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How to change front wheel bearing on VW Golf 3 – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.9 TD, GTD, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.9 TDI, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.4, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.6, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.8, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.8, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.8 Syncro (1HX1), VW GOLF III (1H1) 2.0, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.4, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.6, VW GOLF III (1H1) 2.0 Syncro (1HX1), VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.9 TDI Syncro (1HX1), VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.9 TDI, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.9 SDI, VW GOLF III (1H1) 1.9 D … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change front wheel bearing on VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 3 (1H1) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Wheel bearing kit

Replacement: wheel bearing – VW Golf 3. Tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      All-purpose cleaning spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner
                    
                      Copper grease
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Combination spanner #10
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Drive socket # 13
                    
                      Drive socket # 18
                    
                      Drive socket # 19
                    
                      Drive socket # 30
                    
                      Torx bit T30
                    
                      HEX bit No.H7.
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Bush and bearing driver set
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Flat Screwdriver
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Vice
                    
                      Circlip pliers
                    
                      Bearing separator
                    
                      Ball joint puller
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: wheel bearing – VW Golf 3. AUTODOC recommends:

Do not re-use the bearing assembly of your VW Golf 3 car.
The wheel hub bearing replacement procedure is identical for both wheels on the same axle.
Warning! Shut down the engine before starting any work – VW Golf 3

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Secure the wheels with chocks.

Step 2

Clean the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 3

Loosen the fastener of the driveshaft. Use a drive socket #30. Use a tap wrench.
Step 4

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 5

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 6

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: wheel bearing – VW Golf 3. Tip:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 7

Remove the wheel.
Step 8

Remove the dust boot caps of the brake caliper guide pins. Use a crowbar.
Step 9

Unscrew the brake caliper fastening. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 10

Spread the brake pads. Use a crowbar.
Step 11

Remove the brake caliper.

Replacement: wheel bearing – VW Golf 3. Professionals recommend:
Tie the caliper to the suspension or to the body with a wire without disconnecting from the brake hose to prevent depressurization of the brake system.Make sure that the brake caliper is not hanging on the brake hose.Don't press the brake pedal after the brake caliper has been removed. As a result, the piston can fall out from the brake cylinder, and brake fluid leakage and depressurization of the system may occur. Check the brake caliper bracket, brake caliper guide pins and boots. Clean them. Replace, if necessary.
Step 12

Remove the brake pads. Use a crowbar.
Step 13

Clean the brake disc fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Unscrew the brake disc fastening. Use Torx T30. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Remove the brake disc.
Step 16

Clean the fastener connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

Unscrew the end fastening nut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18

Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 19

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: wheel bearing – VW Golf 3. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.Wear protective goggles.
Step 20

Unscrew the fasteners connecting the ball joint to the control arm. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 21

Remove the fastening nut.
Step 22

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 23

Unscrew the fasteners connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 24

Remove the fastening bolts.
Step 25

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 26

Remove the drive shaft.

Replacement: wheel bearing – VW Golf 3. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Make sure that the drive shaft is not unloaded (when the car is jacked).
Step 27

Remove the steering knuckle together with the hub.
Step 28

Place the steering knuckle assembled with the wheel hub in a vice.
Step 29

Clean the fasteners of the brake disc cover. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 30

Unscrew the fasteners of the brake disc cover. Use a combination spanner #10.
Step 31

Remove the brake disc cover.
Step 32

Clean the wheel hub bearing retaining ring. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 33

Remove the wheel hub bearing retaining ring. Use circlip pliers.
Step 34

Release the vice and remove the steering knuckle assembled with the wheel hub.
Step 35

Remove the wheel hub from the steering knuckle. Use a bush and bearing driver set.
Step 36

Clean the wheel hub bearing retaining ring. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 37

Remove the wheel hub bearing retaining ring. Use circlip pliers.
Step 38

Press out the wheel hub bearing. Use a bush and bearing driver set.
Step 39

Pull the bearing inner race out of the wheel hub. Use a bush and bearing driver set. Use a bearing separator.
Step 40

Clean the hub bearing mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 41

Install the wheel hub bearing retaining ring. Use circlip pliers.
Step 42

Press the new bearing in the steering knuckle. Use a bush and bearing driver set.

Replacement: wheel bearing – VW Golf 3. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Check to make sure the wheel hub bearing is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment. Stop pressing on the surface of the bearing immediately after it has been fitted into its mounting seat.
Step 43

Install the wheel hub bearing retaining ring. Use circlip pliers.
Step 44

Clean the wheel hub mounting seat. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 45

Install the wheel hub on the steering knuckle. Use a bush and bearing driver set.
Step 46

Place the steering knuckle assembled with the wheel hub in a vice.
Step 47

Clean the mounting seat of the brake disc cover. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 48

Install the brake disc cover.
Step 49

Screw in the fasteners of the brake disc cover. Use a combination spanner #10.
Step 50

Treat the hub where it contacts the brake disk. Use all-purpose cleaning spray.
Step 51

Release the vice and remove the steering knuckle assembled with the wheel hub.
Step 52

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 53

Treat the splines of the driveshaft CV joint. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 54

Install the drive shaft.
Step 55

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 56

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 57

Screw in the fasteners connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 58

Install the fastening nut.
Step 59

Screw the fasteners of the ball joint. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 60

Clean the mounting seats of the tie rod end. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 61

Connect the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.
Step 62

Screw on the fastening nut that connects the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 63

Clean the hub. Use a wire brush. Treat the contacting surface. Use copper grease.
Step 64

Install the brake disc.
Step 65

Tighten the brake disc fastening. Use Torx T30. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 4 Nm torque.
Step 66

Install the brake pads.
Step 67

Install the brake caliper and fix it. Use HEX No.H7. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 25 Nm torque.
Step 68

Install the dust boot caps of the brake caliper guide pins.
Step 69

Tighten the fastening nut connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 35 nm torque.
Step 70

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 95 Nm torque.
Step 71

Tighten the fasteners connecting the ball joint to the control arm. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 35 nm torque.
Step 72

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Treat the fasteners of the ball joint. Treat the fastener connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use copper grease.
Step 73

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush.
Step 74

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 75

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

Replacement: wheel bearing – VW Golf 3. Tip:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 76

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. VW Golf 3
Step 77

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 78

Lower the car.
Step 79

Tighten the drive shaft nut. Use a drive socket #30. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 230 Nm torque.
Step 80

Treat the CV axle fastener. Use copper grease.
Step 81

Tighten the wheel bolts using a criss-cross pattern. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 nm torque.
Step 82

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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