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The short version
- 2000 Buick Century wheel bearing numbers are simple for that year: 513121 front, 512151 rear. Both hold from 1997 through most of the run.
- 2003 changes the front. ABS fronts move to 513179, and non-ABS fronts need the VIN between two candidates, 513203 or 513160.
- The rear waits one more year to change. 512151 holds through 2003, then 512237 takes over for ABS cars in 2004 and 2005.
- Two changeover years, one apiece for front and rear. Neither lines up with the other.
Buick sold the Century from 1997 through 2005 on one body, and the wheel bearing lineup changes twice on two different schedules. A 2000 Buick Century wheel bearing order is easy: 513121 front, 512151 rear. Later years split by ABS and shift on their own clock.
2000 Buick Century wheel bearing numbers at a glance
Front: 513121 through 2002, then 513179 for ABS or a VIN check for non-ABS from 2003.
Rear: 512151 through 2003, then 512237 for ABS from 2004. Non-ABS rear is 512221 from 2003.
Buick Century wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 to 2005 | Rear, ABS | 512237 check price |
| 2003 to 2005 | Rear, without ABS | 512221 check price |
| 2003 to 2005 | Front, without ABS | 513203 check price |
| 2003 | Front, without ABS, parallel listing | 513160 check price |
| 2003 to 2005 | Front, ABS | 513179 check price |
| 1997 to 2003 | Rear, ABS | 512151 check price |
| 1997 to 2002 | Front | 513121 check price |
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Lookups run through the cross reference page.
This page covers the 1997 to 2005 Buick Century: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005. Other years live on the main Buick Century wheel bearing page.
2003 is a changeover year at both ends, but not on the same clock. The front changes for 2003, and the rear waits until 2004.
Non-ABS fronts from 2003 to 2005 need the VIN. Two candidate numbers exist, 513203 and 513160, and neither is a safe guess without it.
Year by year
1997 through 2002 is the simplest stretch: 513121 front, 512151 rear, no ABS split needed. A 2000 Buick Century wheel bearing falls right in the middle of that run.
2003 is the front’s changeover year. ABS cars move to 513179, non-ABS cars need the VIN, and the rear still holds at 512151 for one more year.
2004 and 2005 bring the rear’s own change: 512237 for ABS, 512221 for non-ABS. Front numbers from 2003 carry through both years unchanged.
One long Century run, two changeover years
The Century ran one body for the full nine years, which is why the two changeovers stand out. The front and rear simply do not share a changeover year in the catalogs.
ABS and non-ABS cars exist side by side for the whole run. A warning light is one way to tell which system is on a given car.
Diagnosing a Buick Century wheel bearing
- Confirm ABS first. ABS and non-ABS cars split at both changeover points. Check for the sensor before ordering anything.
- Run the VIN on non-ABS fronts from 2003 on. Two numbers exist, 513203 and 513160, and only the VIN or the old part sorts them. A hub with an ABS sensor looks different from a plain one.
- Listen for a hum. A worn bearing hums or growls, louder with speed. See the wheel bearing noise page for the pattern.
- Check for play. Lift the wheel and rock it at 12 and 6 o’clock. How to check a wheel bearing covers the full test.
- Match front and rear to their own changeover years. The front changes at 2003, the rear at 2004. Ordering both from the same year assumption is the most common mistake here.
Common questions
What wheel bearing does a 2000 Buick Century use?
A 2000 Buick Century wheel bearing is 513121 up front and 512151 in back. No ABS split applies yet in this year.
What wheel bearing does a 2004 Buick Century use?
ABS front is 513179 and ABS rear is 512237. Non-ABS cars take 513203 or 513160 up front, confirmed by VIN, and 512221 in back.
Why does the Buick Century wheel bearing change in 2003 and again in 2004?
The front changes for 2003 and the rear waits until 2004. The two changeovers simply land a year apart in the catalogs.
How do I know which non-ABS front wheel bearing a Century needs?
Check the VIN or match the old part. Both 513203 and 513160 are documented for the same non-ABS years.
Does the Buick Century wheel bearing split by ABS before 2003?
No. 1997 to 2002 uses one front number and one rear number regardless of ABS.