Wheel Bearing Housing
Wheel Bearing Housing
For a short period of time, wheel bearing housings for AWD vehicles were installed on FWD vehicles - item 24 - => [ (Item 24) Wheel Bearing Housing ] Wheel Bearing Housing, Wheel Bearing Unit and Coil Spring Shock Absorber Overview. Refer to the Parts Catalog. Do not install both types together. Procedure for vehicles equipped with an AWD wheel bearing housing. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing Housing ] Wheel Bearing Housing.
For a short period, steel wheel bearing housings instead of aluminum wheel bearing housings were installed on FWD vehicles, refer to the Parts Catalog. Do not install both types together.
Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required
• Grease Cap Puller (VW 637/2)
• Fitting Sleeve (3241/4)
• Torque Wrench 50-200 Nm (V.A.G 1332)
• Torque Wrench (V.A.G 1410)
• Grease
Removing
- Determine dimension - a - from the center of the wheel to the lower edge of the wheel housing before starting work while the vehicle is resting on its wheels.
Only on vehicles with a drive axle stub - item 26 - => [ (Item 26) Driveshaft Stub ] Wheel Bearing Housing, Wheel Bearing Unit and Coil Spring Shock Absorber Overview
- Remove the bolt - arrow -. Refer to => [ Threaded Connection Between Drive Axle and Wheel Hub, Loosening and Tightening ] Procedures.
Removing, Continued
- Place the vehicle on a hoist.
Only perform the following steps if the wheel bearing housing will be replaced.
- Loosen the dust cap by lightly tapping on the (VW 637/2).
- Pry the dust cap off using the (VW 637/2).
- Loosen the wheel bearing unit collar bolt, but only when the vehicle is resting on its wheels. Refer to => [ Threaded Connection Between Drive Axle and Wheel Hub, Loosening and Tightening ] Procedures.
Removing, Continued
- Remove the wheel.
- Release the connector - 1 - from the rear speed sensor and remove it.
- Disconnect the electro-mechanical parking brake connector - 3 -.
- Remove the bolt - 2 - and the bracket with lines - 6 -.
- Remove brake caliper and brake disc.
- Secure the brake caliper to the body so that the weight of the caliper does not stress or damage the brake hose or brake line.
Only perform the following steps if the wheel bearing housing will be replaced.
- Remove the bolts - 1 - from the brake shield - 2 -.
• Do not pull the wheel bearing off by the outer race (wheel hub).
- Remove the wheel bearing unit - 2 - over the brake shield - 1 - and from the stub axle - 3 -.
• If the wheel bearing unit can be removed from the wheel bearing housing by hand, the wheel bearing unit is OK and can be reinstalled.
- Reach behind the front seal - arrow - when the stub axle has been freed up enough. Remove the wheel bearing unit and the brake shield (both not shown in the illustration) over the front seal - arrow -.
• Avoid contaminating with dirt and damaging the seal when setting down/storing.
The wheel bearing - 1 - must always face up.
- Always set the wheel bearing unit down on the wheel hub - 2 -.
- Clean the front seal.
- Remove the rear speed sensor - 2 -. Remove bolt - 1 - to do so.
Removing, Continued
- Remove coil spring. Refer to => [ Coil Spring ] Service and Repair.
- Mark the position of the bolt - 1 - to the wheel bearing housing - 2 -.
- Remove the nut - 4 - and the eccentric washer - 3 -.
- Remove the bolt - 1 -.
- Remove bolt - 4 -.
- Release the retaining tabs - A - and remove the stone deflector - 2 -.
- Remove the bolt - 2 - and washer - 1 -.
- Remove nut - 3 -.
- Remove the bolt - 1 - and the spacer tube - 2 -.
- Remove wheel bearing housing.
Installing
Install in reverse order of removal. Note the following:
Tightening specifications, refer to => [ Wheel Bearing Housing, Wheel Bearing Unit and Coil Spring Shock Absorber Overview ] Wheel Bearing Housing, Wheel Bearing Unit and Coil Spring Shock Absorber Overview
• Bonded rubber bushings can only be turned to a limited extent. Only tighten suspension bolts when vehicle is in curb weight or control position.
• Wheel bearing, lifting to curb weight position on vehicles with coil springs. Refer to => [ Wheel Bearing in Curb Weight, Lifting Vehicles with Coil Spring ] Description and Operation.
- Install wheel bearing housing.
- Insert the bolt - 1 - with the spacer tube - 2 - and install the nut - 3 - loosely.
• Do not tighten the threaded connection using the nut - 3 -.
- Tighten the bolt - 1 -.
- Install coil spring. Refer to => [ Coil Spring ] Service and Repair.
- Install the brake caliper and disc.
Only if the wheel bearing housing was replaced.
- Install the rear speed sensor.
- Install the front seal and grease the stub axle - arrow - lightly with grease.
• Damaged (dented) protective caps must be replaced.
• Damaged (dented) protective caps allow moisture to enter. Therefore, always use the tool shown.
- Install the protective cap using the (3241/4).
Installing, Continued
- Install the wheel.
- Tighten the wheel.
Only if the wheel bearing housing was replaced.
- Tighten the wheel bearing unit collar bolt, but only when the vehicle is resting on its wheels. Refer to => [ Threaded Connection Between Drive Axle and Wheel Hub, Loosening and Tightening ] Procedures.
Installing, Continued
- Axle alignment is required, see table, refer to => [ When Vehicle Alignment is Necessary ] Description and Operation.
The axle alignment on the front and rear axles must be performed on a VW/Audi approved alignment rack.