Wheel bearing replacement? Leicestershire

timmus said:
Here is a photo of the tool in its box:
View attachment 30129

Here are two photos of my tool in 'extraction mode'. The tool is able to extract an old bearing and seat a new bearing, all without exerting any force on the inner race (unlike a press, which exterts all its force on the inner race, potentially ruining the bearing before it's even completed one rotation!). The tool is also able to engage the retention ring, meaning the bearing cannot start to 'walk' back out of the knuckle.
Never allow your front wheel bearings to be changed without the use of this tool. Unfortnately, it's just one of the occasional inconveniences of owning a very special car.

View attachment 30128

View attachment 30126

Plenty of garages say they can do wheel bearing repacements without this special tool. That's because it is possible to change the wheel bearings on a vast majority of cars simply by using a press. This does not apply to the A2. Do not believe them, no matter how convinced they sound.

Cheers,

Tom
Click to expand...
Hi, kind of an old thread but is it possible to use the tool with all things still mounted on the car or do I have to take it apart and do it on a bench? Does it also work on the rear bearings?

Skickat från min SM-G930F via Tapatalk
 
You don't need it for the rear, you normally buy the rear ones already in the hub and it is just a bolt on job.

I am not sure if you can use the tool on the front ones on the car or if it has to be on the bench though.

Steve B
 
depronman said:
fronts on the car if you have the tool :)
See Timmus as I know he as the tool
Click to expand...
Did that mean, yes you can do it still attached on the car or yes you have to take it to the bench?
Timmus is a long way from Sweden.
Any tips where to buy reliable wheel bearings at a good price? Doesn't have to be top notch, just good enough. Prices differs a lot I've noticed

Skickat från min SM-G930F via Tapatalk
 
ROKJ said:
depronman said:
fronts on the car if you have the tool :)
See Timmus as I know he as the tool
Click to expand...
Did that mean, yes you can do it still attached on the car or yes you have to take it to the bench?
Timmus is a long way from Sweden.
Any tips where to buy reliable wheel bearings at a good price? Doesn't have to be top notch, just good enough. Prices differs a lot I've noticed

Skickat från min SM-G930F via Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yes you can do it on the car with the correct tool
I have bought either ina or skf bearings from local motor factors
Sorry I didn’t notice your location.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Merlin3046 said:
Just seen this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Front-Whee...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00KI9U3KU
Seems cheap, although the reviews suggest you'll get what you pay for, i.e. it doesn't always fit and it breaks early. Anyone had experience of this?
Click to expand...
Ahh, just followed the link in Olerype's post to what looks like the identical tool. If he's used it successfully, it may be worth punt. Likely not be be professional workshop quality, but if it gets you and a few mates out of problems before it breaks, it's done its job.
 
Olerype said:
The tool you need for front bearings is quite cheap; I bougt this one for 750NOK (75GBP) 6 months ago.

Go to youtube for video how to use it.

And SKF bearings.

https://www.vidaxl.no/e/8718475855644/verktoysett-forhjulslager-72-mm
Click to expand...
Thnx for the tip, like Melin said, looks identical. I'll probably go for the cheapest one on the web, taken that it looks identical.

I tried to find a guide on the rear wheel bearings with no luck. Even though it should be a bolt on-job, I like knowing exactly what I'm up against before I put on my 3 layers of clothes to work in minus degrees celsius on the driveway =)
 
The rears are very easy, bolt the old one off and the new one on, no special tools etc. they come as a complete hub with the bearing already fitted.

But hopefully someone else will add to this to ease your concerns.

Steve B
 
spike said:
Just to 'second' Tom's comments, with this type of hub assembly it's not possible to install the bearing unit using a press as the massive force exerted by the press works directly on the bearing races. As a result the balls (or rollers) can actually indent the races, leading to early failure. (Sometimes called 'Brinelling')
The special tool redirects the assembly loading to the outer race only, alleviating the assembly problem.
It is however possible to use the special tool in combination with a press on 'stubborn' applications if the hub assembly is removed from the car.

Cheers Spike
Click to expand...
Thirded. I had my front wheel bearings replaced at my usual garage (a VAG specialist with an excellent reputation). They didn't have, or know about the tool and the new bearings failed within a few months light use, as did the replacement set. Then they bought the tool...
 
timmus said:
Here is a photo of the tool in its box:
View attachment 30129

Here are two photos of my tool in 'extraction mode'. The tool is able to extract an old bearing and seat a new bearing, all without exerting any force on the inner race (unlike a press, which exterts all its force on the inner race, potentially ruining the bearing before it's even completed one rotation!). The tool is also able to engage the retention ring, meaning the bearing cannot start to 'walk' back out of the knuckle.
Never allow your front wheel bearings to be changed without the use of this tool. Unfortnately, it's just one of the occasional inconveniences of owning a very special car.

