[Vwdiesel] More Wheel Bearing fun!

[Roger Brown]

Lee Hillsgrove wrote:
> 
>   I'd like to know how you can remove front wheel bearings without
> destroying them. I've not found a way to get behind the outside inner race
> (you know what I mean?) and press it off of the hub. Otherwise, when you
> press the hub out of the knuckle, it rips the guts out of the bearing and
> all those balls go bouncing over the shop floor. IMO, you would never want
> to reuse a front bearing anyway, considering the stress it sees and the work
> involved in changing it. Consider the leverage of the front wheel on those
> two puny bearings, separated by only 1/2" or so. BIG lever, and big
> stresses. I'm amazed that they last as long as they do.

When I replaced mine last time, I got one out intact.  I don't think it
was too worn out, though.  It is kind of a weak design, really should
use tapered roller bearings or something like that.