Audi Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Removing and installing wheel bearing housing - front-wheel drive vehicles During a limited period, a wheel bearing housing for four-wheel drive vehicles was installed on front-wheel drive vehicles → Item; please refer to → Electronic parts catalogue for more information. Mixed installation of different versions on the same vehicle is not permissible. Procedure for vehicles with four-wheel drive wheel bearing housing → Chapter „Removing and installing wheel bearing housing - four-wheel drive vehicles“ During a limited period, a steel wheel bearing housing was installed instead of an aluminium wheel bearing housing on front-wheel drive vehicles; please refer to → Electronic parts catalogue for more information. Mixed installation of different versions on the same vehicle is not permissible. Special tools and workshop equipment required

t  Hub grease cap puller -VW 637/2-

t  Fitting sleeve -3241/4-

t  Torque wrench -V.A.G 1332-

t  Torque wrench -V.A.G 1410- t  Lubricating paste

Removing –  Before starting work, measure distance -a- from centre of wheel to lower edge of wheel housing with vehicle standing on its wheels. Vehicles with drive shaft butt only → Item:

–  Slacken and remove bolt -arrow- → Chapter. Removing (continued) –  Raise vehicle on lifting platform.

Only if wheel bearing housing is being renewed –  Detach dust cap by tapping lightly on hub grease cap puller -VW 637/2-.

–  Lever off dust cap with hub grease cap puller -VW 637/2-. –  Loosen flange bolt securing wheel bearing unit (loosen only when vehicle is standing on its wheels - risk of accident) → Chapter. Removing (continued) –  Remove wheel.

–  Release and unplug connector -1- from rear speed sensor. –  Release and unplug connector -3- for electromechanical parking brake. –  Remove bolt -2- and detach bracket -6- with pipes/wiring. –  Detach brake caliper and brake disc → Rep. gr.46. –  Secure brake caliper to body so that weight of caliper does not stretch or damage brake hose or brake pipe.

Only if wheel bearing housing is being renewed –  Remove bolts -1- from splash plate -2-.   Caution Do NOT detach the wheel bearing unit by pulling on the outer bearing race (wheel hub).

–  Use splash plate -1- to pull wheel bearing unit -2- slightly off stub axle -3-.   Note If the wheel bearing unit can be pulled off the wheel bearing housing by hand, the wheel bearing unit is OK and does not have to be renewed.

–  As soon as stub axle is sufficiently exposed, reach behind seal -arrow-. Use seal -arrow- to pull off wheel bearing unit and splash plate (neither shown in illustration).   Caution Avoid dirtying or damaging the seal when laying it down or placing it in storage.

The wheel bearing -1- must always be pointing upwards. –  Always put down the wheel bearing unit with the wheel hub -2- facing downwards. –  Clean seal.

–  Remove bolt -1- and detach rear speed sensor-2-.

Removing (continued) –  Remove coil spring → Chapter. –  Mark position of bolt -1- in relation to wheel bearing housing -2-. –  Unscrew nut -4- and take off eccentric washer -3-. –  Remove bolt -1-.

–  Remove bolt -4-.

–  Unclip retaining tabs -1- and detach stone deflector -2-.

–  Remove bolt -2- and take off washer -1-.

–  Remove nut -3-. –  Remove bolt -1- and detach spacer -2-. –  Take out wheel bearing housing. Installing Installation is carried out in the reverse sequence. Note the following points: Tightening torques → Chapter „Exploded view of wheel bearing housing, wheel bearing unit, shock absorber for coil springs - front-wheel drive vehicles“   Note t  Bonded rubber bushes can only be turned to a limited extent. The suspension mountings must therefore only be tightened when the suspension is in the unladen position or reference position. t  Raising suspension to unladen position (vehicles with coil springs) → Chapter –  Fit wheel bearing housing.

–  Fit bolt -1- with spacer -2- and screw on nut -3- loosely.   Caution The bolt connection must not be tightened by the nut -3-. –  Tighten bolt -1-. –  Install coil spring → Chapter. –  Fit brake caliper and brake disc → Rep. gr.46. Only if wheel bearing housing has been renewed –  Install rear speed sensor → Rep. gr.45.

–  Fit seal and lubricate stub axle -arrow- lightly with lubricating paste.   Note t  Always renew damaged (dented) grease caps. t  Damaged (dented) grease caps may allow moisture to enter the bearing. For this reason it is important to use the tool shown in the illustration.

–  Drive in grease cap with fitting sleeve -3241/4-. Installing (continued) –  Fit wheel. –  Secure wheel → Wheels and tyres; Rep. gr.44. Only if wheel bearing housing has been renewed –  Tighten flange bolt securing wheel bearing unit (tighten only when vehicle is standing on its wheels - risk of accident) → Chapter. Installing (continued) –  Wheel alignment must be checked and adjusted, see chart → Chapter. Front and rear wheel alignment must always be checked and adjusted if necessary using VW/Audi approved equipment.