Home › Vehicles › Nissan › Nissan Pathfinder › 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder Wheel Bearing Part Numbers
The short version
- A 2003 Nissan Pathfinder wheel bearing job for 1996-2004 means one serviceable front inner bearing, 516005, and a solid rear axle with no hub.
- Nothing at either end changes across all nine years of this generation.
- There is no bolt-on hub assembly anywhere on this truck, front or rear.
- The rear axle is indexed by the catalogs as the R200A, and it is axle-bearing work, not wheel bearing work.
1996-2004 is one long stretch with a single front bearing listing. A 2003 Nissan Pathfinder wheel bearing job means pulling and repacking a serviceable inner bearing, the same job whether the truck is a 1996 or a 2004.
The core numbers
Front: serviceable inner bearing 516005 (National), with inner seal 710176.
Rear: solid axle, indexed as the R200A, no hub assembly.
Nissan Pathfinder wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-2004 | Front, serviceable inner bearing (National) | 516005 check price |
| 1996-2004 | Front, inner seal | 710176 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 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. Other years live on the main Pathfinder wheel bearing page.
No bolt-on hub assembly exists for this generation at either end. The front job is serviceable bearing and race work, and the rear is solid axle work.
Budget for repacking the front bearing and setting preload correctly, since this is not a swap-and-go part.
Year by year
1996 through 2004 use the identical front bearing listing. A 2003 Nissan Pathfinder wheel bearing at the front is the same part as a 1996 or 2004 truck.
The rear stays axle territory the entire nine years, with no hub assembly introduced at any point in this generation.
No running change touched the front or rear listing across this generation’s full run.
Where this generation sits in the lineup
The serviceable front bearing here is unique to this body. The 2005-2012 Pathfinder moves to a bolt-on front hub, and the 2013-2018 Pathfinder carries that hub design further.
The rear axle setup here is a separate subject from hub replacement entirely. Read axle bearing versus wheel bearing before ordering rear parts for this truck.
516005 is also listed for the Infiniti QX4, which shares this front bearing setup with the Pathfinder from the same era. That shared listing is one more reason to match the part number rather than the badge on the fender.
Diagnosing a Pathfinder wheel bearing
- Listen for a load-sensitive growl. A worn front bearing changes pitch under cornering and with road speed.
- Jack up the front end. Grip the tire at 12 and 6 o’clock and rock it to check for play at the hub.
- Spin the wheel by hand. Grinding or roughness through the spin means the bearing race is damaged.
- Check for heat at the front hub. A bearing running dry or out of preload gets hot quickly after driving.
- Confirm preload before condemning the part. A noisy front end here is sometimes an adjustment issue, not a failed bearing.
Common questions
What wheel bearing does a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder use?
A 2003 Nissan Pathfinder wheel bearing is front serviceable inner bearing 516005, plus a solid rear axle with no hub assembly.
Does the front bearing change between 1996 and 2004?
No. One front listing covers every year of this generation, from the first 1996 truck to the last 2004 truck.
Is there a bolt-on hub available for this Pathfinder?
No. This generation has no bolt-on hub assembly at either end. The front is serviceable bearing work and the rear is solid axle work.
Is the rear axle bearing the same as a wheel bearing?
No. The rear is a solid axle, indexed by the catalogs as the R200A, and it is serviced as axle bearing work rather than wheel bearing work.
What seal goes with the front bearing on this truck?
Inner seal 710176 is listed alongside the 516005 front bearing and should be replaced together with it.