2015 Ram 1500 Wheel Bearing Replacement Guide

That grinding or humming noise coming from your 2015 Ram 1500's wheels that changes pitch with speed is almost certainly a failing wheel bearing — and replacing the hub assembly yourself saves $400–$600 over shop pricing.

What You'll Need

• Wheel bearing hub assembly (front: Timken HA590313 or SKF BR930734; rear: varies by axle type — verify 2WD vs. 4WD)
• 21mm lug nut socket
• 15mm and 18mm sockets (caliper bolts)
• 36mm axle nut socket (1/2" drive, impact recommended for front 4WD)
• Torque wrench (up to 185 ft-lbs for front axle nut)
• Impact wrench (strongly recommended for axle nut)
• Floor jack and jack stands
• Breaker bar
• Brake cleaner
• Anti-seize compound

Estimated time: 60–90 minutes per side Estimated cost: $80–$150 for hub assembly (vs. $450–$700 at a shop)

Before You Start

The 2015 Ram 1500 uses a bolt-on hub assembly — both front and rear use sealed bearing units that replace as a complete assembly (no pressing required). This makes the job doable at home without a hydraulic press. One critical note: on 4WD models, the front hub assembly is retained by a large 36mm axle nut torqued to 185 ft-lbs at the factory. You will not break this loose with a hand breaker bar alone. An impact gun rated for 300+ ft-lbs is strongly recommended. If you don't have one, rent it from an auto parts store.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Confirm the bad bearing — Drive at 40 mph and swerve gently left and right. If the noise increases turning one direction, the bad bearing is on the opposite side (loaded side is quiet, unloaded side makes noise).
2. Loosen the lug nuts and axle nut on the ground — Before jacking, break loose the 6 lug nuts (21mm) and the axle nut (36mm, 4WD only) while the wheel is on the ground.
3. Jack and support the truck — Raise the front end (or rear) and place jack stands under the frame rails. Remove the wheel.
4. Remove the brake caliper — Remove the two caliper slide pin bolts (18mm upper, 15mm lower). Hang the caliper from the spring with a bungee cord.
5. Remove the brake rotor — Slide the rotor off the hub. If stuck, thread two lug nuts partway in opposite holes and tighten alternately to push it free.
6. Remove the ABS sensor connector — Disconnect the ABS wire harness clip from the hub assembly. Note the routing.
7. Remove the hub assembly bolts — On the 2015 Ram 1500, the front hub is retained by 3 bolts (21mm) accessed from the rear of the steering knuckle. Remove all three.
8. Remove the axle nut (4WD) — With the rotor off and truck on stands, use your impact gun to remove the 36mm axle nut. Pull the axle shaft back slightly to free the hub.
9. Pull the hub assembly free — The hub may stick in the knuckle. Use a hub puller or carefully tap it loose with a rubber mallet. Do not hammer on the bearing surface.
10. Install the new hub assembly — Slide the new unit onto the axle (4WD) and align the 3 bolt holes with the knuckle. Thread the bolts in by hand.
11. Torque the hub bolts — Torque to 130 ft-lbs (176 Nm) in a star pattern.
12. Install the new axle nut (4WD) — Torque to 185 ft-lbs (251 Nm). This is a critical specification — under-torque and the bearing will fail prematurely.
13. Reinstall rotor, caliper, and wheel — Torque lug nuts to 130 ft-lbs in a star pattern.
14. Pump the brakes before driving — 10–15 pumps until the pedal is firm.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not confirming which side is bad — Replacing the wrong bearing is expensive. Do the swerve test first, or use a chassis ear tool while driving to pinpoint the noise.
• Not using an impact gun for the axle nut — A rusted 185 ft-lb axle nut on a 4WD Ram will not move with a breaker bar and a cheater pipe. Save the frustration and rent an impact gun.
• Skipping the ABS connector — Leaving the ABS sensor unplugged sets a fault code and disables ABS. The connector is small and easy to miss behind the knuckle.
• Under-torquing the hub bolts — The 3 hub bolts at 130 ft-lbs are what hold your wheel to the vehicle. Use a torque wrench and verify.

Troubleshooting

Noise persists after bearing replacement: First verify you replaced the correct side. If you're confident, check that all hub bolts are at spec torque — a loose bolt lets the hub shift and creates a metallic clunk.

ABS light on after replacement: The ABS ring is integrated into the hub assembly — if you bought a hub without the ring, or the ring was damaged during install, the ABS sensor can't read it. Confirm the new hub has the reluctor ring.

New bearing noisy immediately after install: Verify the 36mm axle nut is torqued correctly on 4WD models. Under-torqued axle nuts allow bearing preload issues that create immediate noise.

Final Thoughts

Replacing the wheel bearing on a 2015 Ram 1500 is one of the most satisfying DIY jobs you can do — the hub bolt-on design means no press, no special shop tools beyond an impact gun, and under two hours of work. For more Ram 1500 maintenance — brakes, shocks, differential fluid — see the OwnerDrop Complete DIY Mechanic Library.

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Want the complete step-by-step system for maintaining your 2015 Ram 1500? The Complete DIY Mechanic Library covers oil changes, brakes, electrical, suspension, and more — everything in one place.