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The short version
- A failing Grand Am wheel bearing usually announces itself with the ABS and Trac Off lights, not with noise.
- Fronts are simple: 513017-K kit to 1998, then 513137 for 1999 to 2005.
- The 1999 to 2000 rear splits by trim: 512003 on most, 512152 on the GT with its rear discs.
- From 2001 every rear is 512152.
The classic Grand Am bearing story starts on the dashboard. The ABS light comes on, then Trac Off, usually in damp weather at first, and the brakes have nothing wrong with them.
Why the lights come on first
The wheel speed sensor is built into the Grand Am wheel bearing assembly. As the bearing loosens, the sensor gap wanders and the signal drops out.
The computer reads that as a wheel speed fault and lights up ABS and Trac Off, often before you hear any hum at all.
Owners report chasing these lights from one side to the other, replacing the left hub only to have the right follow months later. The wiring harness to each sensor is worth a look before buying a second hub, since chafed wires fake the same code.
How bearings and these lights interact is covered on the ABS light page.
Grand Am wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 to 2005 | Front hub | 513137 check price |
| 1985 to 1998 | Front, kit with seals | 513017-K check price |
| 2001 to 2005 | Rear hub, all | 512152 check price |
| 1999 to 2000 | Rear hub, GT | 512152 check price |
| 1999 to 2000 | Rear hub, except GT | 512003 check price |
| 1992 to 1998 | Rear hub | 512001 check price |
Every model year this chart resolves: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Price links lead to Amazon searches for that number. As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases.
Wider interchange is on the cross reference page.
The GT split
The GT got rear disc brakes, and with them the 512152 hub. Everything else kept drums and 512003.
One catalog words the split as disc versus drum, the other as GT versus the rest. Both describe the same reality, so glance at your rear brakes and order accordingly.
Everything here bolts on
No press work anywhere on this car. Front and rear are complete hub assemblies held by bolts behind the knuckle or the drum backing plate, which keeps this among the friendlier GM bearing jobs of its era.
The one common snag is the hub rusting into its bore, covered on the stuck removal page.
Diagnosing a Grand Am wheel bearing
- Scan the codes before buying parts, and note which wheel the speed sensor fault names.
- Inspect that corner’s harness for chafing, since wiring fakes the same symptom.
- Rock the wheel at twelve and six looking for play.
- Check the rear brake type on a 1999 or 2000 vehicle before ordering.
- Listen for hum on a weave to confirm which side carries the noise.
The physical checks are on the checking page.
Common questions
Which Grand Am wheel bearing do I need up front?
513137 from 1999 to 2005. Earlier cars use the 513017-K kit.
My ABS and Trac Off lights are on. Is that the bearing?
Very often yes on this car, since the sensor lives in the hub. Scan for the wheel speed code and check that corner first.
Why does the light come on in wet weather?
A marginal sensor gap gets worse when moisture reaches a worn bearing. Intermittent wet-weather faults are the classic early sign here.
Does the GT take different parts?
At the rear in 1999 and 2000, yes, 512152 instead of 512003 because of its disc brakes.
Do I need a press?
No. Every corner is a bolt-on hub assembly.
The light came back after I replaced the hub. Now what?
Check the harness and connector before condemning the new part, and confirm the code still names the same wheel. That follow-up is on the ABS light after replacement page.