Parts for your 2013 Toyota Bb-Wheel hubs

2013 Toyota bB wheelhubs — what they do and when to replace them

Technical sources confirm the 2013 Toyota bB is fitted with wheel hubs front and rear. Toyota’s Electronic Parts Catalog for the QNC20/QNC21 series lists Front Axle Hub sub‑assemblies and Rear Axle Hub & Bearing units for the 2013 model year, and the Toyota bB Repair Manual (Chassis) includes procedures for hub/bearing removal, installation and ABS tone‑ring checks. Major bearing catalogues from NTN/NSK/SKF also catalogue front and rear hub assemblies for the 2013 bB, so wheelhubs are absolutely relevant on this vehicle.

On a 2013 Toyota bB, the wheelhub is the sturdy bit that the wheel bolts onto and the brake rotor or drum locates against. Inside it lives the sealed bearing that lets the wheel spin smoothly while carrying the load of the car. The hub also provides the mounting face for the wheel studs and carries the ABS tone ring so the speed sensors can read wheel speed accurately. Up front the hub and bearing are typically pressed into the steering knuckle, at the rear the bB generally uses a bolt‑on hub and bearing assembly.

Because the hub bearings are sealed for life, there’s no regular greasing to do. Maintenance is mostly about prevention and quick diagnosis. Keep road grit and water jets away from the ABS sensor area, torque wheel nuts evenly with a torque wrench, and avoid kerb hits that can bruise a bearing. If brake work has the discs scorching hot, give the car a gentle cool‑down before washing to avoid thermal shock to the bearings.

• Common signs a bB wheelhub is on the way out:
  • A humming or growling that rises with road speed, often changing when steering left or right
  • ABS or TRC light on, sometimes with a stored wheel‑speed sensor fault
  • Play when rocking the wheel at 12 and 6 o’clock (with the wheel off the ground)
  • Uneven tyre wear or a rough, notchy feel when spinning the wheel by hand

Replacement on the rear is usually straightforward: unbolt the hub assembly, clean the mating face, and refit the new unit with new bolts if specified. The front often needs a press and the right drifts to avoid damaging the new bearing, so many owners leave that to a workshop. Always replace any single‑use fasteners (axle nuts, cotter pins), seat the ABS sensor cleanly, and finish with a proper wheel alignment check if the knuckle has been disturbed. Quality parts last a long time, many bB hubs see well over 150,000 km if the car isn’t carrying pothole battle scars.

Q: What are the tell‑tale symptoms of failing 2013 Toyota bB wheelhubs?

A: The classic giveaway is a steady humming or droning that changes with speed and subtly shifts when the steering is loaded one way. Add in ABS lights, vibration through the wheel, or detectable play at the rim and it’s time for a closer look.

Q: Do the bB’s wheelhubs include the ABS sensor, or just the tone ring?

A: The hub typically carries the tone ring/encoder for the ABS signal, while the actual sensor bolts to the knuckle and reads that ring. When replacing hubs, keep the sensor face clean and avoid magnetised swarf so the ABS behaves properly.

Q: Should both front or both rear wheelhubs be replaced together on a 2013 bB?

A: It’s not mandatory, but if one hub has failed due to age or kilometres, the mate on the same axle may be close behind. Many workshops recommend doing them in pairs to save a second visit and keep noise and feel consistent side‑to‑side.