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The short version
- An Escalade wheel bearing up front uses the same numbers as the Tahoe, Suburban and GMC Yukon. The choice comes down to drivetrain.
- The 2002 to 2006 truck adds four drivetrain listings up front. It also gets a full rear axle bearing set this page never carried before.
- 515096 covers all wheel drive and four wheel drive from 2007 to 2014. Then 515160 takes over for 2015 to 2018.
- Twenty two inch wheels were standard for most of this truck’s life. That changes hub wear more than most owners expect.
From the 2002 truck to the 2018, an Escalade is mechanically a Tahoe wearing better trim. The ordering question follows the same lines as the rest of the GM full size family.
What sets this one apart is the wheel size. Big wheels were standard here for most of the truck’s life. That shapes hub wear in a way the part chart alone does not show.
The other change on this page is scope. The 2002 to 2006 truck now gets a full rear listing. It used to carry only the front numbers.
Same family, same numbers
515096 is cited for all wheel drive and four wheel drive on 2007 to 2014. 515097 covers two wheel drive for the same years. Both are bolt on hub assemblies, not press-in bearings.
From 2015 the pair becomes 515160 for four wheel drive and 515159 for two wheel drive. The Escalade EXT carries 515096 through its final year, 2013.
These are the numbers most often cited for this truck. They sit alongside the same listings used for the Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon of the same years. A shop pulling parts for one of those trucks is, mechanically, pulling parts for this one too.
The 2002 to 2006 truck: a rear axle this page never had
The 2002 to 2006 Escalade wheel bearing chart used to stop at the front. The catalogs also carry a full rear listing for that truck. It includes a bearing, a seal and a repair bearing for the housing.
That rear scope covers the Escalade, the Escalade ESV and the Escalade EXT through 2014. The rear axle design did not change when the front hub was updated for 2007.
The rear here is a bearing set inside a solid axle housing, not a bolt on hub. That difference changes what a shop actually replaces back there. It is covered on the axle bearing page.
No press required, front or rear
The front hubs are complete assemblies that bolt to the knuckle. The rear is a bearing and seal set that services inside the axle housing. Neither one presses into anything.
That keeps labor lower than a car that needs a press for the front. That job is covered in general on the press-in bearing page, for comparison.
Torque still matters even without a press. An axle nut or hub bolt run to the wrong spec shortens the life of a brand new part. That is true regardless of how easy the job was to do.
Escalade wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 to 2018 | Four wheel drive | 515160 check price |
| 2015 to 2016 | Two wheel drive | 515159 check price |
| 2007 to 2014 | All wheel drive or four wheel drive | 515096 check price |
| 2007 to 2014 | Two wheel drive | 515097 check price |
| 2007 to 2013 | Escalade EXT | 515096 check price |
| 2002 to 2006 | Front, two wheel drive, original listing | 515053 check price |
| 2002 to 2006 | Front, two wheel drive, current number | 515054 check price |
| 2002 to 2006 | Front, four wheel drive | 515036 check price |
| 2002 to 2006 | Front, all wheel drive, parallel listing | SP500300 check price |
| 2002 to 2006 | Front, rear wheel drive, parallel listing, original listing | SP550305 check price |
| 2002 to 2006 | Front, rear wheel drive, parallel listing, current number | SP450301 check price |
| 2002 to 2014 | Rear, axle bearing | 513067 check price |
| 2002 to 2014 | Rear, axle seal | 4762N check price |
| 2002 to 2014 | Rear, axle repair bearing | RP-513067 check price |
| 2002 to 2014 | Rear, parallel listing | WE60690 check price |
| 2002 to 2014 | Rear, parallel listing, seal | NS4762N check price |
Lookups run through the cross reference page.
Every model year this chart resolves: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The catalogs split the 2002 to 2006 truck by two wheel drive, four wheel drive, all wheel drive and rear wheel drive on paper. That generation is usually remembered as all wheel drive only.
Do not assume all wheel drive by default. Match the number the old part carries. Treat the two wheel drive and rear wheel drive listings as real possibilities, not catalog errors.
Large wheels and hub life
A taller wheel moves the tire contact patch further from the bearing center line. That increases the leverage working on it.
A shorter sidewall also absorbs less of a pothole. More of the impact reaches the hub directly instead of getting soaked up by the tire.
Neither effect is dramatic on its own. Together, on a truck this heavy, they add up over years rather than miles. The wheel size on this truck was already large from the factory.
The impact side of that is on the pothole page.
Aftermarket wheels, towing and getting it fixed right
A great many of these trucks run wheels larger than the factory fitted, sometimes considerably. The hub only responds to diameter, offset and how little the sidewall absorbs.
Add a loaded trailer behind a conventional hitch. Load transfers forward onto the front hubs under braking, worth remembering before a long tow.
Check the hubs more often on a truck running big aftermarket wheels or towing regularly. When a shop quotes the job, confirm the number matches what is listed here before agreeing to it. That step is covered on the quote page.
If the truck is still under its original warranty, a documented early failure is worth a call before paying out of pocket. That question is covered on the warranty page.
Diagnosing an Escalade wheel bearing
- Confirm the drivetrain before ordering a 2002 to 2006 front.
- Note the wheel size, since larger wheels change what is likely.
- Scan for wheel speed codes, because the sensor sits in the front hub.
- Weave at road speed and note which side loads the noise.
- Compare hub heat across the front axle after a drive.
Those steps 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
Which Escalade wheel bearing do I need?
Check the drivetrain first. The numbers match the Tahoe and Yukon of the same years. The 2002 to 2006 truck adds its own front and rear listings.
Does the 2002 to 2006 truck really need a rear part?
Yes. The catalogs carry a solid axle bearing, seal and repair bearing for that generation. That rear design is different from a bolt on hub.
Why does the front print four different 2002 to 2006 listings?
The catalogs split that truck by drivetrain on paper. Match the number the old part carries rather than assuming which drivetrain applies.
Can I buy a part listed for a Tahoe or Yukon?
The catalogs cite the same numbers across the family. Check the number rather than the badge.
Do big wheels really shorten hub life?
They add leverage and absorb less impact. Over years the answer is yes, especially with aftermarket wheels larger than stock.