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The short version
- A Vibe wheel bearing is a Toyota Matrix part, because the two cars were built side by side in the same California factory.
- Searching under Matrix returns far more listings than searching under the discontinued Pontiac badge.
- The rear splits on engine and drivetrain: 512403 and 512405 for front wheel drive, 512404 for all wheel drive.
- Older cars from 2003 to 2008 split on ABS instead, 512217 with and 512218 without.
People shopping for a discontinued Pontiac tend to assume parts will be scarce and expensive. On this car the opposite is true, and the reason is where it was made.
The same car, two badges
Toyota and General Motors ran a joint plant in California, and this car and the Toyota Matrix came off the same line.
They share their mechanical parts, so Matrix listings are the wider market for the same hub.
Search under Matrix first. Then confirm the number against the part you are removing.
Cross referencing is on the cross reference page.
Vibe wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 onward | Rear, 1.8 liter front wheel drive | 512403 check price |
| 2009 onward | Rear, 2.4 liter front wheel drive | 512405 check price |
| 2009 to 2013 | Rear, all wheel drive | 512404 check price |
| 2003 to 2008 | Rear, front wheel drive with ABS | 512217 check price |
| 2003 to 2008 | Rear, front wheel drive without ABS | 512218 check price |
Every model year this chart resolves: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Price links lead to Amazon searches for that number. As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases.
Two questions decide the later cars, engine and drivetrain. One question decides the earlier ones.
What a discontinued badge really means
Pontiac closed in 2010, and the plant that built this car closed too. Neither fact hurts your parts supply.
The hub was never a Pontiac design. It was a Toyota part fitted to a car with a different grille, and Toyota kept building the Matrix afterwards.
The make overview is on the Pontiac page.
The all wheel drive ones
A small number came with all wheel drive, and those are worth identifying before you order anything.
Mismatched tread depths on an all wheel drive car make the system work constantly, and that hum sounds exactly like a bearing.
Measure all four tires before condemning a hub. That is on the tire noise page.
Doing the job
Bolt on hubs keep this cheap and approachable, which suits a car people tend to run on a budget.
The saving on the cheapest parts comes out of the seal and the encoder ring. A poor encoder lights the dash on the first drive.
Those are on the price tiers page and the ABS light page.
Diagnosing a Vibe wheel bearing
- Note the engine and the drivetrain before ordering.
- Search under Matrix as well as the Pontiac name.
- Weave at road speed and note which side loads the noise.
- Rock the wheel at twelve and six.
- Rule out the tires first on an all wheel drive car.
Those are on the checking page.
Common questions
Is a Vibe wheel bearing the same as a Matrix part?
The two cars share their mechanical parts. Confirm the number against your own car before buying.
Are parts hard to find for a discontinued make?
Not here. The Toyota equivalent kept selling, so the supply is healthy.
Does engine size matter?
At the rear on the later cars yes, 512403 for the 1.8 and 512405 for the 2.4.
What about the older cars?
Those split on ABS instead, 512217 with and 512218 without.
Do I need a press?
No. These use bolt on hub units.
Could tires be the noise on an all wheel drive one?
Easily. Measure tread depths across all four first.
Should I replace both sides?
Only what is worn.