Wheel Hub: Service and Repair

Removing and installing front wheel bearing housing (wheel carrier)





- Wheel bearing housing- with wheel hub and brake disc.








Tools

Removal

Note!
^ Remove the two wire retainers on the wheel bearing housing (M6 screw). Disconnect speed sensor plug.
^ Push protection over input shaft..
^ After removing the wheel bearing housing, place the input shaft in such a way that the inner ball joint is not overstretched.
^ Drive shafts must not be left hanging from the joint stop.

1. Remove axle nuts (wheel-side drive shaft fastening). Actuate the brake while doing this.
2. Raise the vehicle and take off the wheel.





3. Remove the brake caliper and the two brake line-A holders and pull plug off the speed sensor. Secure the brake caliper at a suitable position in the wheel well (do not open the brake system!).





4. Fix the -top axle strut- with the tension jack VW 552 (vehicle with conventional suspension shown). This involves tensioning the axle strut slightly because otherwise the top ball joint can be damaged. By doing this, the tension jack is mounted into the top opening of the wheel house (double panel) and in the axle strut.





5. Push (press) the drive shaft peg by approximately 20 mm - 25 mm into the wheel hub using the universal drive shaft/wheel hub extractor 87-1. Make sure that the input shaft does not become kinked between the spring strut prongs. To do this, fasten a suitable wire in the bores of the spring strut prongs.





6. Loosen the fastening nuts from the -bottom ball joint- and press off with the press-out tool T 10187. When doing this, leave the fastening nuts flush on the ball pin so as not to damage the thread.
7. Remove fastening screw for the lower spring strut .





8. Use a suitable -lift with rubber base- (to prevent slipping) to raise the wheel bearing housing to a position at which the screw can be unscrewed easily.
9. Press out the tie rod on the wheel bearing housing using the press-out tool T 10187.
10. Press out the ball joint on the control arm using the press-out tool T 10187 and secure the wheel bearing housing so that it does not fall down (a second worker is required for this!). Pull the wheel bearing housing out of the lower ball joint and remove it.

Installation

Caution! Danger of injury and material damage if the wheel carrier is raised incorrectly.
^ Do not raise the wheel suspension higher than the normal vehicle position (vehicle resting on wheels).
^ When raising the suspension, use a suitable intermediate layer rubber).
^ Do not damage the brake cover plate.

Note!





^ The entire threaded parts of the axle must be tightened in vehicle position. Vehicle position means: vehicle standing on the wheels, or the wheel suspension is raised using a universal vehicle lift. -Dimension X-, from lower edge of wing to middle of axle 502 mm ± 10 mm corresponds to vehicle position.





^ Use an intermediate layer (hard rubber). Do not damage the brake cover plate.
^ Screws are Dacromet-coated and must not be greased.
^ Grease the toothing of the drive shaft slightly with Optimoly TA aluminum paste.
^ Grease axle nut with a little Optimoly TA aluminum paste only at mounting-face ring.
^ Drive shafts must not be left hanging from the joint stop. Support wheel carriers.
^ Use new screws and fastening nuts.
^ Make sure the bevel pinions from the ball joints are clean. Clean with a lint-free cloth as necessary. Do not use cleaning agent.
^ Use correct tightening torques.

1. Insert the wheel bearing housing on the lower ball joint and position the input shaft (a second worker is required). Remove the wire between the spring strut prongs. Remove drive shaft protection.
2. Mount the wheel bearing housing on the upper control arm. Fit tie rod.





3. Grease the mounting-face ring of the axle nut with a little Optimoly TA aluminum paste. Screw on the axle nuts. If it is not possible to push the shaft in all the way, use the assembly fixture T10206 to pull the drive shaft in.





4. Attach the two wire retainers and the -plug for the speed sensor-.
5. Screw the spring strut to the lower axle strut.





6. Fit the brake caliper.
7. Mount the wheel.