Telehandler Final Drive Replacement Cost: JLG, Manitou, Cat, Genie, and More

What does it cost to replace a telehandler final drive or wheel hub planetary? Real parts and labor ranges for JLG G6-42A, Manitou MT625, Cat TH514, Genie GTH-844, and more, plus failure symptoms and when the repair makes sense.

When a telehandler loses drive to one wheel, or starts pulling to one side under load, the final drive (the wheel hub planetary reduction at the affected axle) is usually the culprit. On a machine that needs all four wheels gripping to lift loads at height, a failing final drive is not a "run it until the job is done" situation. Here is what the repair costs and what drives the range.

What the Final Drive Is on a Telehandler

Telehandlers use a transmission and axle system with planetary hub reductions at each driven wheel. The planetary hub (the "final drive") is the gear set inside the wheel hub that takes torque from the axle shaft and multiplies it through a sun gear, planet gears, and ring gear before it reaches the tire. This planetary reduction allows the machine to use a smaller, lighter axle shaft while still delivering high torque at the wheel.

When this planetary set fails, the machine loses traction at that corner, pulls to one side, or in a full failure, the wheel freewheels and the machine cannot move under its own power from that axle. This is different from a hydraulic drive motor failure (which affects machines with individual wheel motors) or a transmission failure (which affects all four wheels equally). On most 4WD telehandlers, final drive failures show up at one corner at a time.

Telehandler Final Drive Replacement Cost

A telehandler final drive replacement (wheel hub planetary) runs $1,800 to $5,500 per hub, parts and labor. Machines with a single failing hub sit at the lower end; machines where both axle hubs are failing simultaneously (more common on high-hour machines) run toward the top of the combined range.

Repair Scope	Parts Cost	Total with Labor
Hub planetary rebuild (bearings + seals + wear parts)	$400-$1,200	$1,200-$2,800
Hub planetary replacement (full unit, reman)	$900-$2,500	$1,800-$4,200
Hub planetary replacement (OEM new)	$1,500-$3,800	$2,500-$5,500
Two hubs (both axle ends, reman)	$1,800-$5,000	$3,500-$8,500

Ranges assume shop rates of $85-$135/hr and 3-6 hours per hub. Add cost for axle seal inspection and any damaged axle shaft work if contamination is found.

For a range on your specific machine before you call shops: EquipBook's free repair cost estimator covers final drive and hub planetary repairs across common telehandler makes and models.

Cost by Brand and Model

JLG G6-42A / G9-43A / G10-55A: $2,000-$4,500 per hub. JLG telehandlers are the most common brand on North American jobsites, and the hub planetary service market is well established. JLG's agricultural and construction telehandlers use axle configurations from major suppliers (Dana, Carraro) with solid aftermarket parts availability. Rebuild kits for common hub failures run $400-$900; full replacement hubs are available in reman.
Manitou MT625 / MT732 / MT1030: $2,200-$4,800 per hub. Manitou is a dominant brand in European-specification telehandlers. North American availability of Manitou hub planetary parts is improving but can run longer lead times than JLG or Cat. Manitou uses Carraro and proprietary axle systems. Confirm parts availability before committing to the repair schedule.
Caterpillar TH514 / TH417 / TH255: $2,500-$5,500 per hub. Cat telehandlers carry the Cat parts premium. OEM hub assemblies and rebuild kits are available through the Cat dealer network. Cat telehandlers use robust axle systems with good durability when maintained, but final drive oil changes are often deferred past the recommended interval in rental fleets, which accelerates planetary wear.
Genie GTH-636 / GTH-844 / GTH-1056: $2,000-$4,500 per hub. Genie telehandlers (part of Terex/Manitowoc) use standard axle configurations with reasonable parts availability. The GTH-844 and GTH-1056 are common rental machines in North America. Aftermarket rebuild kits are available for common hub failures at these tonnage ratings.
Skyjack SJ643TH / SJ838TH: $1,800-$4,200 per hub. Skyjack telehandlers are common in the rental sector. Hub planetary rebuild kits are available and Skyjack's North American service network is solid. The SJ643TH is one of the lighter machines in the class, and hub replacement costs sit toward the lower end of the range.
Merlo P40.17 / P60.10: $2,500-$5,000 per hub. Merlo telehandlers are less common in North America than in Europe, and parts lead times can be longer. Merlo uses proprietary axle systems. If you are running Merlo equipment in North America, confirm dealer parts stock before scheduling the repair.

