vw golf bearings

congo_90

That oh so horrible whine from the back has begun on my 95 golf. Its horrible. I'm sure its the bearings. I'm quite savvy around cars having done brakes etc before. Debating getting a Haynes manual and having a go at this myself as I heard labour costs on this can be high.

Any tips? Have any amateur Sunday mechanics taken this on before?

I've gotta drive it for at least one more week before I can get a chance. Google wasn't much help

Thanks for all advice!

DublinDilbert

Defo get the Haynes manual.

If the bearing is that badly damaged as soon as you release the centre nut, it may well fall to bits. If it doesnt fall to bits you'll need a suitable pullers. You'll probably be left with part of the inner race in the kingpin, you can get a pullers for this, but I tend to just carefully cut it with an angle grinder.

I would guess you can buy the hub with the bearing already installed, so you just need to tap the inner race onto the kingpin, the use the main nut to push it finally home.

congo_90

thanks dd. left car in for a brake balance a while ago. i reckon he over torqued. how much we lookin at? should i do both sides?

selfdiy

Its awhile ago since I had a golf. But it used to make a noise like you mentioned, it turned out to be the front passenger side wheel bearing. It was simple enough to remove, but I had to improvise on fitting as I had no press.

In relation to the rears if you can lift each wheel of the ground with the handbrake off, then rock the wheel over and back you will see how much play is in the bearings. If one is gone there will be a lot of movement.

If they are over torqued the wheels will be difficult to rotate by hand.

vw4life

sometimes if you get a mechanic who's not familier with vw rear bearings they can over tighten them,I've seen it a bit the last few years,even the nct failed a vento I worked on a while back,what part of Meath are you in,I've loads of them bearings if you're really stuck(foc of course)

congo_90

vw4life wrote: »

sometimes if you get a mechanic who's not familier with vw rear bearings they can over tighten them,I've seen it a bit the last few years,even the nct failed a vento I worked on a while back,what part of Meath are you in,I've loads of them bearings if you're really stuck(foc of course)

Thanks vw! Im in Dunboyne but don't mind travelling. I've got to get the car up tomorrow just to confirm its defiantly the rear right bearing.

vw4life

I'm in Duleek if you want to drop over some eve,I could fit it for you too if you want,the're handy

let me know and I'll pm you my ph. no.

Slidey

A good tip for putting these back in is to cut the old race with an angle grinder when you have it out and turn it upside down and use it to tap in the new one. It is a perfect fit but won't get stuck because you have cut it.

There is 3 indentations in the drum that will allow you to get a punch in behind the old race to get it out.

It is a handy enough job. Don't forget to clean ALL the grease out of the hub and replace it. There is no point putting in new bearings to have them destroyed by the small bits of chrome that have broke off the old bearings.

congo_90

vw4life wrote: »

I'm in Duleek if you want to drop over some eve,I could fit it for you too if you want,the're handy

let me know and I'll pm you my ph. no.

Think ill take you up on the offer because its my first time so don't wanna make a balls of it. Haynes manual or not. ill pm ya my number, drop us a text when you're free.

congo_90

what is this inner race? have parts ordered for tomorrow afternoon. gotta get a torque wrench sometime soon. will cleaning old grease what to use?
cheers. gotta get this done as im off to wex and dont wanna risk the long journey!

Slidey

The inner race is the track that the inner bearin runs on and it must be removed from the hub and replaced wit the new one that will come in the kit.

No need for a torque wrench, I doubt there is a torque for settin the bearing anyway. A drop of diesel should clean off the old grease for you.