Parts for your 2016 Ford Falcon-Wheel hubs

2016 Ford Falcon wheel hubs: what they do and how to look after them

Wheel hubs are absolutely relevant and used on the 2016 Ford Falcon (FG X). Ford’s FG/FG X Falcon Workshop Manual (suspension and hub/bearing sections: 204-01/204-02 and 205-02), along with major bearing catalogues from brands commonly used in Australia and New Zealand (e.g., SKF and Timken) and local parts listings from trade suppliers, all document front and rear hub/bearing components for the 2016 Falcon. So yes—this model runs conventional hubs with integrated bearings, and they’re a normal service item when worn or noisy.

On the FG X, the wheel hub’s job is to keep each wheel turning smoothly and true, carry the vehicle’s load through a sealed bearing, provide the mounting face and studs for the wheel, and feed accurate wheel speed signals to the ABS/ESC via an encoder ring or tone wheel. It’s a quiet hero: if it’s healthy, the Falcon tracks straight, brakes cleanly, and the tyres wear evenly.

The front end typically uses a sealed, bolt-on hub and bearing unit. The rear runs independent suspension with a splined hub on the driveshaft and a bearing retained in the knuckle, service methods differ slightly front to rear, but both assemblies are designed as sealed-for-life components with no periodic greasing or adjustment.

Common signs a Falcon hub or bearing is on the way out include a humming or growling noise that rises with road speed, a change in tone when loading the car left or right, ABS/ESC warning lamps, uneven tyre wear, or noticeable play when rocking the wheel at 12 and 6 o’clock. Heat around the hub after a drive can also be a clue.

• Inspection: during regular services (about every 10,000–20,000 km), check for noise, roughness and play, spin and feel for notchiness.
• Replacement tips: follow Ford procedures, hub-to-knuckle bolts and axle/stub axle nuts are high-torque and may be single-use—fit new fasteners where specified and use a calibrated torque wrench.
• ABS care: keep the encoder face clean and seat the sensor correctly to avoid ABS faults.
• Mating faces: clean rust and burrs so the hub sits flush, this helps wheel alignment and rotor runout.
• Quality matters: choose reputable hub/bearing brands suited to Aussie and Kiwi road conditions.

Front hub units generally unbolt from the knuckle once the brake and rotor are off. Rear bearings often require a press and proper support of the knuckle, many workshops suggest an alignment check afterwards if arms or bolts have been disturbed. There’s no set replacement interval—change hubs when symptoms appear. With good tyres, correct wheel torque, and intact seals, many Falcon hubs run well past 120,000 km.

Do 2016 Ford Falcon FG X models use serviceable wheel bearings or sealed hub assemblies?

They use sealed units. The front is a bolt-on hub/bearing assembly, the rear uses a pressed-in sealed bearing with a separate splined hub. There’s no periodic greasing or preload adjustment—when worn or noisy, the unit is replaced.

How can someone tell if a Falcon hub is failing?

Listen for a speed-related hum or growl that changes when weaving gently left-right, feel for play when rocking the wheel at 12 and 6 o’clock, watch for ABS/ESC lights, and check for uneven tyre wear or a hot hub after a drive.

Should wheel hubs be replaced in pairs?

Not strictly required, but it’s often practical to replace both on the same axle if one has failed—age, load and conditions are usually similar, and it saves a second strip-down if the other side starts making noise soon after.