Wheel Bearings - DIY or Not DIY???

jimbobaroo

jimbobaroo

Member
Hi everyone.
First time on the forum site. ( Although I first joined 1yr ago)
Just a couple of things I need answers to, which I hope some one can give,

1:- Took my A2 into an independent small garage which deals with Audis & VW for the NSF wheel bearing to be changed, only for him to ring me up one hour later to say he can't do it, - hasn't got the right tool to take the hub nut off ( ???) and a friend advised him to avoid doing it as the new bearing and hub contain the ABS sensors etc, and can cause problems if not fitted right.
( even though initially he told me he'd done one before. Yea right. )
Question :- If I purchase or manufacture a "special tool" to remove the hub nut, is the bearing change straight forward ( like on a normal car ) or is it too complex for the basic DIYer with a vice in his garage.?
Failing that, can any one recommend a reliable garage, ( other than a main dealer ) in the Sheffield/ South Yorkshire region who can do A2 wheel bearings ?


Question 2 :- After reading the forum pages on chipping 1.4 Tdi 's, can anything be done to the 1.4 petrol engine to improve its performance ??

Thanks in anticipation for any help/advice given.

jimbobaroo.
 
Hi jimbobaroo
I don't think this is a diy job. The bearing comes pre-assembled on the wheel hub and special tools are needed to pull the old assy out of the housing and press the new assy back in. I suspect the special tools would be well over £100 so its not really cost effective to buy the gear for a one-off repair.
Check out your local VW dealer as they will have the kit and probably charge less for the labour than Audi

The petrol engines can be chipped but although the engine will be more responsive, max power will only be increased by 7 - 10 bhp



Cheers Spike
 
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We've just had ours done (NSF! is this a weakness?). I can give you the part numbers and dealer prices is you need them. As for the special tools, although ekta says you need them ours was subject to heat treatment to free it as the tools didn't do the job.
The design of a front wheel drive hub as not significantly changed in more than 20 years and it always used to be DIY everything to keep cars on the road. I recall drifting bearings out using a large socket when I didn't have the "special" drift required. The introduction of these "special tools" is, to my mind, a way of discouraging people to look after it themselves when in reality its a simple job. Only made more difficult with the introduction of make specfic fixings.
I can let you have the Ekta procedure if it helps your decision.

Given my latest experiences at Mr Audi I, I won't be returning - ever if I can help it.

Cheers

Jonathan
 
Cheers for the info Spike and jonathanlailey. Much appreciated.

Since posting my thread I've since managed to find an independant in Sheffield who can do the bearing - at a cost of £188 !! but still cheaper than my local Audi dealer by a couple of hundred £ . A dealer in Doncaster increased the quote by saying I needed a laser 4 wheel alignment after having the bearing changed, costing an additional £150 !!!!
Trouble is I don't know if there's any truth in what he said.????

I remember the good old days in the 80's when I was an apprentice fitter changing wheel bearings on Ford Capri's & Viva's & Cortinas using a socket (like you said) in a vice.( with the help of a 2lb hammer ).

Trouble is I've been out of the mechanicing scene for the past 15 yrs so not up to date with modern car technology. Like you say, manufacturers make it harder for us DIYers to do things ourselves, trying to get us pay "their prices" .

The average quote for the bearing itself was around £ 75 + VAT, seemed to be main dealer purchase only, - an other rip off !!

I' ve also searched more into the forum pages and read more about 1.4 petrol performance increase. Will look into it for sure as the wife wants to trade the A2 in for something faster like an Audi TT, but imagine the extra expense in running one of them........


Cheers again for the help,

jimbobaroo.
 
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Hi Jonathan
In my experience, the days when bearings could be tapped out with a suitable sized socket are long gone. Its probably still possible with the rear hubs but the double row unitised bearings used on the front hubs usually need a hydraulic press for removal and replacement. Later VAG cars are even more difficult as the front bearings are pre assembled onto the wheel hub so you need the tools to pull the bearing into the housing without loading up the inner races - you can't just press or knock in the hub assy. I'm sure the tools could be made if you have access to a lathe and some barstock but its probably beyond the scope of most of our club members

PS. In my view you would only need a wheel alignment check if the bearing housing was removed from the suspension strut so the hub assy could be changed on the bench. The official Audi way means you don't need to do this - if you have the special tools.

Cheers Spike
 
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Our NSF wheel bearing was replaced at Audi a couple of weeks ago and there was no wheel alignment check. I'm sure they would have charged for one if the could have!

Jonathan
 
Hi spike & vkx2451.

Finally got the wheel bearing done-- third time lucky. Took the A2 in last week to a second independant garage who work on Audi's, only to be rang up half hour after dropping it of to be told to pick car up . Again !!! This time though the bearing hadn't turned up.
First time this garage had done an a2 front wheel bearing, but seemed to manage it OK.
Sounds like they took the suspension strut of to do the job but no mention of a wheel alignment.
They did mention the flashing ABS warning light was down to a " acceleration lateral sensor " that needed changing and quoted £250 to do the job.

