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Front Wheel Bearing Removal

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22K views 18 replies 8 participants last post by  clarkandrew45 
#1 ·
This weekend I decided to take on changing out my front wheel bearing. I knew it was shot, so last week I ordered a new bearing and hub from RockAuto. I've searched and know that if you drive on a bad bearing for long enough, you can also screw up your hub.

I started my project and everything was going pretty smoothly. I removed the wheel, brakes, axle nut, rotors, had the hub loose... and of course I run into the problem of not being able to get the tie rod loose from the hub, and some goes for the lower control arm. Come to find out there's a special tool for this, basically a fork, so I get it and I'm once again golden. I have everything out and now it's time to get the knuckle loose from the bearing/hub. Turns out, it can't be done without another specialty tool, or otherwise taken to a machine shop. So now here I am, on a sunday, without a car (with good tags anyways), waiting for monday to come. None of the area shops say they have this tool, and at this point I've all but given up on doing anything but taking it to the machine shop on monday.

Does anyone know of a tool that would work that is rented out? (removing hub from spindle knuckle) Thanks.
 
#3 ·
Well I guess I'll be waiting until tomorrow to get it to a machine shop. HMAservice.com diagram shows that there's a tool for it, and I found a VW DIY where they did it with a hand tool, but no such luck finding something like that for rent. If it helps any, getting the entire assembly out took about 1/2 and hour. You'll need the 32mm Socket w/breaker bar, a few other common sockets (14 for sure), a tie rod breaker, a ball joint breaker, and a hammer. Pretty simple minus the pressed parts.
 
#19 · (Edited)
Wheel bearing module success! After I got the machine shop to replace the bearing and hub ($35), got it all put back together in 30 minutes. If have a spare vehicle, I definitely recommend you doing this yourself.
I am planning to remove my wheel bearing. I guess i need to try what you have did. 30 minutes is more faster than i did before. I took me about an hour just to remov the wheel bearing.
 
#7 ·
and instead of using the fork and possibly damaging the boots you can just use a hammer and hit the metal where the tie rod sits and where the control sits...they just pop out and no damage.

and yes the bearings WILL need to be pressed out by a professional....there is no handheld tool in the world that i would trust!!!
 
#8 ·
I tried to hit the tie rod bolt to get it loose, but it wasn't happening. Then again, I had a small household hammer, so that probably had a lot to do with it. Regardless, it's all done and I can now talk to passengers in my vehicle without having to well at them. That humming noise was loud and irritating. It doesn't help that I ignored for close to two years, but sacrifices had to be made during that time period.
 
#12 ·
Yes, FRONT wheel bearings are 10/100 for the original owner.
 
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