-2001 Explorer wheel bearing numbers
Both ends carry the same numbers for all seven model years in this generation.
The 2000 Explorer wheel bearing, like any other year here, uses this exact set.
1995-2001 Ford Explorer wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1995-2001 | Front tapered set, inner | SET5 check price |
| 1995-2001 | Front tapered set, outer | SET2 check price |
| 1995-2001 | Front seal | 9150S check price |
| 1995-2001 | Rear axle bearing | 6408 check price |
| 1995-2001 | Rear axle seal | 8835S check price |
Price links lead to Amazon searches for that number. As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases.
Lookups run through the cross reference page.
This page covers the 1995-2001 Ford Explorer: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001. Other years live on the main Explorer wheel bearing page.
This generation uses serviceable tapered bearings, not sealed cartridge hubs. That means repacking and setting preload by hand, a step that does not exist on the bolt-on hubs used from 2002 onward.
Treating a 2000 Explorer wheel bearing job like a simple hub swap is the common mistake. Check the repacking guide and the preload and end play reference before reassembly.
Year by year
Every model year from 1995 through 2001 uses the same front tapered set and the same rear axle bearing. There is no year-specific split to track on this generation. The 2000 Explorer wheel bearing question, and the same question for any year in this run, has one answer: SET5 and SET2 up front, 6408 in back.
4WD Explorers with automatic locking hubs use the identical bearing sets as 2WD trucks. The hub mechanism changes; the bearing underneath it does not.
Where this generation sits in the Explorer’s history
This body style ran on a compact pickup frame and shared its front bearing hardware with the Ranger of the same years. The redesign for 2002 dropped the tapered bearings entirely in favor of bolt-on hubs, documented on the 2002-2005 Explorer wheel bearing page.
Anyone comparing parts between a 2001 truck and a 2002 truck is comparing two different bearing systems. It is not a running change inside one design.
Diagnosing a 1995-2001 Ford Explorer wheel bearing
- Jack up the corner. With the tire off the ground, rock the wheel at 12 and 6 o’clock. Play in a tapered set means it needs repacking or replacing.
- Listen for a hum. A worn front or rear bearing hums or growls with road speed. Use the wheel bearing check guide to confirm before removing anything.
- Rule out the tire. Cup-worn tires make a similar noise. A quick corner-swap test separates a tire issue from a bearing.
- Check the drive type. 4WD and 2WD share the same bearing sets on this generation. See the drive type reference for why the hub hardware around them differs.
- Set preload correctly. A tapered set installed too tight or too loose fails early no matter how new the parts are. Follow the torque and rotation sequence exactly.
Common questions
What is the 2000 Explorer wheel bearing part number?
The 2000 Explorer wheel bearing part numbers are SET5 and SET2 up front with seal 9150S, and 6408 with seal 8835S in the rear axle.
What wheel bearing fits a 1997 Ford Explorer?
A 1997 Ford Explorer takes the identical front tapered set, SET5 and SET2, and the same rear axle bearing 6408 as every other year in this generation.
Does the 4WD Explorer use a different bearing than the 2WD?
No. Both drive types share the same front tapered set and rear axle bearing on this generation. The difference sits in the locking hub hardware, not the bearing itself.
Can these bearings be repacked instead of replaced?
Yes, and that is the point of a serviceable tapered set. Clean, inspect, repack with fresh grease, and set preload correctly rather than replacing a set that still measures within spec.
When did Ford switch away from this bearing design?
The 2002 redesign replaced the tapered front set with a bolt-on hub. That ended the repack routine used since this generation began in 1995.