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The short version
- Drivetrain decides everything about an S10 wheel bearing: 2WD fronts are serviceable tapered bearings, 4WD fronts are hub assemblies.
- The 4WD hub is 513061 to 1997 and 513124 from 1997 to 2005, and 1997 itself built both.
- A 1997 truck is identified by its sensor: a separate toothed ring means 513061, an integral sensor means 513124.
- The rear is a solid axle, which is axle bearing territory, not a bolt-on hub.
The S10 is two different trucks as far as bearings go. Which one you own comes down to whether the front wheels are driven.
Two front axles, two jobs
A two wheel drive S10 wheel bearing up front is the old-school pair of tapered bearings behind a dust cap, cleaned, repacked and adjusted rather than replaced as a unit.
Four wheel drive trucks carry a bolted-on hub assembly with the sensor inside, replaced complete.
The repack procedure for the 2WD fronts is on the repacking page, seal 4739 and standard tapered sets. It is one of the cheapest bearing services left in motoring.
S10 wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 to 2005 | Front hub, 4WD | 513124 check price |
| 1997 | Front hub, 4WD, integral sensor | 513124 check price |
| 1997 | Front hub, 4WD, separate toothed ring | 513061 check price |
| 1990 to 1996 | Front hub, 4WD | 513061 check price |
| 1990 to 2003 | Front, 2WD, serviceable tapered sets with seal 4739 | see listings |
Every model year this chart resolves: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Price links lead to Amazon searches for that number. As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases.
Number lookups run through the cross reference page.
The 1997 sensor check
GM changed the ABS sensor arrangement mid-1997. First design hubs use a separate toothed ring, second design hubs build the sensor in.
Pull the wheel and look, or match the old part. Ordering by year alone on a 1997 truck is a coin flip.
The rear is not a hub job
The S10’s solid rear axle carries its bearings inside the axle tubes, pressed onto or around the shafts. Different parts, different tools, different failure sound.
That whole subject lives on the axle bearing page.
The family sharing these numbers
The Sonoma is this truck with a GMC grille, and the S10 Blazer and Jimmy SUVs use the same fronts year for year. Search all the names when pricing.
One caution: from 2002 the Blazer name gets tangled with the TrailBlazer’s completely different platform. That confusion is untangled on the Blazer page, and the make overview is on the Chevrolet page.
Diagnosing an S10 wheel bearing
- Establish 2WD or 4WD, since it changes the entire job.
- On a 1997 4WD truck, identify the sensor design before ordering.
- Rock the wheel at twelve and six; on 2WD, slight play can be an adjustment, not a failure.
- Listen behind you: a howl from the rear is likely an axle bearing instead.
- Check the ABS lamp on 4WD trucks, since the sensor rides in the hub.
The routine is on the checking page.
Common questions
Which S10 wheel bearing fits my 4WD front?
513061 through 1996, 513124 from 1998, and 1997 takes either depending on sensor design.
Can I just replace the 2WD front bearings?
Yes, and cheaply. They are standard serviceable tapered bearings with a seal, sold as sets.
Is slight play normal on a 2WD front?
A few thousandths is the spec for adjustable tapered bearings. Excess play means adjust first, then inspect.
Do Sonoma parts fit?
Identically. Same truck, different badge.
What about the rear?
Solid axle bearings inside the housing, a different repair entirely from a bolt-on hub.
Does the ZR2 package change anything?
Late S10 Blazer listings split the ZR2 out with its own front hub, so check the package before ordering for one.