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Introduction

Replacing a hub bearing on Audi A3 II - 2.0 TDi 16V 140cv (8P1)

You will remove the pads, brake disc, caliper support, lower ball joint, universal joint on the wheel side to be able to remove the hub with its bearing and reassemble the whole assembly step by step.

  1. 
Remove the hubcap from the center of the wheel

Insert a flathead screwdriver on one edge and pry it up.

Bolt head, you will need a 27mm socket
    • Remove the hubcap from the center of the wheel

    • Insert a flathead screwdriver on one edge and pry it up.

    • Bolt head, you will need a 27mm socket

    • Insert your 27 mm socket with your extension and use a 1.50 m to 2 m tube to help you unblock it.

  2. 
Remove the wheel nut covers

Using the pliers present in the trunk of the vehicle (or flat-nose pliers), go and find the cover, do the same operation for the 5 holes.

With your croix unlock the wheel.
    • Remove the wheel nut covers

    • Using the pliers present in the trunk of the vehicle (or flat-nose pliers), go and find the cover, do the same operation for the 5 holes.

    • With your croix unlock the wheel.

  3. 
Place a jack and raise your vehicle Securing the vehicle: removing and refitting the wheel

Always place a jack stand under the vehicle for safety.
  4. 
By hand, unhook the wire from the two supports.

By hand, unhook the wire from the two supports.
    • By hand, unhook the wire from the two supports.

  5. 
With a flat screwdriver insert it under the clip and pry up and down.

Remove it with your hand

Remove it with your hand
    • With a flat screwdriver insert it under the clip and pry up and down.

    • Remove it with your hand

  6. 
Using the flat screwdriver, remove the top and bottom caps.

Using the flat screwdriver, remove the top and bottom caps.
    • Using the flat screwdriver, remove the top and bottom caps.

  7. 
Inside the hood

The screw

With a 7 mm Allen key loosen the two screws
    • Inside the hood

    • The screw

    • With a 7 mm Allen key loosen the two screws

  8. 
Remove the screws from their location.

Remove the screws from their location.
    • Remove the screws from their location.

  9. 
With a flat screwdriver insert it at the top and pry it up.

Push back the platelets of the disc with the flat screwdriver to release the caliper

Remove the brake caliper.
    • With a flat screwdriver insert it at the top and pry it up.

    • Push back the platelets of the disc with the flat screwdriver to release the caliper

    • Remove the brake caliper.

  10. 
With a string or wire, tie it'brake caliper to the shock absorber spring.
    • With a string or wire, tie it'brake caliper to the shock absorber spring.

  11. 
You can remove the second brake pad.
    • You can remove the second brake pad.

  12. 
Loosen and remove the two bolts with a 18 mm wrench

Loosen and remove the two bolts with a 18 mm wrench
  13. 
Tilt the caliper forward and remove it.

Tilt the caliper forward and remove it.
    • Tilt the caliper forward and remove it.

  14. 
With a crosshead screwdriver loosen the screw and remove the brake disc
    • With a crosshead screwdriver loosen the screw and remove the brake disc

    • If the screw is too hard to loosen you will need an impact screwdriver.

  15. 
Use a 16 mm wrench to release the three nuts on the ball joint.

Wire brush the nuts and apply some penetrating oil
    • Use a 16 mm wrench to release the three nuts on the ball joint.

    • Wire brush the nuts and apply some penetrating oil

  16. 
Using a flat screwdriver, remove the ball joint from the triangle.

Using a flat screwdriver, remove the ball joint from the triangle.
    • Using a flat screwdriver, remove the ball joint from the triangle.

  17. 
If necessary, give a boost hammer on the head of the bolt to detach the universal joint

Loosen and remove the bolt completely.

Loosen and remove the bolt completely.
    • If necessary, give a boost hammer on the head of the bolt to detach the universal joint

    • Loosen and remove the bolt completely.

  18. 
Pull the hub

Push on the cardan to release it from the hub.

Push on the cardan to release it from the hub.
    • Pull the hub

    • Push on the cardan to release it from the hub.

  19. 
Thoroughly clean the threads of the four screws with a wire brush.

Put penetrating oil on the ends of the 4 screws

You will need a T55 tip
    • Thoroughly clean the threads of the four screws with a wire brush.

    • Put penetrating oil on the ends of the 4 screws

    • You will need a T55 tip

    • This step is very important to facilitate the loosening of the hub

  20. 
Heat the hub with a heat gun at the location of the screws where you put the penetrating oil

Place the bit straight so as not to damage the screw heads.
    • Heat the hub with a heat gun at the location of the screws where you put the penetrating oil

    • Place the bit straight so as not to damage the screw heads.

