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The short version
- The front GX470 wheel bearing is serviceable: the 515040 assembly with inner and outer seals, 2003 to 2009.
- The rears are handed bolt-on modules: 512227 left, 512228 right.
- Underneath sits the 4Runner of the same years, and the front hardware shows it.
- Off-road duty makes the seals, not the bearings, the usual first failure.
Lexus sold the GX as luxury, but the front wheel ends are pure Land Cruiser school: bearings you can take apart, repack and adjust, on a truck that costs what it does.
The serviceable fronts
The front GX470 wheel bearing assembly services in place: clean, inspect, repack, set preload, new seals, done.
Caught at the grease stage, the repair costs a seal kit and a Saturday.
The procedure lives on the repacking page, and preload on the adjustment page.
GX470 wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 to 2009 | Front, serviceable, with seals | 515040 check price |
| 2003 to 2009 | Rear module, left | 512227 check price |
| 2003 to 2009 | Rear module, right | 512228 check price |
Every model year this chart resolves: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
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.
The handed rears
The rear modules carry side-specific ABS encoders, so 512227 and 512228 are not interchangeable conveniences.
Name the side that hums when ordering.
Why some vehicles do this is on the left versus right page.
The 4Runner underneath
This truck is a fourth generation 4Runner in a dinner jacket, and the front bearing family proves it. The donor’s listings widen the options, on the 4Runner page, with the make overview on the Lexus page.
Water is the real enemy
GX owners actually use them off-road, and water crossings kill the front seals long before the bearings wear out. A repack after a wet season is cheap insurance; grease that comes out gray was warning you.
Reading that evidence is on the used grease page.
Diagnosing a GX470 wheel bearing
- Check the front grease first; service often beats replacement here.
- Slight front play can be preload, adjustable rather than failed.
- Weave at speed to place a hum front or rear.
- Name the side for any rear order.
- Ask about water history on a used truck.
The routine is on the checking page.
Common questions
Which GX470 wheel bearing do I need up front?
The 515040 serviceable assembly with its seals. It repacks rather than replaces in most cases.
Which rear do I order?
512227 for the left, 512228 for the right. They are handed.
Do 4Runner parts fit?
The front family is shared with the same-generation 4Runner. Match years and confirm.
Can I really service the fronts myself?
Yes, with hand tools and patience. That is the design’s whole point.
Do I need a press?
No. Fronts service in place and rears bolt on.
What about the GX460?
The 2010 onward truck changes generation and numbers. Match it by VIN.