Wheel Bearing Kits
Pioneering every major advance in wheel end technology since the invention of the automobile.
SKF supply wheel bearings to most OE car manufacturers in the world and today more than 90 million cars run on SKF bearings. The SKF vehicle aftermarket beneifts greatly from the company's OE expertise and our range covers 98% of the European car parc.
- Product range of over 1000 kits includes three generations of wheel bearing designs.
- SKF patented X-tracker for high performance, high load vehicles.
- All bearings are sealed for life with high performance, application-specific grease.
- Kits include any nuts, bolts, or screws necessary to carry out a complete repair.
- Fitting instructions, technicial bulletins and replacement videos available to help carry out accurate and efficient repairs.
- SKF designs and manufactures seals to complete our bearing offer.
- Also available with OE quality ABS impulse ring and sensors for maximum braking safety.
First generation bearings
The SKF first-generation hub bearing unit was actually developed in the '60s in response to automotive industry interest in pre-adjusted wheel bearing
assemblies for small-medium vehicles. The HBU1 unit is found on vehicles such as Renault Laguna, Honda Accord, BMW X3, Citroen C3 and Peugeot 207.
Features and performance
- Double row angular contact ball bearings: provide exact load support needed for smooth cornering.
- Matched rings and ball sets: give the correct axial clearance for optimum performance and durability.
- Patented glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cages: resist high loads and operating temperatures.
- Precision machined to tight tolerances: minimizes power loss and increases power density.
- Perfectly forged with premium quality steel: avoids raceway spalling for longer bearing life.
- Optimized raceway contact angles: provide correct pre-load conditions for accurate installation.
- Multiple-lip seal design: keeps contaminents out and grease inside the hub.
- SKF GHG Grease: exclusive formula ensures low operating friction.
Second generation bearings
Reducing weight and friction since the 70's
In the early 1970s, the Hub Unit 2 emerged offering more compact, lightweight and efficient solutions. Building on the
HBU1 design, HBU2 incorporated a flange with the bearing outer ring. The HBU 2.2 combines an HBU1 with a flange ensuring
fast and simple installation on vehicles. Typically found on non-driven front or rear wheels and can be found on models
such as the Audi A3 and BMW 3 (E46).
Features and performance
- Robust, light-weight and coated flange: avoids galvanised corrosion for easier wheel replacement and longer bearing life.
- Accurate bearing pre-load using orbital rolling techniques: provides correct operating conditions for optimum performance and durability.*
- High stiffness: ensures a smoother drive and better vehicle handling.
- Correct induction-hardening processes: strengthens raceways and avoids hub fractures for safety and long service life.
- High tensile strength wheel studs: prevent wheel-off conditions.
- Multiple-lip seal design: keeps contaminants out and grease inside the hub.
- Patented glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cages: resist high loads and operating temperatures.
- SKF GHG Grease: exclusive formula ensures low operating friction.
*HBU2.1
Third generation bearings
A more compact new wave in the '80s
By the early 1908s, demand was still growing for ever-shrinking, fully integrated designs. The HBU3 offered it by incorporating
a flange for wheel and brake rotor attachment and a second flange for fixing the unit to the suspension. The unit incorporates
further reductions in weight, noise, vibration and assembly time for driven and no-driven wheels on vehicles including the Alfa Remoeo Giulia...
Features and performance
- Seperate inner ring on the inboard ball row: maximised the dynamic load carrying capacity.
- Robust, light-weight and coated glange: avoids galvanised corrosion for easier wheel replacement and longer bearing life.
- Accurate bearing pre-load using orbital rolling techniques: provides correct conditions for optimum performance and durability.
- High stiffness: ensures a smoother drive and better vehicle handling.
- Correct induction-hardening processes: strengthens raceways and avoids hub fractures for safety and long service life.
- High tensile strength wheel studs: prevent wheel-off conditions.
- Multiple-lip seal design: keeps contaminants out and grease inside the hub.
- Patented glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cages: resist high loads and operating temperatures.
- SKF GHG Grease: exclusive formula ensures low operating friction.
X-Tracker
A new line of performance-engineered hub units for precision cornering and stability
High-load and high-performance vehicle owners demand exceptional wheel end performance, cornering and stability. The patented SKF X-tracker delivers
all of that ensuring smooth handling, comfort, reduced NVH levels and safety. The SKF X-Tracker can be found on vehicles such as the Cadillac STS-V,
Dodge Durango and Dakota, and the Kia HM.
Features and performance
- Unique ball-set designw: increases stiffness by 50% and improves load carrying capacity for better handling and comfort.
- Low lateral run-out between wheel hub and brake rotor: prevents excessive use of brakes and premature brake failure.
- Robust, light-weight and coated flange: avoids galvanised corrosion for easier wheel replacement and longer bearing life.
- Accurate bearing pre-load using orbital rolling techniques: provides correct conditions for optimum performance and durability.
- Correct induction-hardening processes: strengthens raceways and avoids hub fractures for safety and long service life.
- High tensile strength wheel studs: prevent wheel-off conditions.
- Multiple-lip seal design: keeps contaminants out and grease inside the hub for increased operational life.
- Patented glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cages: resist high loads and operating temperatures.
- SKF GHG Grease: exclusive formula provides optimum bearing performance and life by minimizing friction.
