Nissan Almera Classic (also known as Nissan Sunny B10 in some markets) is one of the most popular sedans in the budget segment, but even such time-tested cars have weaknesses. **The rear hub** is a unit that often fails after 100–150 thousand km, especially if the car was operated in aggressive conditions: bad roads, frequent overloads or neglect of maintenance.

In this article we will analyze all aspects of working with the hub — from the first symptoms of a malfunction to a complete replacement, taking into account the nuances Almera Classic. You will learn how to distinguish bearing wear from problems with the brake system, which part numbers of original and analog parts are suitable, and why it is sometimes cheaper to buy a complete hub than to change the bearing separately. We will also give unique data on hub compatibility from other Nissan models, which are rarely mentioned in standard manuals.

Signs of a faulty rear hub: how not to confuse it with other breakdowns

The main difficulty in diagnosing a wheel bearing is that its symptoms are often disguised as other chassis problems. For example, hum at speed can come from either the hub or worn tires or driveshaft. To avoid wasting time and money, pay attention to specific signs:

  • 🔊 Monotonous hum or howl from the side of the rear wheel, which increases during acceleration and may temporarily disappear when turning (due to load redistribution).
  • 🔄 Wheel play when swinging it with your hands in a vertical plane (checked on a jack).
  • 🔥 Hub overheating after a trip - if you cannot touch the wheel with your bare hand, this is a sure sign of critical bearing wear.
  • 🚗 Vibration on the steering wheel or body when driving on a flat road, especially at speeds above 60 km/h.

Important: on Almera Classic the rear hub often “suffers” due to a design feature - lack of ABS on basic trim levels. This leads to the fact that the bearing experiences increased loads during braking, since the pads press unevenly on the disc. If your car without ABS, check the hubs 20–30% more often!

⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse hub hum with noise from rear axle gearbox (on all-wheel drive versions) or differential. The noise from the hub is always localized — it can only be heard from one side, while problems with the gearbox give a uniform hum throughout the entire cabin.
📊 How often do you check the condition of your wheel bearings?
  • Every 20 thousand km
  • Only when there is noise
  • Never checked
  • I replace it according to the regulations (every 100 thousand km)

Rear hub design Nissan Almera Classic: what's inside and how it works

Rear hub on Almera Classic (body B10, 2006–2012) has a classic design for cars of this class:

  • 🔧 Bearing — double-row ball or roller (depending on the year of manufacture), non-removable, pressed into the hub housing.
  • 🛡️ Hub housing — cast, with a flange for fastening the brake disc and wheel studs.
  • 🔩 ABS sensor (if installed) - integrated into the hub or mounted separately on some versions.
  • 🔗 Spline connection — for fixing on the axle shaft (on front-wheel drive versions, the hub is simply put on the axle).

Feature Almera Classic — hub and bearing are supplied as a single unit (article 40520-BM000 or 40520-BM00A for versions with ABS). In theory, the bearing can be pressed out and replaced separately, but in practice this is unprofitable:

  • ⚙️ A special press and a heating oven are required (for pressing with tension).
  • ⏳ Time-consuming and risk of damage to the hub housing.
  • 💰 Cost of a new bearing (for example, NSK 6206-2RS) is 70–80% of the price of the hub assembly.
Component Article (original) Analogues (tested) Notes
Rear hub (without ABS) 40520-BM000 Febi 23610, SKF VKBA 3603 Suitable for versions 2006–2010.
Rear hub (with ABS) 40520-BM00A TRW JBS1044, Mapco 45100 Complete with ABS sensor
Wheel bearing 40528-BM000 NSK 6206-2RS, KOYO 6206-2RS For experienced mechanics only!

Unique fact: hubs from Nissan Note E11 (2006–2012) and Nissan Tiida C11 completely interchangeable with Almera Classic, despite the differences in bodies. This has been confirmed by tests on the forums NissanClub.ru And Drive2.ru.

Step-by-step replacement of the rear hub: tools and work procedure

Replacing the hub with Almera Classic - a task of medium complexity that requires minimum set of tools and accuracy. The main thing is to prepare properly and not miss key points.

Jack and stops (be sure to secure the car!)

17 and 19 mm socket wrench

30mm socket for hub nut

Puller for circlips (if ABS sensor is separate)

Torque wrench (to tighten the hub nut)

Hammer and wooden spacer (for knocking out old hub)

New hub and grease (eg LIQUI MOLY LM 50)-->

Work order:

  1. Raise the rear of the car, remove the wheel and brake drum (on versions with drum brakes) or brake disc (on versions with disc brakes).

  2. Unscrew the hub nut (tightening torque - 180–200 Nm). If the nut does not budge, use a penetrating lubricant. WD-40 or PB Blaster and let stand for 10-15 minutes.

  3. Remove the retaining ring (if equipped) and carefully knock the hub off the axle with a hammer through a wooden spacer. Don't hit the flange! - this may damage the brake disc seat.

  4. Clean the axle of old grease and rust, install a new hub and tighten the nut previously (do the final tightening after lowering the machine to the ground!).

⚠️ Attention: On versions with ABS do not disconnect the sensor connector before the hub is completely replaced - this may cause an error in the control unit. If the sensor comes with a new hub, first remove the old one and then connect the new one.
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Before installing a new hub, apply a thin layer of copper grease to the axle seat to make future replacement easier and prevent corrosion.

