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A4 Wheel Bearing Issue

Old Jul 8, 2008 | 06:22 PM
  #1  
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Default A4 Wheel Bearing Issue

Hi everyone, Can anyone spare a moment and help me out.. Shouldnt take long

I have a late 97 A4 Td (RED I) estate.
Driving home at the weekend my girlfriend hears somthing that didnt sound right coming from the rear passenger side.
The next day i inspected and it turns out that -1) The rears pads are very badly warn along with the Disks.. & -2) the wheel itself issomewhat Loose - So Im thinking its a bearing thats gone. I went and removed the wheel and there is definitly a small bit of play with the disk I removed all other wheels and the rest are all almost rock solid/ no play.


So Am I right to say its defo the bearing thats gone And how how much difficulty is it to change..

I ordered break pads & disks for all round. it does have ABS so im expecting the price on the Bearing will be a bit more expensive than the non ABS bearing.

Thanks for reading - Hope you can help.
 
Old Jul 8, 2008 | 06:30 PM
  #2  
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Default RE: A4 Wheel Bearing Issue

No, the rotor is designed to come off of the hub, its free floating. The other rotors are just held on by rust, give them a wack, they will come loose as well.
Just replace the brakes and you should be fine. A bad wheel bearing will sound like your driving on a concrete wheel, and it only gets louder the faster you drive. It sounds like you just have worn out brake pads.
 
Old Jul 8, 2008 | 06:37 PM
  #3  
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Default RE: A4 Wheel Bearing Issue

you could be right there was tons of rust build up on all of the other wheels. its 11:30pm now and pitch dark, First thing in the morning im going to wipp of the drivers side rear wheel and give it a small wallop and see if it comes loose.

thanks for your help mate...

>>> Oh i knew there was somthing else i ment to ask, The Rear break pads, Do I need a tool for rewinding the old pads to remove them, Something called a calibor tool?? I was told that Vw Golfs need this for removing Rear pads onthe Mark 4 Golfs.



 
Old Jul 8, 2008 | 06:40 PM
  #4  
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Default RE: A4 Wheel Bearing Issue

Yes, you do need a special tool to compress the rear caliper pistons. The piston twists in, you can rent the tool at autozone.
 
Old Jul 8, 2008 | 06:45 PM
  #5  
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Default RE: A4 Wheel Bearing Issue

You will need a tool to press the piston in while turning it. This retracts
the piston, making room for new pads. If you have Quattro, the rear
wheel bearings are pressed in.
 
Old Jul 8, 2008 | 06:45 PM
  #6  
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Default RE: A4 Wheel Bearing Issue

I think I will be able to borrow one of them tools from a friend he has one for services peoples cars. I wouldnt mind letting him doing it for me but I wouldnt like to take a chance and have to drive 30/40 miles over to his house. I will play it safe and try it myself first.

I wonder If there is an online manual how to remove / change pads using this tool Do you know of?

 
Old Jul 8, 2008 | 06:50 PM
  #7  
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Default RE: A4 Wheel Bearing Issue

thanks for you help guys. I will have a go anyways! Im book-marking this site - Its a very helpful forum.

good night and godbless!
 
Old Jul 8, 2008 | 09:33 PM
  #8  
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Default RE: A4 Wheel Bearing Issue

all you gotta do is take the caliper bolts off and the caliper and pads fall right out. then you turn/press the piston into the caliper and put the new pads on the way the old ones came off and voila you're done. of course don't forget brake cleaner and greasing everything. if you're going to replace the rotor, you have to take the caliper carrier off. it's the only thing that blocks the rotor from falling off the car when you take the wheel off
 
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