Home › Vehicles › Ford › Explorer › 2002-2005 Ford Explorer Wheel Bearing Part Numbers
The short version
- 2002-2005 Ford Explorer SUV: front hub SP470201, rear hub HA590259K. That is the 2002 Ford Explorer wheel bearing answer for the redesigned truck.
- The Sport Trac pickup, sold under the same name, kept the older tapered front and solid rear axle through 2005.
- Both ends of the SUV bolt on now; no more repacking or preload setting.
- Two different parts systems shared one showroom this generation, so identify the vehicle before ordering.
This page covers the 2002 through 2005 Ford Explorer. That is the redesign year that moved the SUV to bolt-on hubs at both ends. The 2002 Ford Explorer wheel bearing question has two different answers depending on whether the vehicle is the SUV or the Sport Trac sold under the same name.
2002-2005 Explorer wheel bearing numbers
The 2002 Ford Explorer wheel bearing on the redesigned SUV bolts on at both ends, with no repacking involved.
The Sport Trac built alongside it kept the older tapered front set and solid rear axle instead.
2002-2005 Ford Explorer wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2002-2005 | SUV front hub, 2WD/4WD with ABS | SP470201 check price |
| 2002-2005 | SUV rear hub, independent rear suspension | HA590259K check price |
| 2002-2005 | Sport Trac front tapered set, inner | SET5 check price |
| 2002-2005 | Sport Trac front tapered set, outer | SET2 check price |
| 2002-2005 | Sport Trac front seal | 9150S check price |
| 2002-2005 | Sport Trac rear axle bearing | 6408 check price |
| 2002-2005 | Sport Trac rear axle seal | 8835S check price |
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Lookups run through the cross reference page.
This page covers the 2002-2005 Ford Explorer: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005. Other years live on the main Explorer wheel bearing page.
The 2002 redesign moved both ends of the Explorer SUV to bolt-on hubs, SP470201 up front and HA590259K at the rear. But the Sport Trac, sold under the same Explorer name, kept the old tapered front and solid rear axle through 2005.
That is two different parts systems in one showroom under one name. Confirm which vehicle sits in the driveway before ordering the 2002 Ford Explorer wheel bearing.
Year by year
2002 is the change year for the 2002 Ford Explorer wheel bearing setup. The redesigned SUV adopts bolt-on hubs at both ends, while the new Sport Trac, built on the outgoing frame, keeps the tapered front and solid rear axle.
2003 through 2005 continue this same split without alteration. Every year in this generation needs the vehicle identified before the part number does any good.
Two trucks, one name, in this generation
The Explorer SUV’s 2002 redesign left behind the frame used on the earlier 1995-2001 Explorer wheel bearing page. It adopted the bolt-on hub design that carried on unchanged into the 2006-2010 Explorer wheel bearing page.
The Sport Trac, a pickup built on the Explorer name, kept running the old tapered front and 8.8 rear axle through this entire span. That effectively extended the older platform’s parts list two years past its own SUV.
Diagnosing a 2002-2005 Ford Explorer wheel bearing
- Identify which Explorer. Confirm whether the vehicle is the SUV with bolt-on hubs or the Sport Trac with the older tapered front before ordering anything.
- Check the ABS connection. Both hub designs on this generation carry the wheel speed sensor. See the hub assembly and ABS sensor guide for how that wiring works.
- Watch for a warning light without a fault code. A degrading sensor signal from a worn bearing can trip the ABS light connection before the noise gets loud.
- Listen and confirm. Road-speed humming that changes in turns points to a bearing. Use the wheel bearing check guide for the jack-up test.
- Order by the correct system. SP470201 and HA590259K fit the SUV. SET5, SET2, and 6408 fit the Sport Trac; never mix the two.
Common questions
What is the 2002 Ford Explorer wheel bearing part number?
On the redesigned SUV, the 2002 Ford Explorer wheel bearing part numbers are SP470201 up front and HA590259K at the rear hub. The Sport Trac built that year uses the older SET5, SET2, and 6408 numbers instead.
What wheel bearing does a 2004 Ford Explorer use?
A 2004 Ford Explorer SUV uses the same SP470201 front hub and HA590259K rear hub as every year in this generation, with no changes across 2002 through 2005.
Is the Sport Trac’s wheel bearing different from the Explorer SUV’s?
Yes. Through 2005 the Sport Trac keeps the tapered front set and solid rear axle from the previous Explorer generation, even though it shares the Explorer name.
Does the front hub differ between 2WD and 4WD?
No. SP470201 covers both 2WD and 4WD Explorers with ABS on this generation. The hub assembly is the same part regardless of drive type.
Why did the rear bearing change in 2002?
The 2002 redesign gave the Explorer independent rear suspension in place of the solid rear axle. That is why the rear bearing moved to a hub assembly, HA590259K, instead of the older cylindrical bearing and seal.