I'm a newbie to working on my Skoda Fabia.

 

I'll be replacing the pads and also need to do a front wheel bearing and need to know what tools are needed for the job.

 

 

I'd rather not get into the work and find I don't have a certain tool.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

Front wheel bearing will either need the correct puller tool or a press with appropriate tooling. When pressing the bearing into the hub DO NOT press on the disc mounting face. This will put the pressure through the bearing and not into the bearing case itself. Do that and you will be changing the bearing again shortly.

You will also need a 19mm Allen key or 36mm 12 sided thin wall socket to undo the driveshaft outer CV, depends in which nut you have.

The front hub bearing assembly comes as one unit, and will need a special tool to push-out the old hub and press back the new hub bearing assembly.

You could attempt to drive out the old assembly but, easily damage the new assembly replacement.

Definitely a garage job, had a bearing assembly done at the garage myself.

Ensure you buy the assembly that has the magnetic ring if your have ABS braking facility, otherwise the ABS dash light will stay on. 

Welcome to the forum, plenty of help on here re wheel bearing replacement, even step by step photos, found that the forum search is a brilliant tool as is google.

 

Just done a wheel bearing on a VRS, as I had to change the bearing hub holder (brake caliper thread buggered) and as the original bearing had done 156,000 miles, also a new bearing.

 

What worked for me and I must stress it was with a new hub holder, so didn't need to remove the old bearing...although in the past have just knocked them out, I put the bearing assembly in the freezer for a couple of days and then heated the hub holder in the oven to 200C and the bearing just dropped in with just a tap from a rubber mallet. Then it was a simple case to wait for it to cool before securing the locking ring using a broad flat screwdriver.

 

Remember to remove the abs sensor (if fitted) if you try this and open a window as even with the new holder it smelt a bit.

If you want to save some cash get the front hub off yourself and take it to an independant garage and ask them to swap out the bearing

If you want to save some cash get the front hub off yourself and take it to an independant garage and ask them to swap out the bearing

This. You can buy a gen2 kit for under £100 and still be stuck with the old bearing refusing to budge and needing to be pressed out, worse yet if you can't get the drive shaft out you are utterly screwed and it's going to get expensive.

That happened to me

Driveshaft wouldnt budge from the hub :(

Ballache

I'm a newbie to working on my Skoda Fabia...

This really isn't a job for a newbie.

To avoid the big no-no as described by Techie, you need a Gen2 bearing kit or a press with a 'side-door' tool.

If you look at a picture of the new hub/bearing assembly you will see how tricky it is to install it whilst pressing only on the bearing outer shell.

That happened to me

Driveshaft wouldnt budge from the hub :(

Ballache

This happened to me too

Thanks for all the info, but I just need to know what tools are needed to remove the assembly so I can take it to the garage to have the new bearing/hub fitted.

I understand that I'll need;

a19mm Allen dive for my socket set

34mm bi hex socket

T45 torx dive

I've also read somewhere that I may need a 14 spline drive but not sure what this is?

Are there any other tools needed that aren't in the normal socket and spanner sets?

Advice appreciated

Paul

Your going to need a new hub nut and new nuts/bolts/washers to replace all the single use items you remove.

Assuming you have the tools listed in previous posts and have the tools necessary to remove the brake caliper/disk you need...

extractors for ball joint and track rod end

spreader for the strut clamp

If you don't already have the following, you need them too..

torque wrench(es) - 10Nm to 125Nm

beaker/power/knuckle bar to loosen/angle tighten the hub nut

axle stands

trolley jack (to raise the car and to control the strut)

Spline drive is for the gearbox end (you shouldn't need this unless the driveshaft is stuck in the hub)

You'll also need something to split the hub and separate it from the shock absorber

Thanks for reply.

I have all the usual tools for working on motors as I've restored a number of air cooled VWs.

I don't want to start stripping down the front end and hit a dead end because I don't have a tool. It sends to me that they deliberately use non standard tools to keep the garages in business.

If appreciate it if someone could tell me what single use items I might need to get, I've got the hub nut with the bearing kit. Not sure what other items I'll need.

Cheers Paul

A trolley jack

An axle stand

Breaker bar

Torque wrench

17mm socket for wheel bolts

7mm allen key for brake caliper

13mm socket for lower ball joint bolts

18mm socket and M14 spline socket for hub to strut pinch bolt

18mm or 19mm socket for the track rod end

Hammer to release track rod end

10mm socket for bracket bolt on hub

Flat blade screw driver to releace the brake pipe clip

36mm 12 point socket for hub nut (do NOT over tighten this when refitting, torque is 50 Nm plus 45 degrees)

8mm socket to remove brake disc sheild bolts (probably corroded away).

6mm allen key for removing the ABS sensor?

 

If the driveshaft is stuck in the hub there is a tool to release them, or you can use a 17mm socket and knock it through.

 

Think that covers it.

Cheers for the comprehensive list.

All the tools sorted funny how the guy in the shop new exactly what job I was doing.

Is it common for jobs on the skoda to require obscure tools?

Its the germans for you

M10 is 16mm spanner

M12 is 18mm spanner

Just stipidity

Cheers for the comprehensive list.

All the tools sorted funny how the guy in the shop new exactly what job I was doing.

Is it common for jobs on the skoda to require obscure tools?

Yeah you need one or two.

Cheers for all the pointers.

 

Job went well and was a lot easier than I thought.

 

Paul

Good, best be prepared for the worst than getting part way through and struggling.

 

You should see the amount of them i've seen for repeat repairs. More than one where the bearing hasnt been installed far enough into the hub and its worn the pads out on one side of the caliper where it has been binding.

Good, best be prepared for the worst than getting part way through and struggling.

You should see the amount of them i've seen for repeat repairs. More than one where the bearing hasnt been installed far enough into the hub and its worn the pads out on one side of the caliper where it has been binding.

I've seen a good number fail before they reach 1000miles. Of course, it is never the installer. "it must have been a faulty bearing"

I can beat you for scary. I overheard an owner asking for a new wheel nut because he lost the old one whilst replacing the bearing. I asked to take a look at the car and there was no nut - just a couple of washers and three tie wraps :( The bearing was installed with a hammer and a block of wood so I bet it didn't last long.