Mk2 GTI rear wheel bearings? Easy? Hard?

My rear wheel bearings have been 'humming' for a good while now. Was wondering how easy they are to replace?

Is it just a case of remove caliper, remove cotter pin/retaining nut, pull off disc, remove old bearings, push in new bearings, pack with grease, and bolt back together again?

Any tips for how to tighten them correctly? Kind of grease to use? Etc. Or do need a press to install the new bearings?

Cheers.
Edited by: AndrewD

 

best just use new discs too. discs are 9 a pair or something from gsf and it saves hassle.


easy job btw. bearing kit has everything you need except lithium grease

 

Good call. Discs are only 18 months old - but the bearings have been noisy as hell since I had them fitted. Might as well bung new 'uns on for that price.

 

I found them easy to fit when I did my rear disc conversion using new discs pads and bearings.

You should fit new pads too if your replacing the discs

 

yuo don't need a press to fit them, i just used a suitable sized socket and a hammer


if you're fitting new pads you may as well fit mk3 calipers and braided hoses too

 

And then my cheap job becomes a very expensive one!

 

22.1mm master cylinder?

 

Be prepared to wrestle with the caliper carrier bolts, they can be a bugger to get off Otherwise a straightforward job.

 

Pads were replaced about 18 months ago so fingers crossed that they didn't mess the carrier bolts up too much ...

Hmm .. 22.1 mm master cylinder ... Then it'd be all ready for a 280mm conversion onto the front. And if I was doing that I might as well fit new ball joints. Probably recon the wishbones with poly bushes too, etc ...

 

get wishbones seam welded to stiffen them up a little

then may as well fit coilovers, arb's, strut braces etc

what about a 20vT conversion to compliment the handling?

then of course you'll need a complete respray.

can't have a respray without recaro leather now can we?

 

damn wheel bearings - proper expensive job so they are

 

... probably the single biggest thing one can do to improve the performance, handling and appearance though.

 

I ran along to my local engineering shop and asked them for a couple of cylinders of metal the same size as the inner and outer bearing races to fit mine. Bashing the new bearings in wasn't too bad.

Took a morning If I remember.

 

took me around 10 minutes for both sides

 

Sorry, did I say a morning? I meant 9mins 59s.

Nerrrrdy nerrrr.

 

Might as well just go and buy a mk5 GTi. They have new bearings as standard. Saves all the trouble.

 

FOR SALE

1991 Golf GTI 8v. 147,000 miles, 2 previous owners, full VW/Dubsport service history. Recent new valve stem seals & head gasket. Perfect bodywork. Rare 16" ATS Type-10 wheels.

Genuine reason for sale - needs new rear wheel bearings.

1800 ono.