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The short version
- An Outback wheel bearing at the front held one part number from 2005 through 2014. The rear changed three times across the same span.
- Outback is all wheel drive for its whole run, 2000 to 2020. No front wheel drive or rear wheel drive version exists to split the search.
- The front catalog record runs out after 2018. The rear reaches all the way to 2020 under a parallel listing.
- Both ends are press work on most of these cars, so neither corner is the cheap fix.
An Outback wheel bearing spans model years 2000 to 2020. The front held one number for a decade while the rear changed three times in that same run.
Owners assume the front is where the complication lives, because that is true on most cars. On the Outback it is reversed.
Outback wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 to 2020 | Front, AWD, past the catalogs | match old part or VIN |
| 2015 to 2020 | Rear, AWD | WE61880 check price |
| 2015 to 2018 | Rear | 512536 check price |
| 2015 to 2018 | Front, AWD | 513302 check price |
| 2015 to 2018 | Front, AWD, parallel listing | WE60479 check price |
| 2010 to 2014 | Rear | 512401 check price |
| 2010 to 2014 | Front, AWD, parallel listing | WE60543 check price |
| 2005 to 2014 | Front | 513220 check price |
| 2005 to 2014 | Front, AWD, parallel listing | WE60548 check price |
| 2005 to 2009 | Rear | 512293 check price |
| 2005 to 2009 | Rear, AWD, parallel listing | WE60998 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Front, AWD, inner seal | 710464 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Front, AWD, bearing | 517008 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Front, AWD, outer seal | 710463 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Front, AWD, parallel listing | WE60630 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Rear, AWD, bearing module | 512183 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Rear, AWD, parallel listing | WE60519 check price |
Every model year this chart resolves: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Front coverage runs out after 2018, while the rear reaches 2020 under a parallel listing. A 2019 or 2020 front hub has no catalog number and goes by the old part or the VIN.
Outback is all wheel drive throughout. Nothing here splits by front wheel drive or rear wheel drive the way its Legacy sibling does, so do not import that split.
Cross referencing is on the cross reference page. The front versus rear design difference is on the front versus rear page.
Why the rear is the reported end
Owners and technicians describe water collecting against the outside of the rear bearing. Corrosion then builds in the fit.
Symmetrical all wheel drive also means the rear is a driven corner rather than a coasting one.
The failure mechanism itself is on the failure page.
The removal problem
The hub corrodes into the knuckle and comes out hard. Coating the bore looks like the fix, and it is the wrong one.
Friction there is part of what stops the outer race from creeping. Clean the bore back to bare metal instead.
Both ends are press work on most of these cars. The press procedure is on the press in page.
The rear number covers the Legacy too
The catalogs print Legacy and Outback together for every rear listing on this page, because the Outback rides the Legacy platform underneath. A part cited for a Legacy of the same year is the same physical rear part.
The front is different. Some catalogs cite the Outback front hub on its own, separate from the Legacy chapter.
Confirm the number rather than the badge on the box.
Diagnosing an Outback wheel bearing
- Start at the rear, since that is the more reported end here.
- Coast in neutral at the noise speed to separate the driveline.
- Rock each wheel at twelve and six with the parking brake released.
- Check tread depth on all four tires before blaming a hub.
- Compare hub temperatures across each axle after a drive.
Those steps are on the checking page. Mismatched tread can mimic the same hum, which is covered 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 Outback wheel bearing do I need?
At the front, 513220 covers 2005 to 2014 and 513302 covers 2015 to 2018. At the rear the number changes three times across the same years.
Why is the rear the problem end?
Water collects in the knuckle bore and corrodes the fit. All wheel drive also means the rear is a driven corner.
Should I coat the bore before fitting the new bearing?
No. That removes the friction that resists creep, which trades a hard removal later for a spun bearing now.
Do I need a press?
On most of these, yes, at either end. That is unusual, and it is why neither corner is the cheap one.
Does the Outback split by drivetrain?
No. It is all wheel drive for its entire run, unlike the Legacy it shares a platform with.