    • Using your bit (M12 - 12-sided extended), release the screws and remove them.

  21. 
Once the 4 screws are removed, you can remove the hub.

Once the 4 screws are removed, you can remove the hub.
    • Once the 4 screws are removed, you can remove the hub.

  22. 
Unpacking the new hub
    • Unpacking the new hub

    • Bearing inseparable from the hub

    • Hub

    • New bolts

  23. 
Place the hub in its location by aligning the fixing holes

Fix the hub with the new screws and lock them with the T 55 bit.
    • Place the hub in its location by aligning the fixing holes

    • Fix the hub with the new screws and lock them with the T 55 bit.

  24. 
Fit the cardan head into the hub, rotating it to the right or left to match the splines.

Bring the cardan bolt as close as possible to do this you will need a 24mm twelve-sided socket
    • Fit the cardan head into the hub, rotating it to the right or left to match the splines.

    • Bring the cardan bolt as close as possible to do this you will need a 24mm twelve-sided socket

  25. 
Leverage with a crowbar, press down on the triangle and push on the hub to align the screws with the mounting holes.

Once aligned release the triangle

Reposition the nuts and lock the assembly with a 16 mm wrench.
    • Leverage with a crowbar, press down on the triangle and push on the hub to align the screws with the mounting holes.

    • Once aligned release the triangle

    • Reposition the nuts and lock the assembly with a 16 mm wrench.

  26. 
Position the disk at its location

Replace the fixing screw and lock the
    • Position the disk at its location

    • Replace the fixing screw and lock the

  27. 
Position the support, place one screw then the other screw before locking both with the 18 mm key.
    • Position the support, place one screw then the other screw before locking both with the 18 mm key.

  28. 
Reposition the brochure apply it against the disk.
    • Reposition the brochure apply it against the disk.

  29. 
Position the stirrup at the bottom

Be careful to position the brake pad indicator wire correctly
    • Position the stirrup at the bottom

    • Be careful to position the brake pad indicator wire correctly

    • Push the top of the caliper towards the disc

  30. 
Take out the screws and engage them in the location.

Lock the screws with the Allen key the 7 mm

Lock the screws with the Allen key the 7 mm
    • Take out the screws and engage them in the location.

    • Lock the screws with the Allen key the 7 mm

  31. 
Reposition the two covers on the screw heads at the top and bottom

Reposition the two covers on the screw heads at the top and bottom
    • Reposition the two covers on the screw heads at the top and bottom

  32. 
Reposition the two cables in their location.

The wear indicator cable
    • Reposition the two cables in their location.

    • The wear indicator cable

  33. 
Reposition the staple in the top hole

Using a flat head screwdriver, push the tip of the bottom clip into its hole, holding it with your thumb as you push.

This operation is not always done the first time.
    • Reposition the staple in the top hole

    • Using a flat head screwdriver, push the tip of the bottom clip into its hole, holding it with your thumb as you push.

    • This operation is not always done the first time.

    • Make sure the tips are properly inserted into the holes.

  34. 
Raise the wheel and bring the bolts
    • Raise the wheel and bring the bolts

  35. 
Remove the candle and lower the jack

Block your wheel

With the 1.5 to 2 m bar, block the cardan bolt
    • Remove the candle and lower the jack

    • Block your wheel

    • With the 1.5 to 2 m bar, block the cardan bolt

  36. 
Replace the center hubcap by hand.

Replace the caps on the wheel nuts.
    • Replace the center hubcap by hand.

    • Replace the caps on the wheel nuts.

    • Start the engine and pump the brake pedal three times to bring the pads back into contact with the brake disc.

Conclusion

In fact it is better to use an M12 bit (12-sided) The Torx 55 bit only has (6-sided).

22 other people completed this guide.

christophe Boulier

Member since: 03/19/2016

978 Reputation

3 Guides authored

13 Comments

Hello

Very good tutorial, thank you very much.

After changing the front left or right bearing or both, should you do an alignment?

emmanuel.azai - Reply

Hello tightening torque the 4 bearing bolts 70 nm 2/ caliper support 65 nm 3/ caliper 35 nm 4/ the three triangle nuts 55 nm 6/ the wheel 120 nm and 7/ the cardan 80 nm

emmanuel.azai - Reply

Good evening,

My mechanic changed two complete hubs, after about 200 km noise, central bolt which connects the universal joint loosens and bearing turns blue so it heats up.

Why is this bolt loosening? Thanks

Savior

salvatore bertolino - Reply

And the tightening torques…

DAVID Emmanuel - Reply

I personally changed the ball joint too! Use a flat chisel to remove the bearing (mine split in two when I hit it with a hammer) as well as a screw for the disc that I had to drill

Michel MARTINS - Reply

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