Home › Vehicles › Kia › Kia Optima › 2001-2006 Kia Optima Wheel Bearing Part Numbers
The short version
- The 2006 Kia Optima wheel bearing rear hub with ABS has two designs the same year, 512190 first and 512266 second.
- Front press-in bearings split on a January 2002 build date, not the model year: 80mm 510076 before, 84mm 510034 after.
- 2001-2005 rears without ABS use 512191.
- 2001 is clean, 2002 carries the build split, and 2006 carries the two rear designs.
Six model years, 2001 through 2006, carry two separate splits that trip up a straightforward year lookup. The 2006 Kia Optima wheel bearing rear hub actually comes in two different designs for the same model year, both with ABS. The front bearing splits even earlier, on a specific build date rather than the year itself.
Two splits, not one
The front press-in bearing changes outer diameter at a January 2002 build date. It is 80mm before, 84mm after, not tied to the calendar year.
The rear hub, with ABS, has two physical designs in 2006 alone: 512190 and 512266.
Optima wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Rear hub, ABS, 2nd design | 512266 check price |
| 2001-2006 | Rear hub, ABS, 1st design | 512190 check price |
| 2001-2005 | Rear hub, without ABS | 512191 check price |
| Build date 1/4/02 to 2006 | Front, press-in, 84mm OD | 510034 check price |
| 2001 to build date 1/3/02 | Front, press-in, 80mm OD | 510076 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 2001-2006 Kia Optima: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. Other years live on the main Optima wheel bearing page.
The front split is a build date, January 2002, not a model year boundary. The two bearings differ by outer diameter, 80mm versus 84mm, so measure or match the old part on any 2002 Optima.
The 2006 rear also has two designs in the same model year. Match the old part rather than assuming either number.
Year by year
2001 is clean: front 510076, rear 512190 with ABS or 512191 without. 2002 carries the build split, so a car built before January 4 keeps 510076 while one built after takes 510034. 2003 through 2005 settle on 510034 up front with the same rear pair.
2006 keeps the front at 510034 but splits the rear ABS hub into two physical designs, 512190 and 512266. Both are valid the same year on the 2006 Kia Optima wheel bearing chart.
Press-in fronts and the next Optima
The front bearing on this generation is a press-in cartridge, not a bolt-on hub. Budget for a shop press or knuckle removal; see press-in wheel bearing service for what that involves.
The redesign that follows starts the 2007-2010 Optima wheel bearing page, with its own numbers. Later Optima generations live on separate pages further down the line.
Diagnosing an Optima wheel bearing
- Listen for the pattern. A worn wheel bearing hums or growls, and the pitch tracks with road speed, not engine RPM. See wheel bearing noise on turns for what changes in a corner.
- Rule out the tires first. Cupped or unevenly worn tires can mimic a bearing hum. Compare against tire noise versus wheel bearing noise before pulling anything apart.
- Check for play. With the wheel off the ground, grab it at 12 and 6 o’clock and rock it. Looseness at the hub points to the bearing, covered in how to check a wheel bearing.
- Watch the ABS light. A failing rear hub can trip the ABS sensor on either design. A bad bearing and the ABS light covers the connection.
- Measure or match before ordering a front bearing. Since the split runs on build date, not year, measure the outer diameter or pull the old part rather than trusting the model year alone.
Common questions
What wheel bearing does a 2006 Kia Optima use?
A 2006 Kia Optima wheel bearing setup uses front 510034 and a rear hub with ABS that comes in two designs, 512190 or 512266. Without ABS, the rear is not part of the 2006 listings; match the design on the ABS-equipped car.
What wheel bearing does a 2002 Kia Optima use?
It depends on the build date. A 2002 built before January 4 uses front bearing 510076, and one built after uses 510034.
How do I tell the two 2006 rear hub designs apart?
Compare the part against 512190 and 512266, or measure and match the physical design of the old hub. The catalogs list both as valid for 2006 with ABS.
Why does the front bearing split mid-year in 2002?
The catalogs tie the change to a manufacturing build date, January 4, 2002, rather than the model year. The two bearings differ by outer diameter, 80mm and 84mm.
Does the Optima front bearing bolt on or press in?
It presses into the knuckle on this generation, not a bolt-on hub. That means a shop press or knuckle removal is part of the job.