Wheel Bearing Housing, Removing And Installing, Front Wheel Drive (Fwd) Vehicles: Removing

-- Determine dimension -a- from the center of the wheel to the lower edge of the wheel housing before starting work while the vehicle is resting on its wheels.

Fig 1: Dimension From Center Of Wheel To Lower Edge Of Wheel Housing

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Only on Vehicles with a Drive Axle Stub. Refer to -item  ) OVERVIEW - WHEEL BEARING, VEHICLES WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE (FWD) - Drive Axle Stub

Fig 2: Drive Axle Hex Bolt

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-- Remove the bolt -arrow- ; Refer to DRIVE AXLE THREADED CONNECTION, LOOSENING AND TIGHTENING .

Removing, Continued 

-- Place the vehicle on a hoist.

Only Perform The Following Steps If The Wheel Bearing Housing Will Be Replaced.

Fig 3: Identifying Hammer And Grease Cap Puller VW 637/2

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-- Loosen the dust cap by lightly tapping on the :VW637/2  .

-- Pry the dust cap with the :VW637/2  .

Fig 4: Identifying Grease Cap Puller VW 637/2 To Pull Off Dust Cap

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-- Loosen the wheel bearing unit collar bolt, but only when the vehicle is resting on its wheels. Refer to DRIVE AXLE THREADED CONNECTION, LOOSENING AND TIGHTENING .

Removing, Continued 

Fig 5: Releasing Connector From Left ABS Wheel Speed Sensor

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-- Remove the wheel.

-- Release the connector -1- from the Rear Speed Sensor -- and remove it.

-- Disconnect the electromechanical parking brake connector -3-.

-- Remove the bolt -2- and the bracket with lines -6-.

-- Remove The Brake Caliper And The Brake Rotor. Refer to REAR BRAKE CALIPER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

-- Secure the brake caliper to the body so that the weight of the caliper does not stress or damage the brake hose or brake line.

Only Perform the Following Steps If the Wheel Bearing Housing Will Be Replaced.

Fig 6: Bolts -1- And Cover Plate -2-

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-- Remove the bolts -1- from the brake shield -2-.

-- Remove the wheel bearing unit -2- over the brake shield -1- and from the stub axle -3-.

Fig 7: Identifying Wheel Bearing Unit Over Brake Shield And From Stub Axle

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-- Reach behind the front seal -arrow- when the stub axle has been freed up enough. Remove the wheel bearing unit and the brake shield (both not shown in the illustration) over the front seal -arrow-.

Fig 8: Front Seal

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Fig 9: Always Set Wheel Bearing Down On Wheel Hub -2- (Wheel Bearing -1- Facing Up)

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• The wheel bearing -1- must always face up.
• Always set the wheel bearing unit down on the wheel hub -2-.

-- Clean The Front Seal.

-- Remove the Rear ABS Wheel Speed Sensor -- -2- by removing the bolt -1-.

Fig 10: Identifying Rear Speed Sensor

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Removing, Continued 

Fig 11: Identifying Nut And Eccentric Washer

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-- Remove the coil spring. Refer to SPRING, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

-- Mark the position of the bolt -1- to the wheel bearing housing -2-.

-- Remove the nut -4- and the eccentric washer -3-.

-- Remove the bolt -1-.

-- Remove the bolt -4-.

Fig 12: Identifying Bolt

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-- Release the retaining tabs -1- and remove the stone deflector -2-.

Fig 13: Identifying Retaining Tabs And Stone Deflector

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-- Remove the bolt -2- and washer -1-.

Fig 14: Identifying Bolt And Washer

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-- Remove the nut -3-.

Fig 15: Bolt -1- And Spacer Tube -2- And Nut -3-

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-- Remove the bolt -1- and the spacer tube -2-.

-- Remove wheel bearing housing.