Does anyone know if that price is reasonable ???
And what is an" acceleration lateral sensor " ?? A wheel sensor ??

Thanks for any feedback,
jimbobaroo.
 
Im in sheffield too. I know of an independent in the area but I have never used them as my car is under warranty, which brings me neatly onto the topic of warranties. Audi did me a 15k mile warranty for £510.
 
It's no more complex than a Polo or Lupo F Wheel bearing.

You can buy the kits from VAG parts or direct from German Autopart dealers. They are not made by Audi but outsourced to FAG etc.

The retaining nut is a very large allen key - 19mm I think.

ABS sensors are easy to remove - they slot into the top of the hub.

I paid local German car specialist to change it. Bearing cost £66 from Germany and job was about £50.
 
jimbobaroo said:
Hi spike & vkx2451.

Finally got the wheel bearing done-- third time lucky. Took the A2 in last week to a second independant garage who work on Audi's, only to be rang up half hour after dropping it of to be told to pick car up . Again !!! This time though the bearing hadn't turned up.
First time this garage had done an a2 front wheel bearing, but seemed to manage it OK.
Sounds like they took the suspension strut of to do the job but no mention of a wheel alignment.
They did mention the flashing ABS warning light was down to a " acceleration lateral sensor " that needed changing and quoted £250 to do the job.

Does anyone know if that price is reasonable ???
And what is an" acceleration lateral sensor " ?? A wheel sensor ??

Thanks for any feedback,
jimbobaroo.
Click to expand...


Hi jimbobaroo

The acceleration lateral sensor is part of the Electronic Stability system which reduces the risk of skidding and losing control while cornering. Don't be too hasty in having this sensor replaced as occasionally they can read out of range and record a fault code without actually being damaged. This happened to my car but once cleared, the fault code has never returned. (one of the many advantages of owning your own VagCom diagnostic kit)

Cheers Spike
 
Hi all.

The first independant I went to in Sheffield was P&A Autos off West St, who couldn't do the job.
The second one, who did the job, was Swiftperformance (David Underwood) on Fitzwilliam St. They do a lot on Audis and chip engines, but it was their first A2 front W/bearing, .
I thought they'd done a good job, but just been out in the A2 tonight and there's a new groining/creaking noise coming from the NSF when you turn the steering wheel which wasn't there before the bearing change !!!
Back on the phone to them in the morning .

Spike ,-- if you read this, the check on the acc lateral sensor showed one permenant fault and a temporary fault ?????

How can a faulty unit show two different faults ??? How can it show a temporary fault when its permenantly faulty ??? I'm baffled !!

I'd love my own VAG COM diagnostic kit, but from looking at one of the threads about this, it sounds too technical and confusing.
But then, if there was someone in the Sheffield area with this kit , I'm sure it would come in very handy !

Cheers

Bob.
 
Hi Bob
Ref the acc lateral sensor fault - I'm guessing here but if the temporary fault showed first and the permanent fault came later then it's possible that both would be stored.
Running a diagnostic scan with VagCom is very easy and anyone that can use a PC could do a scan. Coding modules is a little more tricky but the VagCom web site covers most of the popular procedured and if you were stuck I'm sure other club members would offer guidance. Main dealers charge around £70 for a scan and independants approx £40 so it does not take long to recover the outlay.

Ccheers Spike
 
Hi spike,

Thanks for the feedback. I take it with a Vagcom kit of your own you can reset/clear the memory etc, to get rid of any faults showing ?
Will look more into it when I return back from hols for a few days next week. Hope the A2makes it ok, - it doesn't do many long journeys.

Do you know of any club members in or around the Sheffield area who have the Vagcom kit ? As I would really like a second opinion about the acc lateral sensor, before I fork out £250 to have it replaced .

Cheers Bob.
 
jimbobaroo said:
Hi spike,

Thanks for the feedback. I take it with a Vagcom kit of your own you can reset/clear the memory etc, to get rid of any faults showing ?
Will look more into it when I return back from hols for a few days next week. Hope the A2makes it ok, - it doesn't do many long journeys.

Do you know of any club members in or around the Sheffield area who have the Vagcom kit ? As I would really like a second opinion about the acc lateral sensor, before I fork out £250 to have it replaced .

Cheers Bob.
Click to expand...

I'm just the other side of the hill in Mossley - have a look at the 'My Location' section.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Skipton01 said:
I'm just the other side of the hill in Mossley - have a look at the 'My Location' section.

Cheers,

Mike
Click to expand...
Hi Skipton,

Thanks for the offer, might take you up on it.
Just taking the old A2 down South for a few days hols,- if it makes it !
Will contact you when I get back.

Cheers
Bob.
 
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