I want to put alloy hubs on the front of my vRS but want to check my facts before I fill my shed with (more) useless car-parts. I think the alloy hub is common to the S3/A4 and B6 Passat and the latter are quite plentiful in breakers yards. If I go for units from breakers, are there any well-known gotchas? What I have noticed so far is that some have ABS whilst other don’t and assume I would only use the ABS version. Some also have broken bolts in them. Anything else to get fixated on? I would probably fit new bearings anyway so unconcerned about those.

Bonus question: Has anybody fitted Boxster calipers to B6 Passat hubs using made-up carriers and if so, where did they get the carriers from do they centre the caliper correctly over the disc i.e., so there is equal pad clearance on either side? I have seen comments about some using shims which to my mind defeats the purpose of a ready-made carrier. Others comment negatively on aluminium carriers being unable to cope with correct torque-settings and recommend only steel ones such as those from Apikol (who only seem to make them fro the A4 and I am unsure if that would fit a Passat hub or not).

Need a bigger shed.

 

>>I want to put alloy hubs on the front of my vRS <<

 

Forgive my ignorance, but why?

Forgive my ignorance, but why?

Oh sure. To reduce unsprung weight and do so whilst I have the suspension in bits to save on rework cost.

Reducing unsprung weight is a laudable aim. The A3 sporty had alloy suspension arms too, as well as the hubs. Lots of info on MK5GTI at one time.

The passat/A4 platform is different to the PQ35 Golf/Octavia one - are the hubs the same?

The passat/A4 had a multilink system on the front, totally different to the Octavia.

Reducing unsprung weight is a laudable aim. The A3 sporty had alloy suspension arms too, as well as the hubs. Lots of info on MK5GTI at one time.

The passat/A4 platform is different to the PQ35 Golf/Octavia one - are the hubs the same?

The passat/A4 had a multilink system on the front, totally different to the Octavia.

I am working (labouring) under the assumption that the B6 Passat is golf-based and has a similar suspension to the Golf MkV/Octavia II as opposed to the B5 which I think did have a weird and wonderful multi-link thingy. That doesn't remove all doubt of course.

B6 is Mcpherson strut.  Hub carriers will fit but there are subtle differences between the alloy & the iron units (at a minimum you'll need longer brake bolts as the alloy has a deeper thread depth.  Possibly the arms the tie rods attach to are a fraction longer or shorter (can't remember.  The bearing is the same.

 

Also, the lower control arms on the B6 are alloy too, so you may as well get them too, especially if you have the cast lower arms.  The welded arms are only 1Lb heavier than the alloys but the cast are about 2.3lb IIRC.

 

There's a heap of info at Golfmk5 or GolfMk6 inc photos that show the differences in dimensions & part numbers.  I did post them here once but can't remember the thread.

 

Hope this helps:

B6 Passat Left Spindle - 3C0407253F

B6 Passat Right Spindle - 3C0407254F

B6 Passat Control Arms (L/R interchangeable) - 3C0407151E

Audi S3 arms inc bushes
1K0 407 151 AK left
1K0 407 152 AK right

It appears that the cast steel LCAs are 4kg; the Passat LCAs are 2.2kg (2006-2009) or 1.9kg (2009 onwards). I haven't got a weight on the pressed steel units but anecdotely they are only about 500gms more than the passat units.
Passat spindles are alloy & weigh 3kg; Golf (inc Golf R)/Octavia are cast steel - 4.5kg. 1.5kg per side weight saving

may as well add this if you are chasing weight

Brakes (caliper + rotor + pads + bolts + adapter)
OEM:
stock 312mm - 14.5kg
TTS 340mm - 20kg
S3/R32 345mm - 21.5kg
TTRS 370mm - 17kg
RS4/RS6 365mm - 17kg
RS6 V10 390mm - 21.5kg

Non OEM:
VW-R 352x32mm - 12kg
K-Sport 356x32mm - 12.25kg
Brembo 355x32mm - 13kg

 

Several guys on the mk5gti forum have the s3 hubs, not sure about the passat stuff - might fit but you'd be taking a risk but might be worthwhile if cost is the issue.

Had this bookmarked

 

http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55446&page=6

Post 118, 121

 

http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27844

 

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3696516

 

http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47369&page=2

 

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5034476-B6-Passat-Spindles-%282.0t-VR6-4Motion%29-Differences