Results 1 to 19 of 19
  1. #1
    Active Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Jun 18 2009
    AZ Member #
    43894
    Location
    Rochester, NY

    Front wheel bearing replacement

    Guest-only advertisement. Register or Log In now!
    Tools needed:

    - Jack
    - Jack stand
    - 1/2" socket wrench and/or breaker bar
    - 3/8" socket wrench and extension
    - T30 torx bit
    - 12mm triple square
    - 17mm allen bit, 1/2" drive (a few inches long as pictured)(do not buy an allen key, the axle bolt has to be torqued into place)

    - 13/16" socket (or equivelant metric size)
    - Hanger wire
    - Penetrating oil
    - Locktite
    - Work light?

    The bearing itself can be purchased at JHM Motorsports, here's the direct link - http://www.jhmotorsports.com/shop/ca...roducts_id=323

    Here's what you get:






    1.) You need to crack the axle bolt loose and you can either have the car on the ground and do it, or get the tired off and have someone step on the brake pedal to keep the hub from spinning. So I jacked up the car, took the wheel off, popped the center cap off, put the wheel back on with two bolts, put it back on the ground partially, put the allen in and crack it loose, get it back up in the air and take the wheel back off.









    2.) You need to remove the caliper and rotor so start by taking the brake pad sensor wire connector off, then take the ABS sensor wire out of its rubber grommet bracket, then remove the caliper bracket (and caliper) which bolts to the knuckle with two large bolts, I used a 13/16" socket which fit perfectly, I didn't have a big enough metric socket, it's got to be about 21mm. Once the caliper is off, I used a thick coat hanger wire to tie the caliper up out of the way, hanging by the tie rod. Make sure not to kink the brake line or pull on any wires if you left them attached.






    Bolts out -










    3.) Remove the rotor. The chance that this T30 torx bolt is on your car is about 50/50 depending on who replaced your rotors last, but it shouldn't be too bad to remove. If yours is really tight, spray it with some penetrating fluid. If the rotor won't come off easily, take a hammer and firmly hit the area around where the wheel bolts go, sometimes rust causes the rotor to bond to the hub mounting surface. If you can, spray some penetrating oil from behind the rotor into that area.








    4.) Remove the splash guard. There are 4 T30 bolts, should come right out.









    5.) Take a 3/8" extension rod (or similar) and GENTLY tap the axle out of the hub in the area seen, the axle only goes partially into the hub so you have to gently hit the end of the axle as pictured. It does NOT take a lot of force so don't whip out your sledge, I only just tapped it a few times with my hammer to get it out.


    Here's the reverse angle, the axle is mostly out, NOTE, the axle WILL NOT COME ALL THE WAY OUT OF THE HUB, there isn't enough play in the axle CV joints at either end to allow it to come all the way out of your way, unfortunately. But don't worry about it, you can work around it. You can also see 3 of the 4 triple square bolts you need to get at.







    6.) Remove the wheel bearing bolts. This is kind of a pain because of the axle being in the way, but with the axle out of the hub as far as it can go, it does move around a lot and so you can position your wrench as pictured. I always had the 1/2" wrench handle pointing to the back of the car for the best position. You want to remain perpandicular to the bolt to make sure the triple square gets the best grip on the bolt before you start trying to back it out. I could have used a slightly shorter version of it in this photo.. and, they are very tight, but as soon as they get loose they are very easy to keep unscrewing.


    Here's another shot of the socket on the bottom rear bolt, the socket is right up against it, but it's very easy to move because the axle is so loose.


    So eventually after some swearing and some sore wrists, you'll get all the bolts out and the whole assembly should fall out of the knuckle.









    7.) Press the old bearing off the hub and press the new one on. I took mine down the street to Monro muffler, gave the guy a $20 bill, and he did it in 15 minutes. It does indeed take a press, you can't seperate the two any other way because as you can see in the photo, the hub is actually pressed onto the INSIDE of the bearing instead of the bearing being pressed to the inside of the hub on some other kinds of carrs.