View attachment 30128

View attachment 30126

Plenty of garages say they can do wheel bearing repacements without this special tool. That's because it is possible to change the wheel bearings on a vast majority of cars simply by using a press. This does not apply to the A2. Do not believe them, no matter how convinced they sound.

Cheers,

Tom
Click to expand...
Does the tool remove the bearings without damaging them? I may need to remove my drive flanges but the bearings are good and I don't want to to have to replace them.
 
Every time I have had a bearing replaced (twice) I’ve had ABS and recurrent problems until the replacement had been replaced again (under warranty of course). According to the Garage a particular make of bearing seems to work. I suspect now that a particular male of bearing survives the press they no doubt used on it and the other doesn’t.
Again, time for a new Garage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Speaking of make/brands, on a site with the lowest prices right now, they have got the following brands:

Ridex 27£
GSP
MAPCO
TRISCAN
BTA
NK
FAG
NTN/SNR
VAICO
FEBI Bilstein
SWAG
Metzger
SKF 64£
Stark 76£
Ruville 120£

Any comments on those? SKF, Ruville and Stark is the top pricerange, while all the others seems to be budget/middle in the above order. I´ll probably replace all 4 so I'm unwilling to go for the SKF unless there´s a strong indication that the others are crap :/
 
Last edited:
ROKJ said:
Speaking of make/brands, on a site with the lowest prices right now, they have got the following brands:

Ridex 27£
GSP
MAPCO
TRISCAN
BTA
NK
FAG
NTN/SNR
VAICO
FEBI Bilstein
SWAG
Metzger
SKF 64£
Stark 76£
Ruville 120£

Any comments on those? SKF, Ruville and Stark is the top pricerange, while all the others seems to be budget/middle in the above order. I´ll probably replace all 4 so I'm unwilling to go for the SKF unless there´s a strong indication that the others are crap :/
Click to expand...

I've used FAG bearings in the past. Never had any problems with them, and they're a long established manufacturer. Company was registered in 1905 so they don't make junk or they wouldn't still be business!
 
Fag and SKF are probably the best as they supplied bearings to Audi in the past for many years. Not sure who supplies Audi now but SNR are also good. Just my small experience with Ruville, i compared a new Ruville strut top bearing i bought for my C4 S6, with what i know to be a factory fitted FAG top bearing and the new Ruvill didn't feel as as good as the original Fag i took out.I just wanted it all, new as part of it's rebuild, Luckily i found a guy in the states selling new old stock Fag strut bearings.

Just had the right front changed on ours today by Gary using the genuine VW tools. Incidentally this is the first car i've ever had a bearing go on.It started off as a very faint whirr sound which only over a week or so increased into a rumble getting louder at speed which would amplify if turning right or left.



IMG_0132.jpg
 
Last edited:
Bargepower said:
I've used FAG bearings in the past. Never had any problems with them, and they're a long established manufacturer. Company was registered in 1905 so they don't make junk or they wouldn't still be business!
Click to expand...
Good input, probably go for those!
 
Just used a new FAG front bearing. Noticed the old one was FAG too, which must have lasted at least the 20k miles I have done in the car, and i suspect many, many more miles before i purchased the car. Hit a pot hole hard recently and think that finished off the old one.
Merlin3046 said:
Just seen this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Front-Whee...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00KI9U3KU
Seems cheap, although the reviews suggest you'll get what you pay for, i.e. it doesn't always fit and it breaks early. Anyone had experience of this?
Click to expand...
Got this version of the special tool to do it, which worked well: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Front-Wh...A1-A2-Seat-Ibiza-Skoda-Fabia-VW/371139452598? Worse part was pushing the driveshaft out of the old bearing - I broke a puller doing it. Fortunately got another locally at Halfords, which only just pushed the driveshaft out without breaking. Going to buy a stronger puller!
 
Last edited:
timmus said:
Hi Steve,

Make sure you book it in with someone who has the tool. All garages will say they can do the job because they honestly believe they can. But unless they have the special tool, they can't do it properly.
Ask to see the tool. If they show you a bench press or a big hammer, walk away.

I'm writing this on my phone, but will upload a photo of the tool later today once I'm sat at a proper computer.

Cheers,

Tom
Click to expand...
Thanks Tom , very useful information!!
 
steve@cromford said:
Thanks for the advice.
I have booked the car into Lion Garage (Leics VAG specialists) on a recommendation from a colleague.
As soon as I mentioned wheel bearing, they mentioned the "special tool".
I think they know what they are doing!
regards
Steve M
Click to expand...
Hey, mind if I ask what that front wheel bearacing replacment cost you? I‘m booked in to do the same thing with a recommended mechanic down here and wanted to get a sense of what I should expect it to cost.
Thanks,
Rob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top