Hi all, spent a fun packed 2+ hrs today with my lad replacing the front wheel bearing on our Mk 1. It was the first I'd done but it was apparent that some slightly specialist tools were necessary relating to bolt/screwed fixings etc. We had to improvise to get round this but with my cynical hat on, would this be VW's attempt to hamper the avid DIY'er? Or perhaps to dissuade people who may not be sufficiently familiar with the job in hand? Anyway having bought in the assembly, saved a packet on fitting (just our time/effort) + another step up the learning curve in my case

Did you pull the bearing in or push it in?

To be fair many of the tools required on these fixings, like torx etc, are becoming standard-fair across all cars, and are not VW only. You need more than just a good socket set to work on cars these days

Did you pull the bearing in or push it in?

Hi, we pushed the bearing in on the press at my lads workplace. Handy to have a son in the trade

I hope you didn't push it in on the drive flange (where the disc bolts to) into the hub.

I hope you didn't push it in on the drive flange (where the disc bolts to) into the hub.

My thoughts exactly!

^ It was placed with even pressure distributed directly on the smaller dia upstand, opposite side from the bearing. Looking at the assembly construction I can't see a problem with that and driving wise there are no evident problems. If I'm reading your post correctly I can see why concern is raised.

Issue come when people sit the bearing hub side down and press the carrier onto it or support the carrier pointing up and press the bearing into it on the hub face. This is pressing the bearing into the hub but all the force/load is being put through the bearing race. It's normally after this is done after a few thousand miles the bearing becomes noisy.

The proper tooling has two half moons that go around the back of the hub face and onto the bearing itself. You then pull this into the hub with a hefty centre bolt. This also has the added bonus it can be done on car so no need to remove the carrier.

Issue come when people sit the bearing hub side down and press the carrier onto it or support the carrier pointing up and press the bearing into it on the hub face. This is pressing the bearing into the hub but all the force/load is being put through the bearing race. It's normally after this is done after a few thousand miles the bearing becomes noisy.

The proper tooling has two half moons that go around the back of the hub face and onto the bearing itself. You then pull this into the hub with a hefty centre bolt. This also has the added bonus it can be done on car so no need to remove the carrier.

Ah ok, I see what you're saying & thanks very much for that. From what you've described sounds like our approach was ok. Really useful detail for others considering the same job