    Old bearing and hub next to new bearing -


    New bearing on hub -







    8.) Install wheel bearing assembly. I used some red lock tite (in a tube) on the 4 bolts since it looks like the original bolts had locktite on them. But other than that, install is reverse of removal. Tighten the 4 bolts as much as you can. I don't have exact torque specs, but the bolt will suddenly get tight and I could only maybe turn it another 1/8th of a turn before it just wouldn't go any more, and was probably tighter than the original bolts were when I took them off.


    Axle back in the hub, new axle bolt threaded in -









    9.) Torque the axle bolt to 145 ft/lbs. The last thing I did was put the wheel back on the car, lower the car completely back onto the ground, left the center cap off and torqued the bolt down. Snap the center cap back on, torque the wheel bolts down, and DONE!
    Last edited by FWP!; 05-03-2010 at 07:27 AM.
    SOLD: '05 S4 - 6 spd, Recaro's, JHM tune, piggies, Magnaflow 14851's, 48k miles.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Four Rings beemercer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 14 2008
    AZ Member #
    31944
    My Garage
    05 Jeep GC 5.7 Lmtd. QDII - Oh-One Fat-Body Four-Two
    Location
    Central Mass

    Nice writeup, I'll be using it soon. Need to replace all 4.
    RIP Sway
    _________

    JHM
    AMA
    You represent the idiocy of today.

  3. #3
    Stage 3 Forum Advertiser Four Rings jaybquick@JHM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 23 2005
    AZ Member #
    7701
    My Garage
    B6 S4 and B5 S4
    Location
    Lathrop, CA

    Nice write up. We keep these front wheel bearings in stock as well for the same price as your eBay guy. We also carry the hubs in case yours were very bad and hurt the hubs (rare).

    Check them out here in our store -> http://www.jhmotorsports.com/shop/ca...roducts_id=323

    We have the rear wheel bearings in stock as well -> http://www.jhmotorsports.com/shop/ca...roducts_id=382

    Hope this helps for those who don't like using ebay or want to buy all their parts in one place.



    JHMotorsports.com - 209-968-0077

    What is JHM doing? Find out! Follow us on Facebook

    2005 Audi S4 - JHM Stage 1 Supercharger (ET: 11.96 @ 116mph)
    2005 Audi S4 - JHM Bolt Ons -ALL MOTOR (ET: 12.70 @ 111mph)
    2005 Audi S4 - JHM Nitrous (ET: 12.29 @ 117mph)
    2001.5 Audi S4 - JHM Stage 3+ (ET: 11.1 @ 130.7mph)

  4. #4
    Active Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Jun 18 2009
    AZ Member #
    43894
    Location
    Rochester, NY

    Update my post with your link, thanks!
    SOLD: '05 S4 - 6 spd, Recaro's, JHM tune, piggies, Magnaflow 14851's, 48k miles.

  5. #5
    Active Member Two Rings alwaysaudi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 11 2008
    AZ Member #
    26313
    My Garage
    2004 Audi S4, 73 MG Miget
    Location
    Michigan

    Thanks FWP! just used this. Made it very easy. Don't know how you didn't have to hammer your out with the Rochester winters/salt...mine needed some persuasion from an 8lb friend.
    2004 Imola S4 6MT
    Mods: Hyperflow intake / JHM LW crank Pulley / JHM LWFW / JHM St. 4 Clutch / JHM Intake manifold Spacers / JHM 4:1 diff / Apikol snub / APR DPs / Miltek CB / Bilstein PSS9's / H-Sport Sways / Apikol Rear Diff Mount / Oettinger Front / STERN adj. Uppers / STERN Motor Mounts / 034 trans mount / Kerscher Side skirts / MRR GT1's / DIY Carbon Fiber Fabric Interior / DIY CF Mirror - B-Pillars / APR ECU / Hardwired Escort 9500ix / RS4 Pedal set / Scroth Harnesses / Votex grill /

  6. #6
    Active Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Jun 26 2007
    AZ Member #
    19064
    Location
    Keyport,NJ

    where did the pictures go?
    '03 Avant

  7. #7
    Active Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Jun 18 2009
    AZ Member #
    43894
    Location
    Rochester, NY

    Sorry, had to change web servers, I'll work on getting the pictures re-up'ed.


    edit: Photos re-uploaded, should be working now.
    Last edited by FWP!; 10-10-2010 at 11:08 AM.
    SOLD: '05 S4 - 6 spd, Recaro's, JHM tune, piggies, Magnaflow 14851's, 48k miles.

