How hard is it to replace wheel bearings on 86 Golf

[mtnbob]

Front and rear  Do I need to get special tools or pay extra to get them already installed on spindles, or is there a reasonably easy way to replace them?
Thanks
Robert

[theman53]

I think you are talking about wheel bearings when I saw spindle.
The rear WB is easy no special stuff at all.
The front you need a hydrualic press and knowledge of pressing in and out the bearings. Also if you take the strut out and press the bearing in with the strut still attached *might take 2 people* you don't have to have an alignment done afterwards.
Check the FAQ some guys on here have made a tool out of some big washers and all thread I have seen before.

[smutts]

Rear wheel bearings are not too bad, the fronts though can be a real swine. IF! you have a garage you trust, let them have the hassle. Ignore all references in the Haynes manual to "simply tap out bearing with a drift" the reality was simply after all the paving in my yard was  simply destroyed by simply pounding the simple bejeezus with ever bigger sledgehammers, that I took it to the engineering workshop where the bearing simply popped out at about 21 tons of pressure. Simply don't believe what you read in the Haynes Manual. Then you have the hassle of trying to split the bearing face that will be stuck on the hub. Enjoy!

[mtnbob]

Soooo, maybe I should buy them already installed on the used spindles for $100 ea?

Don't really have a machine shop I trust around here

[fatmobile]

If you don't trust them, stand there, watch and correct them when they try to use the center part of the bearing to push the outer race into the hub,.. (where's the clown emoticon.) I can't believe the local guy tried to do that in front of me, then tell me it's OK. He doesn't anymore! He just lets me use the press, ha.
 To make it cheaper; you can pound the center spindle out and grind the inner race (which stuck to it) off,... make it so thin in one spot that it will slide off. They hate doing this and will charge you. Just pressing it in is a breeze for them.
 Then remove the circlips. smooth the leading edges so the bearings will slide in nicely.
 I bring an old bearing that I ground down a little around the leading edge,.. so it doesn't get stuck in the hub when pressing the new bearing in.
 I also bring the other innner race, that didn't stick to the spindle,.. so the center races  can be pressed onto the spindle,... without having to search through his large selection of pipes pieces.
 Put the clip in, press the outer edge of the bearing to set it into the hub, put the other clip in.
 Now press the hub and bearing unto the spindle.
 Never roll your car around or some say even set your car down on wheel bearings without a stub axle holding them together.

[smutts]

Fatmobiles explanation pretty well sums it up, it is doable with a really good front bearing puller kit, but the one I got cost £120, common sense and a bit of thought should get you through, but this isn't a job I would do without backup transport for the Monday morning comute if it goes tits up. Plus Gas and GOOD circlip pliers will cut down on the swearing.

The inner race usually gets stuck to the hub and is bit of a fag to get off. Careful with angle grinder sounds good.

Get a spare steering track rod end if yours doesn't want to play and you have to hacksaw it off.

[mtnbob]

Hmmmm   sounding like a purchase of the whole spindle with new bearings installed might be my best option.

[burn_your_money]

Don't forget your alignment afterwards if you go that route

[mtnbob]

Great I knew there was a catch

[Doug]

I usually take the old bearing out of the hub with the cutting torch. It is fast and no special pullers or press is required. The bearing races steel burns very nicely when up to temperature with the oxygen stream on it. Have the new bearing chilling in the freezer and it will almost drop into a heated hub after you have cut the old one out. Careful with the flame not to tear up the hub. If you need a little extra push then a large vise with suitable sized sockets or an old bearing can be used to press things together.

[fatmobile]

I prepped one for bearing today.
 and tried something new.
 I put my cold chisel behind the race, in that little space that's meant to alow you to get under just the very edge of the race that's stuck to the spindle.
 The cold chisel drove it a little ways down the spindle. I turned it and put the cold chisel in a high spot to drive it a little further.
 Then I set it on an anvil and smacked the bearing race with the BFH.
 It cracked and slid right off. That race is brittle.
 Quickest/easiest one I've ever done.

[Doug]

Another way to move a stuck race without the puller and press is to take your electric welder and carefully lay a bead with a small rod on the race bearing face. The race will become loose on the spindle as it cools dropping free.