Type 44 front wheel bearing job done!

[Kunz, Bob]

My 21 year old 5Ks Avant finally gave up the driver's front wheel
bearing and I got the change done this past weekend. Thanks to the
archive for BTDT help. The bearing started to make continuous noise on
right hand turns, so I parked it a few weeks ago while I collected the
parts and time to do the job.

A couple of observations...

I took the strut out completely, because I was going to use a press and
it's really just a few more minutes of work to get it out of there.
Gives you a chance to get the ABS sensor out of there too and get that
cleaned up.

The steering knuckle really pops out with a bang. If I do this again,
I'll leave the nut on the bolt so things don't go flying. On re-assembly
you'll have to tap the joint in to seat it to allow the lock nut to snug
up.

I wasn't expecting a split inner race but in hindsight the clues are all
over the place. Be ready for explosive bearing destruction when pressing
the hub out. It definitely takes 1/2 the inner race with it, and the
ball bearings fly around.

I used a chisel to start the inner race removal from the hub. That
allowed enough space for the gear puller to fit to get a grip.

I had to remove the sway bar bushing on the same side to be able to line
up the ball joint on re-assembly. Putting equal weight on both sides
allow one to re-align the bushing and get it on there.

--bob
'86 5Ks Avant
'02 TTQR
'06 VW GTI