  8. #8
    Active Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Jun 26 2007
    AZ Member #
    19064
    Location
    Keyport,NJ

    wow thanks!!!

    Im doing it now and cant seem to get enough space to get the triple square bit on the bolt.
    Any tips?
    '03 Avant

  9. #9
    Senior Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Aug 05 2008
    AZ Member #
    31615
    Location
    Boston

    Guys how easy is to push the hub/bearing assembly out of the control arm once the 4 torx screws are removed? Is it stuck in there? My indy mechanic gave me some BS that he needs to take the control arm off/blah blah...this doesn't look all that bad (?)

    Thanks!

  10. #10
    Active Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Jun 26 2007
    AZ Member #
    19064
    Location
    Keyport,NJ

    When I did my wifes car, they came out with a few blows from a dead hammer. On my car I had to take the whole assembly out and hit the bearing out from behind using a 1/2" socket extension. Not too hard just more time consuming.
    '03 Avant

  11. #11
    Senior Member Three Rings sa_seahawker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 03 2009
    AZ Member #
    47282
    My Garage
    03 A4 1.8TQM, 09 A5 3.2Q
    Location
    San Antonio, Texas

    great write-up! I will be using this one when I swap out my control arms.
    2003 A4 1.8TQM - Amulet Red

  12. #12
    Senior Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Aug 05 2008
    AZ Member #
    31615
    Location
    Boston

    Quote Originally Posted by VisionPaintball View Post
    When I did my wifes car, they came out with a few blows from a dead hammer. On my car I had to take the whole assembly out and hit the bearing out from behind using a 1/2" socket extension. Not too hard just more time consuming.
    What does it take to take the assembly out from the car? This control arm is connected at the top correct? Do you have to take the ball joints out? One thought was that if you can get the hub/bearing without taking out the control arm then the car does not need an alignment? Thoughts?

  13. #13
    Senior Member Two Rings jonnybravo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 23 2009
    AZ Member #
    51152
    Location
    San Jose

    How did you know yours were going bad?

  14. #14
    Active Member Two Rings 4Ring's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 08 2010
    AZ Member #
    65438
    My Garage
    Sector 9
    Location
    Seattle, WA

    You can usually hear the groaning repetitive noise with every rotation that speeds up as you go faster and slows down as you go slower.
    German Engineering

  15. #15
    Stage 3 Forum Advertiser Four Rings ECS Tuning-Audi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 02 2006
    AZ Member #
    70746
    Location
    Wadsworth,OH

    Front wheel bearing kits for the left and right side available below with FREE shipping!!

    Click HERE to order or for more information.

    Cheers!

    Jason

  16. #16
    Active Member Two Rings
    Join Date
    Mar 05 2009
    AZ Member #
    39484
    Location
    oakland, CA

    Yep! I did one of mine, about to do the other. I guess both my wheel bearings were bad because after doing one side, I have less noise, but it isn't gone. I made my best guess as to the side, since the wubba wubba sound didn't seem to change much with steering or engine load. I also rotated the tires to make sure it was not a cupped tire.

    I found the bearing carrier flange part came out pretty easily without removing the control arms, but it took some time tapping it from the back. I took my triple square tool with an extension in the back of each loose bolt, and tapped it with a medium sized ball peen hammer, working around doing a bit on each bolt, loosening them a bit as it progresses it's way out.

    If I was a pro mechanic, I would probably find a faster way to do it, but I'm not on anybody's clock but my own. Took about 15 minutes, IIRC.

    I think the Bentley manual suggested not doing this method, but I don't see the harm as long as you don't let it get too cockeyed on the way out.

    So the Bentley manual says to replace the brake caliper bolts each time you remove them. Seems a bit excessive to me. Those bolts are BEEFY and short, so I can't imagine they are stretch bolts like the head bolts. My pessimistic theory is that they just like to run up the parts bill with some of these. I can see if the bolts are boogered up or something, but these things are not cheap. They don't look particularly special to me, other than the captive serrated washers, so I wonder what this recommendation is based on. Anybody know?

