Description

HUB & BEARING ASSY – REAR

Overview

This term describes the rear wheel hub and bearing assembly — the unit that mounts the rear wheel to the axle or suspension and lets it rotate. In parts catalogs and BOMs it appears as the short description paired with the part number. The wording “HUB & BEARING ASSY” signals that the hub and bearing are supplied as one integrated, pre-assembled unit rather than as separate parts.

What it is

The assembly combines the hub flange (which the wheel bolts to) with the wheel bearing in a single package. On rear axles this is typically a sealed, non-serviceable cartridge — sealed for life, lubricated at the factory, and replaced complete when worn.

Key components

• Hub flange — the rotating face carrying the wheel studs or bolt holes.
• Wheel bearing — sealed ball or tapered roller bearing, usually integrated into the hub.
• Wheel studs / bolts — pressed into the flange for wheel attachment.
• Seals — retain grease and block water, dust, and road debris.
• ABS tone ring / sensor — integrated on equipped vehicles for wheel-speed data.
• Mounting flange / bolt holes — attach the assembly to the rear axle beam, trailing arm, or knuckle.

Function

It carries the vehicle’s rear corner load, allows the wheel to spin freely with minimal friction, and maintains correct wheel position and alignment. On non-driven rear axles it simply supports rotation; on AWD and rear-drive vehicles it may also transmit drive torque.

Rear vs. front — important differences

Rear hub assemblies differ meaningfully from front ones, and the distinctions matter for service:

On many front-wheel-drive cars the rear hubs are non-driven and relatively lightly loaded — but they still fail, and they’re often harder to access because of the parking brake hardware and backing plate.

Failure symptoms

• Humming, growling, or rumbling from the rear that changes with vehicle speed
• Noise that shifts when cornering (load transfer between sides)
• Wheel play when the wheel is rocked by hand
• Vibration felt through the body or seat
• ABS warning light if the sensor or tone ring is affected
• Grease weeping past the seal, or rust and pitting on the bearing

Service notes

• Rear hub and bearing assemblies are normally replaced as complete units; splitting them is rarely practical.
• On driven rear axles the assembly must be separated from the axle shaft or CV joint.
• Axle or hub retaining nuts are often high-torque and frequently single-use (torque-to-yield) — replace them.
• Parking brake hardware on integrated-drum designs must be released and backed off before removal.
• Hub mating surfaces should be clean and free of rust so the new unit seats flat.
• Check that the ABS tone ring is intact and the sensor gap is correct; clear any stored fault codes.
• Confirm correct torque specs and, where applicable, preload — incorrect preload is a leading cause of premature failure.