Home › Vehicles › Chevy › Malibu › 1997-2003 Chevy Malibu Wheel Bearing Part Numbers
The short version
- 2000 Malibu wheel bearing numbers: front hub 513137 for the whole 1997-2003 run, and rear hub 512003 for cars built through the 2000 model year.
- 2001 through 2003 cars switch to a different rear hub, 512152, with nothing on the outside of the car to signal the change.
- The front hub, 513137, never changes across all seven model years covered here.
- A 2000 Malibu and a 2001 Malibu look identical but need different rear parts, so match the number on the old part or confirm the model year.
This page covers the 1997 through 2003 Chevy Malibu, the first modern Malibu built on GM’s midsize front-wheel-drive platform. A 2000 Malibu wheel bearing order splits cleanly by model year at the rear, even though nothing about the sheet metal announces it.
Malibu wheel bearing numbers at a glance
Front hub: 513137, unchanged across 1997-2003.
Rear hub: 512003 through the 2000 model year, then 512152 from 2001 on.
1997-2003 Chevy Malibu wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2001-2003 | Rear hub | 512152 check price |
| 1997-2003 | Front hub | 513137 check price |
| 1997-2000 | Rear hub | 512003 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 1997-2003 Chevy Malibu: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. Other years live on the main Malibu wheel bearing page.
The rear hub changes number at the 2001 model year, but nothing on the car marks the change. A 2000 Malibu and a 2001 Malibu share the same body and trim badges.
Confirm the model year before ordering the rear hub, or match the number stamped on the part being replaced.
Year by year
1997 through 2000 Malibus share one rear number, 512003, alongside the constant front hub, 513137. A 2000 Malibu wheel bearing order at the rear still falls inside this earlier window.
2001 is the change point. The rear hub switches to 512152 with no corresponding update to the body or trim.
2002 and 2003 carry the 2001 specification forward. Both years use 513137 front and 512152 rear, the same as any 2001 Malibu.
A simple lineup ahead of two redesigns
This first-generation Malibu ran a simpler bearing lineup than the models that followed it. Just two numbers, one at each end, cover the entire run once the 2001 rear split is accounted for.
GM redesigned the Malibu twice more after this generation, first for the 2004-2012 Malibu and again for the 2013-2018 Malibu, and neither shares a number with this one.
Diagnosing a 1997-2003 Malibu wheel bearing
- Jack up the wheel and check for play. Grip the tire at 12 and 6 o’clock with the wheel off the ground, front or rear. See how to check a wheel bearing.
- Listen for a hum that changes in turns. A worn bearing growls and shifts pitch as weight moves to one side, covered on wheel bearing noise in turns.
- Rule out the tires before replacing a hub. Cupped or unevenly worn tires can sound like a bad bearing at highway speed, explained on tire noise or wheel bearing.
- Check the model year before ordering the rear. A 2000 Malibu wheel bearing at the rear is a different part than a 2001 model, even though the cars look the same.
- Match the number on the old part if the year is uncertain. The stamped number on the hub being replaced settles any doubt faster than guessing from the model year alone.
Common questions
What wheel bearing does a 2000 Malibu use?
A 2000 Malibu wheel bearing is 513137 up front and 512003 at the rear. 2000 is the last model year on the earlier rear number before the 2001 change.
What wheel bearing does a 2001 Malibu use?
A 2001 Malibu uses the same front hub, 513137, but the rear hub switches to 512152. The front number does not change between 2000 and 2001, only the rear does.
Does the front wheel bearing ever change on this generation?
No. 513137 covers the front hub for every year from 1997 through 2003 without exception.
How can I tell if my Malibu needs 512003 or 512152 at the rear?
Check the model year first. 1997 through 2000 cars use 512003, and 2001 through 2003 cars use 512152. If the year is uncertain, match the number stamped on the old hub.
Why did the rear wheel bearing change in 2001 with no other updates?
The catalogs do not document a reason. It shows up only as a running change in the rear hub number, with the body, trim, and everything else carried over unchanged.