replacing wheel bearings, 91 jetta

[ringram]

I'm in the process of replacing the wheel bearings on my 1991 Jetta. I have the hubs off the car, and I've managed to get the wheel hub out. I have the retaining clips removed. Now I'm stuck with the chore of removing the bearing. I can't seem to get it to move. I don't have a press, but I think I'll have to find somebody who does. Also, when removing one of the wheel hubs, the bearing came apart and part of the bearing is stuck on the wheel hub. Not sure how I'm gong to get that off.

Any suggestions to help me with getting the rest done?

Roger

[coke]

They need to be pressed out so I'd say you have to find someone with a press.

[82vdub]

Disassemble what you need worked on and take it to a shop that has a press. They'll press out and in the bearings for you.

[Fatmobile]

Sounds like you got part of the job done for them,
that'll make it cheaper.
To get that inner race of the center;
I have had some luck with a fat cold chisel I have,
set it between the 2, at the flat spot/gap and smack it.

Otherwise I use a grinder to make one part so thin the race slides off, get it close to through and smack it to crack it.

[VWCaddy]

There are on-the-vehicle removal tools if you can track one down.

I used a press on mine:
- http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTri ... ring.shtml
I have found that inexpensive HF press to be a most useful tool. I usually use it at least once a week for something or other. I purchased it specifically for doing my front wheel bearings, so that was the first job I did with it (that is why it is so clean). Funny thing was that I had to make a 30 mile round trip to pick it up and all the time that bad front wheel bearing was making a pretty good noise, I was hoping it would hang on until I made it home with the press.

[ringram]

I got that remaing bit of race off of the inner hub. I used a grinder to remove most of the material (hardened steel) and then a cold chisel.

Now, I just have to call around a few shops and see who can press the bearings for me.

Thanks for the quick replies.

Maybe I'll get lucky at a garage sale or an auction this summer and find a press. There's been many times that I could have used this.

Roger

[Fatmobile]

For a home made tool that makes this easier;
I use an old bearing race,.. the outer one,
and grind the leading edge some,
so it doesn't get stuck in the bore along with the bearing.

The outer race needs to get pressed in with something against the outer race,
it can't be pressed in by pressing on the middle.
Well,, it can, but it shouldn't.
Using the actual bearings to press in the outer race = bad shortcut.
Sometimes hard to find something that fits the outer race well and fits inside the hub.

Make sure they know what they are doing.
Tell them not to use the center or better yet watch them.
Maybe have them press the old one out so you can grind it, or they can make the "special tool" for you.

The shop I go to just points me toward the press, makes me do it, ha.
I should get my own small press.

[ringram]

I took into a shop and paid them to replace the bearings. They charged me for a hour of shop time. But, the old bearings are out, the new ones are in and the wheel hub is pressed in.

I put them back on the car last night and bolted things up. I quickly noticed that how I bolt the hub to the strut affects the camber. I eye balled it, and then drove the car to my Dad's place. He has a tool for checking camber. I was about .5 degree negative on the left, and .75 degree positive on the right. Not bad. I adusted the right, and it came out to .25 negative camber.

I don't know what they are supposed to be. I just guessed at the setting. Can anyone provide me with the specs?

Anyways, my test drive quickly proved that replacing the bearings was the right decision. The howling from the front is gone, and the ride is noticably quieter. Maybe I'll have less roll resistance and getter better mileage?

Roger

[ringram]

I've finally went through a tank of fuel since changing out the bearings. It seemed that the fuel guage took longer to reach empty. I filled it up yesterday. I've been keeping track of my mileage for a few months, and my mileage improved! I went from 51.5mpg on the last tank to 59.6mpg on this last fill up. I put on about 120Km per day, combined city and highway.

I'll have to trend this over another couple of tanks, but so far, I'm very happy to be in the land of smileage!

1.6l turbo
641,500km

Roger

[EcoDiesel1991]

Could you tell me what bearings you got for yours? I'm needing to replace mine as well and I'm not sure what brand to choose from or really the part itself, I work at a ford dealership so we have the tools to do the repair work itself but nobody seems to know the correct parts

[colby]

I used FAG bearings in mine, never had an issue. When I used Carquest/Napa bearings, I was in there replacing them again in a years time.