Cost of work and spare parts: where is cheaper and what to choose

Rear hub price for Almera Classic varies depending on the manufacturer and the presence of ABS:

Part type Original (Nissan) High-quality analogue Budget analogue
Hub without ABS 4 500–5 500 ₽ SKF/Febi — 3 200–3 800 ₽ Optimal/Finwhale — 2 000–2 500 ₽
Hub with ABS 6 000–7 500 ₽ TRW/Mapco — 4 500–5 200 ₽ Pilenga — 3 000–3 500 ₽
Bearing (separately) 2 800–3 500 ₽ NSK/KOYO — 1 800–2 200 ₽ FAG — 1 200–1 500 ₽

Cost of work in the service:

  • 🔧 Replacing the hub (one side) - 1 500–2 500 ₽.
  • 🔧 Replacement of the bearing (if the hub remains old) - 2 500–3 500 ₽ (due to the difficulty of pressing out).

Where to buy? Optimal options:

  • 🛒 Official Nissan dealers - guarantee of originality, but high price.
  • 🛒 Exist.ru / Autodoc — a wide selection of analogues with reviews.
  • 🛒 Local showdowns — you can find a used hub for RUB 1,000–1,500, but there is a risk of running into a worn-out part.
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Saving on spare parts costs more: cheap hubs (for example, Finwhale) often last no more than 20–30 thousand km, while SKF or TRW enough for 80–100 thousand km.

Tuning and reinforced hubs: does it make sense?

For most owners Almera Classic standard hubs are the best option, but if you:

  • 🏁 Participate in drag racing or drifting.
  • 🚛 Frequently transport heavy loads.
  • 🏔️ Drive off-road.

...it's worth considering enhanced options.

There are two types of "tuned" hubs on the market:

  1. Hubs with ceramic bearings (For example, CERAMICSpeed). Pros: lighter weight, high heat resistance, service life up to 200 thousand km. Cons: price from 15,000 ₽ per set.

  2. Hubs with reinforced housing (for example, from Nismo or Tanabe). Suitable for extreme loads, but require modifications to the braking system.

⚠️ Attention: Installing non-standard hubs may result in ABS malfunctions (if the sensor is not compatible) and accelerated wear of axle shafts. Before purchasing, consult with a tuning specialist Nissan!
Can I install hubs from a Nissan Juke?

No! Despite the fact that Juke And Almera Classic belong to the same family, their hubs are incompatible due to different wheel alignment parameters and bore diameters. Attempt installation will result in vibrations and uneven tire wear.

Common replacement mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced mechanics sometimes make mistakes that shorten the life of a new hub. Here TOP-5 misses and how to prevent them:

  • 🔨 Retightening the hub nut - leads to overheating of the bearing. Use a torque wrench (torque - 180–200 Nm).
  • 🧴 Lack of lubrication on the axle seat. Always apply a thin layer copper grease or LIQUI MOLY.
  • 🔧 Reusing an Old Nut - it deforms when tightened. Always take a new one (item number 08905-60010).
  • 🚗 Failure to check play after installation. After replacing, be sure to rock the wheel in the vertical and horizontal planes - there should be no play.
  • 🔋 Ignoring ABS errors. If the ABS light comes on after replacement, check the integrity of the sensor wiring and the gap between the sensor and the comb (should be 0.5–1.0 mm).

Another common mistake is replacing only one hub. If the car's mileage exceeds 150 thousand km, it is recommended to change the hubs a couple, since the second one is most likely also worn out, it just doesn’t show symptoms yet.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to drive with a broken hub?

For a short time (up to 500–1000 km) - yes, but with precautions: speed no higher than 60 km/h, avoid sharp turns and braking. Long driving will lead to:

  • 🔥 Bearing jamming and wheel locking while driving.
  • 🚗 Damage to the axle shaft (repairs will cost 10–15 thousand rubles).
  • 🛑 Wheel separation as a last resort (if the hub is completely destroyed).
Which bearing is better: ball or roller?

For Almera Classic Both types were installed by the factory:

  • 🔘 Ball (article 6206-2RS) - cheaper, but less durable (resource ~80 thousand km).
  • 🔄 Roller (article 30206) - more expensive, but can withstand heavy loads (lifetime ~120 thousand km).

Recommendation: if you drive mainly around the city, a ball-type one is enough. For a loaded car or an aggressive driving style, take a roller one.

What to do if vibration appears after replacing the hub?

Causes and solutions:

  • 🔧 Loose hub nut — tighten until the moment is 180–200 Nm.
  • 🚗 Damaged brake disc — check the disc runout (tolerance no more than 0.1 mm).
  • 🔄 Unbalanced wheel - do balancing.
  • 🔥 Bearing defect — if the vibration does not go away, replace the hub under warranty.
Will the hub from Renault Logan fit?

No! Despite the fact that Almera Classic And Logan first generation built on the same platform (B0), their hubs not interchangeable due to different:

  • 🔧 Bore hole diameters (y Logan — 60 mm, y Almera - 62 mm).
  • 🚗 Flange sizes for the brake disc.
  • 🔄 ABS sensor designs (if installed).
How often should wheel bearings be checked?

Recommended inspection interval:

  • 🔧 Every 20 thousand km — visual inspection for play and noise.
  • 🚗 Every 50 thousand km — check on a lift with wheel removal.
  • 🔄 After strong blows (for example, falling into a hole at speed).

Bearing life depends on:

  • 🛣️ Quality of roads (on Russian highways the resource is reduced by 30–40%).
  • 🚛 Driving style (sharp acceleration and braking kills the bearing 2 times faster).
  • 🧴 Quality of lubricant (cheap lubricant dries out and does not protect against corrosion).