Changing the rear bearings on a Volkswagen Polo 3

Retirez votre roue to access the drum brakes

Remove the dust cover using multi-grip pliers

Remove the pin by first prying the two ends apart with a flat screwdriver and pliers.

Remove it using pliers

Remove the flange from the nut using pliers

Loosen the nut using the multi-grip pliers

Unscrew it and remove it by hand

the nut is not locked

Hit the drum to move the bearing and washer back

Remove the washer with your fingers

Remove the outer bearing from the drum using a flat-head screwdriver or multi-grip pliers.

Rotate the drum while pulling it out to remove it

Don't force it too much, if it doesn't come out it's because the drum is hollowed out and the brake shoes are preventing it from coming out

Present one of the holes in front of the automatic brake shoe adjustment lever, it is placed on the left side (approximately at 10:00) for the left rear wheel and on the right (approximately at 2:00) for the right rear wheel, use a light to see more clearly

Using a flathead screwdriver, push the lever all the way up to reduce the gap between the brake shoes.

This is what happens on the other side of the drum

Twist while pulling towards you to remove the drum

Clamp the drum in a vice if you have one.

Position your multi-grip pliers on the last notch

Use it to leverage by placing the beak under the seal on the inside of the drum

Apply pressure to the pliers to extract the seal.

You now have access to the inner bearing (the larger one)

Simply remove it by hand

Clean the grease deposited by the bearing

Using a drift pin and a hammer, drive out the outer bearing cage (small)

3 small slots are dedicated to the use of the pin punch

Tap the pin punch moderately with the hammer to extract the outer bearing cage.

Tap gently when the cage is almost at the end, place a cloth underneath to catch its ejection

Turn the drum over

Place your pin punch on one of the 3 dedicated locations to drive out the inner bearing cage (large)

Use a hammer to drive out the bearing cage.

Compare old and new parts to make sure they fit

Place the new cage in its location (with the widest edge towards the inside), you have to force it in, use the old cage of the same diameter so as not to hit it directly with the hammer and make it easier to enter straight in

place the old cage also with the wider edge at the bottom on top of the new one

Hit the hammer moderately, checking after each blow that the cage does not go in crookedly.

Be careful with your fingers when hammering, to do this tap with the side of the hammer

The spacer will have reached its stop in its location once you hear a more metallic noise than the previous ones.

Your new cage is now in its location, but you cannot remove the old cage, to do this you must drive it out with a pin punch.

Turn the drum over

Place your pin punch on the wide edge of the old cage and tap with the hammer to drive it out.

Insert the large cage always with the widest edge at the bottom

Just like the first cage, use the old one of the same diameter

Place the old cage

Use a hammer to drive the new cage into place.

The cage will have arrived in its location once you hear a more metallic noise than the previous ones

This time no need to chase the old cage, just remove it with your fingers

Grease the new bearings

Don't hesitate to put a lot of it

Before installing the bearings you must grease the cages and the bearing housing.

Place your new bearing (the largest one) in its location simply with your fingers.

The side of the bearing with the smaller diameter is placed downwards.

Spread the remaining grease on the bearing

Place the new seal on top of the bearing, it fits easily

Wipe the gasket in case any grease has gotten on top

Clean any remaining grease from the steering knuckle

Check that you do not have any brake fluid leaks at the wheel cylinder rubbers

Check if there is any material left on your jaws for proper braking use, if the rivet is at the level of the jaw it means that the latter are worn. Otherwise everything is normal.

Use a small flathead screwdriver

Clean your brake system and drum with brake cleaner

Do not put brake cleaner on the bearings and the drum seal.

Carefully replace the drum, guiding the inner bearing onto the axle spindle.

Place the small bearing on the spindle axle and push

Spread the grease on the bearing

The axle spindle has a slot to accommodate the curvature of the washer, you need to align them to fit the washer

Replace the washer on the steering knuckle

Replace the nut on the steering knuckle

Tighten it moderately using the multigrip pliers

Rotate the drum to spread the grease on the bearings

Loosen slightly until you hear a rubbing noise as you turn the drum

Tighten it until you no longer hear this noise.

This type of tapered bearing does not lock when tightened, it can be adjusted by hand without forcing.

Place the locking cage on the nut

The axle spindle has a hole on the top, align one of the holes in the cage so that you can pass the pin through later

Pass the pin through the hole in the steering knuckle

Tap the pin lightly with a hammer if the alignment is not perfect.

Bend the pin back with pliers

Tighten the ends on the washer using a pair of multi-grip pliers, it is used to hold the cage so that the nut does not come loose.

Replace the cap by tapping it with a hammer if you do not have the special bell that prevents this deformation.

Press the brake pedal repeatedly to bring the shoes closer to the drum before driving away.