The short version
- An Acura wheel bearing is a Honda part in almost every case, and the catalog says so openly.
- 513267 is listed under the MDX, the TSX and the Honda Pilot together. 512342 covers the MDX and the Pilot.
- So the Honda listing is usually the same hub, better stocked and often cheaper.
- The detail people skip is the axle nut. Honda stakes it, and a staked nut is a single use part.
Acura is Honda’s premium division, not a separate engineering company. The suspension hardware reflects that literally rather than loosely.
Knowing which Honda you are really shopping for turns a narrow search into a wide one.
The Honda underneath
513267 appears under the Acura MDX, the Acura TSX and the Honda Pilot in the same listing.
512342 covers the MDX and the Pilot as well, so the sharing runs across both ends.
Search the number rather than the badge. The Honda equivalent is normally the larger market.
Cross referencing is on the cross reference page, and the Pilot is on its own page.
Acura wheel bearing arrangements by model
| Model | Hub type | Honda relative |
|---|---|---|
| MDX | Bolt on hub unit | Pilot |
| RDX | Bolt on hub unit | CR-V |
| TL and TSX | Bolt on hub unit | Accord |
| TLX | Bolt on, rear splits on drivetrain | Accord |
| ILX | Bolt on hub unit | Civic |
The TLX rear splits on drivetrain, cited as 512544 for front wheel drive and 512562 for all wheel drive.
The staked axle nut
Honda’s procedure stakes the axle nut into a groove on the shaft, deforming the metal so it cannot back off.
Once deformed it is weakened. Reusing one is how a correctly fitted hub still loses clamp load months later.
Buy the nut with the hub. It costs very little next to the job.
Torque figures and staking are on the torque specs page.
Super handling all wheel drive
The all wheel drive system on several of these can send torque across the rear axle rather than simply splitting it.
That is excellent for handling and it means the rear hubs see driving torque that a front wheel drive crossover never puts through them.
Watch the rear on these more than you would on an equivalent Honda. Mismatched tires make the system work constantly, and that hum sounds exactly like a bearing.
That is on the tire noise page.
Quiet cabins hide it
These are insulated better than the Honda equivalents, which is a poor combination for early detection.
Owners often arrive with a bearing that has been failing for months, simply because it took that long to become obvious.
That is on the noise page.
Diagnosing an Acura wheel bearing
- Find the Honda equivalent before you start shopping.
- Order a new axle nut with the hub.
- Measure tread depth on all four if it is all wheel drive.
- Weave at road speed and note which side loads the noise.
- Compare hub heat across each axle after a drive.
Those are on the checking page, and the make overview for Honda is on the Honda page.
Common questions
Is an Acura wheel bearing the same as a Honda part?
Very often. The catalog lists several numbers under both badges. Confirm against your own part.
Which Honda does my Acura match?
MDX to Pilot, RDX to CR-V, TL and TSX to Accord, ILX to Civic.
Do I really need a new axle nut?
Yes. It is staked into the shaft, which deforms it, and a deformed nut is a single use part.
Do I need a press?
On the modern range no. These are bolt on hub units.
Why do the rear bearings matter more here?
The all wheel drive system puts driving torque through the rear axle rather than just splitting it.
Why did I not hear it sooner?
The cabin insulation is very good, which masks early bearing noise.
Should I replace both sides?
Only what is worn.
By model
- Acura Integra Wheel Bearings: the Tuner Tax Applies wheel bearings
- Acura Legend Wheel Bearings: the Part That Outlived It wheel bearings
- Acura MDX Wheel Bearings: A Pilot Underneath wheel bearings
- Acura RDX wheel bearings
- Acura RSX Wheel Bearings and the Prelude Inheritance wheel bearings
- Acura TLX wheel bearings
- Acura TSX Wheel Bearings: A Honda Number at the Front wheel bearings