Wheel Bearing Housing

Wheel Bearing Housing

The wheel bearing housing was changed from steel to aluminum. Only aluminum wheel bearing housings are available as a replacement part. When replacing, certain parts must be also be replaced and installed as well. Refer to the Electronic Parts Catalog (ETKA).

The following parts must be replaced and/or additionally installed:

• Brake carrier.

• Brake carrier bolts (quantity 2).

• Bolt, nut and washer for the upper crossmember on the wheel bearing housing.

• Bolt, nut and washer for the tie rod to the wheel bearing housing.

• Bolt and washer for the shock absorber to the wheel bearing housing.

• Bolts (quantity 2) for the trailing arm to the wheel bearing housing.

• Cover plate with bolts (quantity 4) to the wheel bearing housing.


The additional washers must always be installed between the body and the wheel bearing housing.

It is permissible to install an aluminum wheel bearing housing on one side of the vehicle and a cast steel wheel bearing housing on the other side. Refer to the Electronic Parts Catalog (ETKA).

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

• Torque Wrench 40-200 Nm (V.A.G 1332)

Removing

- Measure dimension from center of wheel to lower edge of wheel housing. Refer to => [ Rear Suspension, Lifting to Curb Weight Position ] Rear Suspension, Lifting to Curb Weight Position.

- Loosen the outer drive axle threaded connection.

• Refer to => [ Drive Axle Hex Bolt Connection, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Hex Bolt Connection, Loosening and Tightening.

• Refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt with Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt With Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

• Refer to => [ Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening ] Drive Axle Twelve-Point Bolt Without Ribs, Loosening and Tightening.

- Remove the wheel.

- Remove coil spring. Refer to => [ Coil Spring ] Coil Spring.

- Remove brake carrier and brake caliper and tie to body with wire.

• Do not allow brake caliper to hang from brake line.

- Remove cover plate.

- Remove ABS speed sensor from wheel bearing housing.

- Remove the bolt - 2 - and washer - 1 -.






The washer - 1 - is installed on vehicles with an aluminum wheel bearing housing.

- Remove bolt for tie rod - 1 -, upper transverse link - 2 - and lower transverse link - 3 - from wheel bearing housing - 4 -.






- Remove connecting link - arrow - from trailing arm.

- Hold wheel bearing housing and remove bolts - arrows -.






- Pull coupling rod - 1 - out of trailing arm.

- Remove wheel bearing housing.

Installing






Installation is the reverse of removal, with special attention to the following:

- Install tie rod bolt - 1 -, upper transverse link - 2 - and lower transverse link - 3 -.

- Tighten the connecting link - arrow - to the trailing arm by hand.

Threaded connection of trailing link/wheel bearing housing must only be tightened when all other components (spring and strut always) of the respective wheel suspension have been already assembled. To tighten, suspension must be unloaded. Only now do the trailing link and wheel bearing housing move into the position required - arrows -.






Always perform the following work in the sequence given!

- Install and tighten the bolt - 2 - and washer - 1 -.






• The washer - 1 - is installed on vehicles with an aluminum wheel bearing housing.

- Place trailing arm on wheel bearing housing with bolts - arrows - but do not tighten yet.






- Install coil spring. Refer to => [ Coil Spring ] Coil Spring.

- Tighten bolts - arrows -.






- Tighten coupling rod - arrow - on trailing arm.






- Install cover plate.

• Bolting at wheel bearing housing may occur only when dimension "a" has been obtained! Refer to => [ Rear Suspension, Lifting to Curb Weight Position ] Rear Suspension, Lifting to Curb Weight Position.

- Tighten bolt for tie rod - 1 -.






- Tighten lower transverse link bolt - 3 -.

- Install and tighten the bolt - 3 - and washer - 4 -.






• The washer - 4 - is installed on vehicles with an aluminum wheel bearing housing.

- Tighten the bolt - 1 - on the upper transverse link.






• The washer - 2 - must be installed so that there is a gap - arrow B - between the washer and the cover plate - 3 -.

- Install ABS wheel speed sensor in wheel bearing housing.

- Install brake disc.

- Install the brake carrier and brake caliper.

- Install wheel and tighten.

Tightening specifications, refer to => [ Subframe, Lower Transverse Link, Upper Transverse Link, Tie Rod and Level Control System Overview ] Subframe, Lower Transverse Link, Upper Transverse Link, Tie Rod and Level Control System Overview.

Tightening specifications, refer to => [ Wheel Bearing Housing, Wheel Bearing Unit, Trailing Arm with Mounting Bracket and Stone Deflector Overview ] Wheel Bearing Housing, Wheel Bearing Unit, Trailing Arm With Mounting Bracket and Stone Deflector Overview.

Tightening specifications, refer to => [ Shock Absorber and Coil Spring Overview ] Shock Absorber and Coil Spring Overview.

Tightening specifications, refer to => [ Stabilizer Bar Overview ] Stabilizer Bar Overview.

- Axle alignment is required, see Table => [ An axle alignment is necessary when: ] Wheel Alignment.