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The short version
- A 4Runner wheel bearing at the rear is side specific. 512227 is cited for the left and 512228 for the right.
- Ordering two of the same number gets you one part you cannot fit.
- The front is the opposite extreme: 515040 is cited across 2003 to 2019, a seventeen year run on one number.
- Earlier trucks, 1996 to 2002, and a later catalog number starting in 2015 both fill in around that long run.
This vehicle manages both extremes of the ordering problem at once. One end could not be simpler and the other end catches people who thought they had it simple.
Both patterns hold across the demanded years this page tracks, 1997 through 2010, and beyond in both directions.
Coverage on this page runs from 1997 through 2010, with extra catalog numbers reaching further in both directions.
The rear is handed
512227 is cited for the left rear and 512228 for the right rear across the same year span.
Buying a pair means buying one of each, not two of one.
The Tacoma has the same arrangement. It is a Toyota truck pattern worth expecting.
A listing that shows only one rear number for this truck is incomplete. Ask which side it covers before paying for it.
The front barely changed
515040 is cited for the front from 2003 through 2019, one of the longest unbroken runs on this site.
Fitment questions at the front are rare on these trucks, and supply is good.
Earlier trucks, 1996 to 2002, use a different front number entirely, before the long 515040 run begins. Three catalogs agree closely on that earlier generation.
The rear position is an axle bearing, not a hub
The 4Runner runs a solid rear axle. The bearing sits inside the axle tube rather than as a separate bolt on hub.
It is still handed and still a serviceable part on its own, so the search terms differ from a hub assembly listing.
The general distinction is on the axle bearing versus wheel bearing page.
A rear hub assembly listing aimed at an independent suspension truck will not match this position. Search by the axle bearing terms instead.
4Runner wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 to 2020 | Front, parallel BCA numbering | WE60804 check price |
| 2003 to 2019 | Front | 515040 check price |
| 2003 to 2009 | Front, parallel National numbering, seal inner | 710573 check price |
| 2003 to 2009 | Front, parallel National numbering, seal outer | 710477 check price |
| 2003 to 2020 | Rear axle bearing, left, BCA numbering | WE60818 check price |
| 2003 to 2020 | Rear axle bearing, right, BCA numbering | WE60817 check price |
| 2003 to 2019 | Rear, left | 512227 check price |
| 2003 to 2019 | Rear, right | 512228 check price |
| 2003 to 2015 | Rear axle seal, BCA numbering | NS225875 check price |
| 2003 to 2008 | Rear axle bearing, left, parallel Timken numbering | HA594246 check price |
| 2003 to 2008 | Rear axle bearing, right, parallel Timken numbering | HA590050 check price |
| 2001 to 2002 | Rear axle bearing, parallel Timken numbering | 511031 check price |
| 2001 to 2002 | Rear axle bearing, seal outer, parallel Timken numbering | SL260003 check price |
| 2001 to 2002 | Rear axle bearing, BCA numbering | WE60714 check price |
| 2001 to 2002 | Rear axle seal, BCA numbering, inner | NS710649 check price |
| 2001 to 2002 | Rear axle seal, BCA numbering, outer | NS710574 check price |
| 1996 to 2002 | Front, parallel National numbering, seal inner | 710570 check price |
| 1996 to 2002 | Front, parallel National numbering, bearing | 517011 check price |
| 1996 to 2002 | Front, parallel National numbering, seal outer | 710571 check price |
| 1996 to 2002 | Front, parallel Timken numbering | SET29 check price |
| 1996 to 2002 | Front, BCA numbering, seal inner | NS710570 check price |
| 1996 to 2002 | Front, BCA numbering, seal outer | NS710571 check price |
| 1996 to 2000 | Rear axle bearing, 4 wheel ABS, BCA numbering | NB511021 check price |
| 1995 to 2000 | Rear axle bearing, non ABS, BCA numbering | NBRW130R check price |
| 1995 to 2000 | Rear axle seal, BCA numbering, inner | NS1960 check price |
| 1995 to 2000 | Rear axle seal, BCA numbering, outer | NS1956 check price |
| 1990 to 2002 | Rear axle bearing, seal inner, parallel Timken numbering | 1960 check price |
| 1990 to 2000 | Rear axle bearing, seal outer, parallel Timken numbering | 1956S check price |
| 1990 to 2000 | Rear axle bearing, ABS, parallel Timken numbering | 511021 check price |
| 1990 to 2000 | Rear axle bearing, non ABS, parallel Timken numbering | RW130R check price |
Every model year this chart resolves: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
515040 is cited at the front all the way through 2019, kept unchanged on this page. A separate catalog lists a different front number, WE60804, starting exactly at the 2015 refresh.
That may be a parallel listing for the same physical part, or it may mean the front changed in 2015. A 2015 or newer front is worth a second look against the VIN before ordering either number.
Cross referencing is on the cross reference page.
What off road use does
These get driven where water sits, and water is what kills a sealed bearing. A fording depth the vehicle handles easily is still a depth the seals were never designed for.
Deep water, then a long soak in a cold hub, draws moisture past the seal as everything contracts. That is a known path to early failure.
Lift kits and larger tires
Both are common on these trucks, and both change what the hub carries. A taller tire is a longer lever, and more offset moves the load further from the bearing center.
None of that is a reason to avoid the modification. It is a reason to check the hubs more often afterward.
A stock truck and a heavily modified one wear the same part differently. The number does not change, but how often it needs checking does.
Diagnosing a 4Runner wheel bearing
- Note which side you need at the rear before ordering.
- Ask about deep water, because it explains sudden failures.
- Weave at road speed and note the loaded side.
- Rock the wheel at twelve and six, allowing for the weight.
- Compare hub heat across each axle after a drive.
Those are on the checking page and the tire noise page.
Price links lead to Amazon searches for that number. As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases.
Common questions
Is the 4Runner wheel bearing side specific?
At the rear yes. 512227 is cited for the left and 512228 for the right.
What if I ordered two of the same?
One of them will not fit. Order one of each for a pair.
Does the front really use one number that long?
515040 is cited from 2003 through 2019. A separate number, WE60804, appears from 2015, so confirm a newer truck against the VIN.
Does fording water hurt them?
Yes. Seals are designed for splash, not submersion followed by cooling.
Do I need a press?
Not at the front. Check your own rear setup before assuming.