    I do have new 12 point bolts and the main 17mm axle bolt.

  17. #17
    Active Member Two Rings MoRbiD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 06 2004
    AZ Member #
    3399
    My Garage
    2005 Audi A4 1.8TQ 6MT
    Location
    Rochester, NY

    Bringing this thread back

    After reading the OP DIY and being from the same town I had guts to give it a shot.
    I love working on my cars and boy did I have a Front Bearing that needed replacement.

    I was able to snag a NIB Genuine Audi replacement hub off fleabay for $100.00 and ordered the bearing kit for $135.00.
    So far so good. I can have a hub and bearing assembly all set up and ready to go. Just jack up the car and follow the procedure.
    Sadly it wasn't to be.

    1st off when I took the Hub and Bearing to the local Audi Service Center the Service Manager told me he couldn't press them together. This after trying
    the local Pep Boys which couldn't do it that day cuz they were too busy.

    Apparently VAG/VAS Tools has a mobile hydraulic press now for pressing on and off the hub and bearings. Manual shop press is somewhere
    in the back of the shop collecting dust and no one was even sure what plates to use with it anymore.
    He gave me some tips one how to go about getting both parts pressed together but for the sake of brevity I'll exclude them here.

    Luckily on the way home I stopped by a shop that specializes in racing and the guy had them pressed together in less than 7 minutes.

    The next day was Saturday and I was chomping at the bit to do some wrenching. Followed this thread and was able to get the axle out about as far
    as stated using a wobble extension on the triple square bit for the back bolts. Snapped the head on one breaker bar getting the axle bolt broke free though.
    I'm a buck 80 and I had to lean on the ratchet handle with all I had to break them though. All told I'm only into it for about 1 hour and a half.

    Well I was ready for the money shot actually dropping the old hub/bearing and putting in the new one's but hit another snag.
    The bearing was seized onto the carrier. I banged, swore and prayed to the almighty but nothing was removing that bearing from the front.

    That cost me an additional two/three hours. I thought about following the repair procedure in Elsa which I have and then trying to knock it out from the back.

    However after reading so many horror stories about the Pinch Bolt for the Upper Control Arms and getting the ABS Sensor out which the manual says needs to be removed
    I decided discretion was the better part of valor and put everything back together before I broke something. I felt like a wus, 5 hours and I completely failed at the task.
    I started the project at 4:00 PM and it was now close to 10 before I had closed shop for the day.

    To add insult to injury, now the bearing was making more noise than before so I had to take the car to the Service Center to install the parts bright and early Monday AM.

    They charged me the full price for labor, $263.00, even though they were not re-using the old hub and I brought them the a new bearing/hub already assembled.
    Although the Shop Manual states that's how it goes in, the claim was with the new mobile press they have a new procedure and having the items assembled made for more work.

    Okay this post has been long and if your still with me I'll get to the point.

    We live in a area where Winters are close to 6 months long with lots of snow which means plenty of salt on the roads. Fact of the matter is unless you live somewhere
    where there is little moisture at all undercar parts are likely to be be corroded and seized together. You should have a plan to deal with that circumstance.

    Also if your planning to save some time and money buy assembling the parts yourself check with who your going to have do the work.

    To end up spending $263.00 after wasting so much time driving around town trying to get the assembly pressed together combined with fighting a part I had no hope in breaking
    free I would have gladly brought a tool like the Sir Tools B90 upfront. Allowing me to enjoy the satisfaction we all get when we do a job right ourselves.

  18. #18
    Active Member Two Rings AndreyMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 22 2011
    AZ Member #
    84269
    Location
    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Bump up from today...

    So this is good for any B6 model vehicle? I always thought that our cars had the wheel bearing without the 4 ears and it had to be pressed into the assembly that is held by the control arms... Does that apply to older models?

  19. #19
    Active Member Two Rings AndreyMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 22 2011
    AZ Member #
    84269
    Location
    Montreal, QC, Canada

    any1?



Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


 
    © 2001-2012 Audizine, Audizine.com, and Driverzines.com
    Audizine is an independently owned and operated automotive enthusiast community and news website.
    Audi and the Audi logo(s) are copyright/trademark Audi AG. Audizine is not endorsed by or affiliated with Audi AG.