[Vwdiesel] front wheel bearings

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/11/2007 10:58:52 PM Central Daylight Time, 
vbriggs at stny.rr.com writes:

> any advice on changing front wheel bearings that doesn't require just 
> replacing the entire hub ? They got the bearings in there, there has to 
> be a way to press them out...
> 86' golf.
> 

  Just did it on the Passat, nearly identical.  There's two ways to do it.  
One is an "on the car" press that uses cups, plates and a threaded rod to 
"pull" the bearing out and press the new one in.  The other way is to pull the 
knuckle out  and use a press of vise and large sockets or what have you.  Press 
out the hub which will take one inner race with it and destroy the bearing.  
Press out the outer race and remainder of the bearing.  Cold chissel the inner 
race away from the hub (pound into straight down between the two) until you get 
a gap.  A friend's shop usually uses two pry bars and then "pops" the race off 
the hub in a few tries.  I didn't have time so I fired up the torch and cut 
it.  I've used a grinder too to cut most of the way through the race then split 
it and pop it off.
  Press the new bearing into the knujckle (there's snap ringe inner and outer 
btw.  Then SUPPORT THE INNER RACE while you seat the hub from the other side. 
 Failure to fully support the race from the back will ruin the bearing!
  Put the hub/knuckle assy. back in the car and align.  Or mark the strut 
location well and you might get away without alignment.
    Loren


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