Front wheel bearing best make and cost

Has anyone bought recently a front wheel bearing if so best brand and price...I have a definite rumble on offside front ..I’m surprised at only 51k but there ...
 
I think it’s more how they are fitted rather than brand. Trying to fit them with a press will severely shorten the bearings life
There are very few poor quality bearings these days

Paul


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We usually fit SKF vkba 3569
Can be sourced for 40-50
Or FAG
Around £35-45

Usually good for 100k

Might have to call on your cousins time stu about to try usual tests but looks like I may have a ns bearing failure ...as luck has it just after changing the wishbone arms. Why didnt they go at the same time??? Grr!
 
No probs , plenty in stock
VRS Brake upgrade at same time? if you havent already

Just fitted new discs and pads and calipers refurbed a year or so back....

..saying that its worth a chat :)

Just got the front off the ground there to check and I'm getting the classic grind and rocking. Indeed the uneven brake wear which caused me to replace the ns disc and pads should have alerted me I guess.

Ideally like to arrive and drive on this one so I'll try and arrange a slot with Murray rather than leave it with him if I can. Would really like to sit in on it...
 
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Hi Paul (Depronman), I am Aidan . I am new to this forum having bought my first A2 (1.4 petrol) the week before Christmas. When you say "fitted by a press" does that exclude the Gen2 fitting tool that pulls them in and out using a plate that fits behind the hub and a circular pulling plate on the far side of the bearing ? I have bought a cheap Chinese rip-off of the Laser kit on eBay and I am trying it this weekend. Hopefully this is an OK method ? It is the FAG bearing that I have and I think I must have been ripped off... I am sure I have paid twice what you suggest! I had watched a You Tube with a guy using one of these kits on a Fabia (I think) so I was rather surprised to find the A2 driveshaft arrangement different - ie there is no meaty nut on the end of the driveshaft that needs careful torquing.. just a flimsy looking cover thing with a 19mm hex hole in it. Does the driveshaft just float ? Is there anything specific that I need to do when reassembling it ? I confess I haven't been able to source a manual yet. Are those CDs on E-Bay about the only option ? Many thanks to anyone who can help me witt advice to ensure I reassemble safely!
 
You need to use a pusher to remove the drive shaft as they are bonded in by Audi with anti fretting paste you also need a new nut as they are single use. The newer design is much better and is a 12 point instead of the pressed time effort on the early cars
The kit that pushes on the outer sleeve of the bearing should be fine. You need to remove the abs sensor which invariable means buying a new sensor

Cheers. Paul


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the Gen2 fitting tool that pulls them in and out
This is the tool that should be used. If you're doing it this way, you're doing it right. :)

A standard press, where the force is applied to the inner race of the bearing, is the big no-no.

A few A2OC members, myself included, own the Gen 2 tool. Do you also own one?

Cheers,

Tom
 
Thanks, Paul. Yes, that ABS sensor wasn't giving up the fight easily earlier. OK< I will be heading to Machine Mart tomorrow for a puller and one of the thin-walled 12 point sockets for those replacements. I have ordered up the replacement nuts... I see I am not going to get this finished tomorrow... Do you know what sort of locking compound I should use. I presume some variety of threadlock will work as well as Audi's specific stuff ? Thanks, Tom. Yes, I have bought one it was about £35 on eBay so I doubt it is high quality but hopefully it will hold together on the few occassions I am likely to need it. I thought it would be the only new tool I was going to need but that would have been way too easy :)
 
You will need an hydraulic pusher tool I got one from eBay for £50 ish
It clamps to the hub via the wheel bolts then there is a hydraulic cylinder with a screw on the end which does the pushing
I’ve never used anti fretting compound and never had a problem

This is not the one I bought but same thing. eBay. 22367320547

Cherrs


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Thanks, Paul. Yes, that ABS sensor wasn't giving up the fight easily earlier. OK< I will be heading to Machine Mart tomorrow for a puller and one of the thin-walled 12 point sockets for those replacements. I have ordered up the replacement nuts... I see I am not going to get this finished tomorrow... Do you know what sort of locking compound I should use. I presume some variety of threadlock will work as well as Audi's specific stuff ? Thanks, Tom. Yes, I have bought one it was about £35 on eBay so I doubt it is high quality but hopefully it will hold together on the few occasions I am likely to need it. I thought it would be the only new tool I was going to need but that would have been way too easy :)
Hi, I went through all the problems you have experienced and ended up buying a secondhand hub/carrier from ebay for under 20 pounds. It proved to be the cheapest and best option even though I still have the puller thing and a couple of brand new bearings. although the hex thing is supposed to be single use, there is nothing to stop you bending the sprags back again. The shaft does not float, adhesive is generally used although I have done 15,000 miles with no problem without it.
 
Thanks guys. I wasn't expecting to need a hydaulic one but that is probably required because of the amount of locking goo they use! OK, thanks,Paul. I will go with no glue on reassembly...
 
I like your style, Rod, thanks. Why over-complicate things if you don't need to. I am half way now so I think I will try to push ahead this time but I will keep that in mind if it is starting to feel not worth the faff.
 
Well, I have a noise-free bearing for the first time since I bought the car just before Christmas. I would certainly recommend the eBay GEN2 wheen bearing puller kit. In theory it is designed so you can pull out the bearing without needing to remove the ABS sensor (the puller disc has a flat cut-off on one edge designed to clear it. Maybe I didn't have it perfectly horizontal since I sheared the end off the sensor. Still, I could easily have broken it trying to take it out anyway. I was able to pull the hub of the splines with a pretty basic Machine Mart hub puller which I was able to pick up this morning. Thanks for your advice, guys.
 

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BTW I noticed that the old bearing was an FAG. I think this must have been the original OEM fit in the factory since a) the car has only done 72K miles and b) it still had the original type driveshaft end nut which the Audi worskshop manual, that I downloaded last night, tells you to replace with the later type. I was mistaken, my FAG replacement was about £35 from GSF carparts, as Weetank2 predicted.
 
Well, I have a noise-free bearing for the first time since I bought the car just before Christmas. I would certainly recommend the eBay GEN2 wheen bearing puller kit. In theory it is designed so you can pull out the bearing without needing to remove the ABS sensor (the puller disc has a flat cut-off on one edge designed to clear it. Maybe I didn't have it perfectly horizontal since I sheared the end off the sensor. Still, I could easily have broken it trying to take it out anyway. I was able to pull the hub of the splines with a pretty basic Machine Mart hub puller which I was able to pick up this morning. Thanks for your advice, guys.
Was it this one Aidan?
 
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