Timing system
Belts and pulleys for everything from basic engines to the latest high-performance, downsized engines.
- Over 1600 timing system kits and loose components with OE quality parts available.
- Coverage of more than 85% of the car parc in Europe.
- All components meet OE specifications for optimum performance.
- A focus on system care and replacement - damaged components can influence and further impair others in the system.
- Kits contain all components needed to carry out a complete replacement including bolts, nuts, pulleys and water pump where necessary.
- Fitting instructions, technical bulletins and replacement videos available to help with repair accuracy and efficiency.
Timing belt kits
Perfect synchronisation in trusted OE quality
We introduced the timing belt kit concept to the automotive aftermarket over 20 years ago and the range was later extended with the
addition of the timing belt kit with water pump. When performing a timing belt replacement, experts recommend replacing all the parts
in the system, including the water pump, to avoid individual component failure and additional maintenance costs.
Features and performance
- Kits include the correct belt for your application in trusted OE quality.
- Premium quality tensioners and idler pulleys.
- Nuts, bolts, screws and other fasteners where necessary.
- Quality components ensuring optimum belt tension under all driving conditions.
- Specific fitting instructions including correct torques and step-by-step installation instructions downloadable on from the QR code on the box.
Timing belts
Flexibility and strength for the most demanding timing drives
Replacing the timing system is important when components are starting to fail, mileage is high or the vehicle is getting old.
But if the timing belt has to be removed for a quick engine check, it’s important to install a new one to guarantee the best tension and timing in the engine.
Features and performance
- SKF range includes loose timing belts and belt kits.
- OE quality materials and treatment: withstand high temperatures and heavy loads, ensure low friction and quiet operation.
- HSN (H-NBR) treated rubber reinforced with high tensile fibres (Kevlar): provide extra strength and extend service life span from 120 000 to over 200 000 km.
- PTFE coating where high pressure injection pump is driven by the timing belt: ensuring extra strength and heat resistance.
- Lower tolerances: maintain good timing within the engine for a smoother and more powerful drive.
Timing tensioners
Built to strict tolerances for flawless belt performance
Belt tensioners are highly precise devices designed to optimize belt tension by automatically compensating for thermal clearance in the engine. They help avoid
tooth jumping and never over-apply tension which can reduce belt performance or accessory lifetime.
Features and performance
- Precise dimensional bearing clearance: ensures bearings perform efficiently at all engine temperatures.
- Optimized pulley design and shape: assures low run-out defect for smooth belt drive, limited noise, vibration and wear.
- Damping integrated into the design: absorbs vibration and reduces stress on the belt and other accessories.
- Round or angled wire spring: improves tensioner control and increases service life of the whole system.
- Heat resistant pulley seal (-40° to +150°c): prevents contamination for low friction and long service life.
- High load capacity pulley: minimises the risk of pulley misalignment and belt damage in the system.
- Noose ring technology: reduces system vibration, leading to smoother operation and extended life of the tensioner.*
- Premium quality bearing grease: ensures smooth and quiet performance at all temperatures.
* According to OE specifications
Wheel end solutions for commercial vehicles
Wheel bearings and hub units for the largest movers on our roads.
- Well over half of the wheel bearings on new trucks today are designed and manufactured by SKF.
- One million heavy-duty hub units produced since 1998 clocking over one million kilometres.
- Over 270 different aftermarket wheel bearing solutions available.
- Complete range covers 84% of the European truck, trailer and busses car parc.
- Hub units are pre-adjusted, sealed and greased for life
- Lightweight, unitized designs help eliminate mounting and adjustment errors causing premature bearing failure.
- SKF designs reduce rapid wear and rolling friction
Third generation bearings
Classic design, reliable performance
SKF single tapered roller bearings are the most basic and effective wheel end solutions on the market. Their design eliminates sliding rollers and reduces friction resulting in large axial and radial load capacity at a wide range of speeds.
Set-up in pairs (inner & outer) within the hub unit, large distance between the bearings provide precise and rigid shaft guidance.
Features and performance
- Made with high-purity steel: enables exceptional strength and durability (up to 65 HRC on the Rockwell scale).
- Precise induction hardened raceways: avoids hub fractures for a safer and longer service life.
- Accurate bearing preload: includes correct application of advanced manufacturing techniques such as orbital rolling.
- Precision engineered to tight tolerances: provides defined high stiffness, low NVH and optimised service life.
- Unique roller end/flange contact zone: regulates lubricant film on raceways, even at low speeds, preventing temperature spikes during running-in and continuous operation.
- Roller and ring surface topography: form an instant film of lubricant, an essential requirement for high preloads.
Truck matched unit
A tailor-made, compact design
The truck matched unit was especially developed by SKF to match modern commercial vehicle life cycles.
Based on the unification of two single taper roller bearings, the inner rings are extended and held together with a sheet metal clip ring.
The design allows axial forces to be equally supported from all directions.
Features and performance
- Tailor-made compact bearing system design: ensures easier installation and high performance efficiencies.
- Pre-adjusted bearing axial clearance: provides correct installation conditions and better bearing durability.
- Fewer contact interfaces: reduces preload loss for optimised performance conditions.
- Higher axial clamping force: sustains higher system stiffness and improved load capacity.
- High performance cassette seal (“HiPer Seal”) for Scania: doubles bearing life.