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The short version
- An Xterra wheel bearing at the rear is 541011, a solid axle part rather than a bolt on hub, across 2005 to 2015.
- The front follows the Frontier, splitting on drivetrain between 515064 and 515065 for that same run.
- Before 2005, the whole design changes. The first generation used a serviceable bearing and race set, not a sealed hub.
- The two ends are entirely different jobs, which is the thing to establish first on any model year.
This shares its platform with the Nissan Frontier. Like that truck it puts a bolt on unit at the front and an axle bearing at the back, from the 2005 redesign onward.
Before that redesign, the front used a different design entirely.
The rear is a solid axle part
Numbers beginning 541 are axle bearings, so reaching one means pulling the axle shaft. That is a longer job than the four bolt front.
The distinction between an axle bearing and a wheel bearing is explained on the axle bearing page. Plan the job around it rather than budgeting front hub time for a rear job.
The front splits on drivetrain
515064 is cited for two wheel drive and 515065 for four wheel drive, unchanged across the 2005 to 2015 run.
Look underneath for a front driveshaft and a transfer case before ordering. That single check settles the drivetrain question.
Before 2005, the front is serviceable
The first generation Xterra, 2000 through 2004, used a tapered bearing and race set at the front. That is not a unitized hub.
It is a different service format from the bolt on hub used from 2005 on. It is not an older version of the same part, and the two do not swap by design.
The bearing and race set carries its own seal, listed as a separate number. Two catalogs document this front end, and both agree on the design even though the exact numbers differ between them.
Match the number the old part carries when replacing either the bearing, the race or the seal. Do not mix a number from one catalog’s listing with a seal from the other.
Xterra wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 to 2015 | Rear, solid axle | 541011 check price |
| 2005 to 2015 | Front, four wheel drive | 515065 check price |
| 2005 to 2015 | Front, two wheel drive | 515064 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Front, bearing and race set, one catalog | NBA37 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Front, seal, one catalog | NS710072 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Front, bearing and race set, parallel listing | SET37 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Front, seal, parallel listing | 710072 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Rear, 3.3 liter V6, shared with Frontier | WE60346 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Rear, 2.4 liter L4 | WE60689 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Rear, 4 cylinder, seal, parallel listing | 710305 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Rear, 4 cylinder, bearing assembly, parallel listing | 513246 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Rear, 6 cylinder, seal, parallel listing | 710176 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Rear, 6 cylinder, bearing assembly, parallel listing | 516005 check price |
Lookups run through the cross reference page.
Every model year this chart resolves: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
On the first generation, the rear number depends on the engine. The 3.3 liter V6 takes WE60346, shared with the Frontier, and the 2.4 liter L4 takes WE60689.
That is a different axis than the 2005 and later rows, which split by drivetrain instead. Check the engine badge on an early truck, not the axle type.
What these get used for
This was bought to go off pavement. It was used that way more often than most vehicles that could.
Water is what kills a sealed bearing. A fording depth the truck handles easily is still deeper than the seals were designed for.
A long cool down afterward draws moisture past them. A hard impact on the trail does damage too, covered on the pothole page.
Lifts and larger tires
Both are close to universal on these. A taller tire is a longer lever at the hub, and more offset moves the load further out.
Neither is a reason to avoid the modification. Both are a reason to check the hubs more often afterward.
The general method for that check is on the checking page. A bearing that fails without warning is on the failure page.
Diagnosing an Xterra wheel bearing
- Establish which end is noisy, since the two are different jobs.
- Confirm the drivetrain before ordering a front part on a 2005 or later truck.
- Check the engine before ordering a rear part on a 2000 to 2004 truck.
- Ask about deep water and what the truck has hit.
- Rock the wheel at twelve and six, expecting a stiff feel rather than looseness.
Telling tire noise apart from a bearing is on the tire noise page.
Price links lead to Amazon searches for that number. As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases.
Common questions
Which Xterra wheel bearing do I need?
541011 at the rear on a 2005 or later truck. At the front, 515065 for four wheel drive and 515064 for two wheel drive.
What about a 2000 to 2004 truck?
The front uses a serviceable bearing and race set instead of a hub. The rear splits by engine, WE60346 for the V6 and WE60689 for the L4.
Why is the rear a different number series?
It is a solid axle bearing rather than a bolt on hub, so it is a longer job.
Can I buy a Frontier part?
The two share a platform and the front numbers from 2005 on. Check the number rather than the badge.
Does fording water hurt them?
Yes. Seals are designed for splash, not submersion followed by a slow cool down.