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The short version
- An S40 wheel bearing at the rear splits on drivetrain. 512411 covers front wheel drive and 512412 covers all wheel drive.
- The front is 513255 across the whole 2005 to 2011 run of the newer chassis, with no split at all.
- Before 2005, an older chassis takes different numbers entirely, and 2004 itself carries both.
- 512411 also covers the C30 and the C70, since all three share one platform.
Ordering for the 2005 and later car is easy. Getting the old hub out of the knuckle is the part that costs an afternoon.
The earlier car, sold through 2004, is a different story at the parts counter. It ran an older chassis with its own numbers.
The drivetrain split at the rear
512411 is cited for front wheel drive rears from 2005 through 2011. 512412 is cited for all wheel drive rears from 2005 through 2010.
Look underneath for a driveshaft running back to a rear differential. That single check settles which number applies.
The front is cited as 513255 regardless of drivetrain, so the question only applies at the back. That has held true across the entire newer chassis run.
Two chassis share one model year
Volvo changed the S40 to a new chassis partway through the 2004 model year. The catalogs print old style numbers and new style numbers both under 2004.
An old style 2004 front takes 510029, a plain ball bearing rather than a hub assembly. A new style 2004 front takes the same 513255 that the 2005 cars use.
The build date decides which chassis a 2004 car has, not the model year alone. Match the number stamped on the old part rather than guessing from the year.
S40 wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 to 2011 | Front | 513255 check price |
| 2005 to 2011 | Rear, front wheel drive | 512411 check price |
| 2005 to 2010 | Rear, all wheel drive | 512412 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Front, old style chassis | 510029 check price |
| 2000 to 2004 | Rear, old style chassis, one catalog | WE61141 check price |
| 2000 to 2003 | Rear, old style chassis, parallel listing | HA590257 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 and 2011.
510029 is a plain ball bearing, not a unitized hub assembly like 513255. It is not a drop in equivalent for the 2005 and later front, even on the same car with a similar mileage.
Only one catalog documents the old style front bearing. Two catalogs agree on the old style rear, so match the number the old part carries there as well.
Three models, one rear
The C30 hatchback and the C70 convertible are cited with the same front wheel drive rear number as this car. All three were built on one platform.
A listing under any of the three names is worth checking. Search the number rather than the model when the market looks thin under one badge.
The overlap does not extend to the front or to the all wheel drive rear, so confirm the number before assuming a match. The two ends fail for different reasons on this platform, covered on the front versus rear page.
Salt is the real problem
These sell heavily into cold climates and get bought specifically for winter driving. That is exactly the environment that punishes a hub.
Road salt and standing brine reach the seal and the surrounding hardware. Corrosion is what turns a routine four bolt job into a fight.
Expect seized bolts and a hub that does not want to leave the knuckle on an older car. Budget time rather than force, and penetrating oil rather than a bigger hammer.
A hub that fails early on this car is more often a fitting problem than ordinary wear, since the corrosion that eventually kills these takes years to build up. The general mechanisms behind an early failure are on the failure page.
A quiet cabin hides it
Volvo builds for refinement, which is a poor combination with a hub that is quietly wearing. Owners here tend to arrive well after the bearing started complaining.
It simply took that long to become obvious over road noise the cabin was built to keep out. A drive with the windows down catches it earlier.
A hub that fails well within its expected life is worth checking against whatever coverage came with the part. What that actually gets you is on the warranty page.
Diagnosing an S40 wheel bearing
- Confirm the drivetrain before ordering a rear part.
- Check the build date on a 2004 car before ordering either end.
- Drive with the windows down, since the cabin hides early noise.
- Weave at road speed and note which side loads the noise.
- Rule out the tires before buying a hub.
The general method is on the checking page. Ruling out the tires specifically 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 S40 wheel bearing do I need?
513255 at the front on a 2005 or later car. At the rear, 512411 for front wheel drive and 512412 for all wheel drive.
What about a 2004 model?
It depends on the build date. An old style 2004 takes 510029 up front, a new style 2004 takes 513255.
Do the C30 and C70 share it?
At the rear, on the front wheel drive number, yes. 512411 is cited for all three, since they share one platform underneath different bodies.
Why is removal so difficult on an older car?
Salt corrosion. These sell into cold climates and the hardware pays for it over the years.
Why did I not hear it sooner?
The cabin insulation is very good, which masks early bearing noise until it gets loud.