Signs Your Telehandler Final Drive Is Failing

The machine pulls to one side on a flat surface. If the telehandler tracks straight at low speed but drifts to one side under load, the drive hub on the opposite side (the side it drifts away from) is the suspect. This is the most common early symptom.
One wheel spins faster or slower than the other on the same axle. If you can see one wheel spinning significantly faster than the others on a four-wheel-drive machine, the hub planetary on the fast-spinning wheel has lost its reduction ratio. The planetary gears are damaged and the hub is not multiplying torque correctly.
Grinding or clunking noise from one wheel area. A metallic grinding noise from a specific wheel corner, particularly when accelerating, turning, or under load, indicates planetary gear wear. On telehandlers it is often more distinct than on tracked machines because the noise travels directly through the axle and frame.
Hub planetary oil on the ground under the machine. Telehandler wheel hubs have a dedicated oil fill for the planetary reduction. A wet hub housing or oil dripping from a wheel end means the hub seal has failed. Running the planetary dry accelerates gear and bearing wear significantly. Check the hub oil level at every service interval.
Vibration through the floor or seat at working speed. Low-frequency vibration that changes with ground speed (not engine speed) and can be isolated to one side of the machine points to hub bearing wear or a damaged planetary carrier.

Hub Planetary Rebuild vs. Full Replacement

The choice between rebuilding the existing hub planetary and replacing it with a reman or new unit depends on what inspection finds once the hub is open.

A rebuild works when the ring gear and planetary carrier are in good shape and only the planet gears, bearings, and seals need replacement. The rebuild kit typically costs $400-$1,200 and the shop can complete the job without waiting for a full hub assembly. Lead time is shorter and total cost is lower.

A full hub replacement is the call when the ring gear shows spalling or deep pitting, the carrier has bearing bore damage, or the sun gear is cracked. Rebuilding around damaged castings fails again sooner and costs more in the long run than replacing the hub outright. Reman hub assemblies are available for most JLG, Genie, and Cat telehandlers and cut the wait versus ordering a new OEM unit.

What to Check Before Approving the Repair

Two things matter beyond the hub itself.

First, inspect the axle shaft on the failed side. A failed hub planetary can let the axle shaft ride against damaged gear material, scoring the shaft. If the axle shaft has scoring or fretting at the hub end, it should be inspected and potentially replaced at the same time. Installing a new hub on a marginal axle shaft causes early hub seal failure.

Second, check the hub oil in all four wheel ends. If one hub failed from oil starvation, the others may be marginal. A five-minute check of hub oil level across all four corners before closing up the job can prevent a second repair within a few months.

Does the Repair Make Sense?

A 2020 JLG G10-55A in good working condition is worth $70,000 to $90,000. A $3,000 hub planetary replacement is 3 to 4 percent of that value. On any telehandler under 6,000 hours with solid boom cylinders, a clean cab, and reasonable tire life remaining, a hub planetary job is a clear yes.

On a 2013 Manitou MT732 at 10,000 hours with worn tires, a boom cylinder leak, and the hub repair coming on top of a list of deferred items, the math is more involved. Know your machine's market value before approving a stack of repairs.

Get a free telehandler valuation at EquipBook in under 60 seconds. Then use the free repair cost estimator to price the hub planetary job on your specific machine. Those two numbers together make the repair-versus-replace decision clear before you commit.

See also: compact excavator final drive replacement cost, skid steer final drive replacement cost, and excavator final drive replacement cost for final drive repairs on other common equipment classes.