How to Replace Front Wheel Bearing Hub 05-13 Volkswagen Jetta

Difficulty: Advanced · About 90 min · Volkswagen Jetta

Replace the front wheel bearing hub, including the brakes needed to access it, on a 2005-2013 Volkswagen Jetta.

Steps

1. Remove the wheel

   Pry off the center cap and lug bolt covers, loosen the 27mm hub bolt and the locking lug bolt with its key, then loosen the rest with the car on the ground, raise and support it, and pull the wheel.

2. Remove the brake pads

   Pop off the caliper's plugs, remove its two T47 Torx bolts, pry off its retaining clip, push the pistons back with a screwdriver, then swing the caliper aside.

3. Remove the rotor

   Remove the bracket's two 21mm bolts and pull it off, back out the rotor's T30 retaining screw, soak the hub in penetrant, thread in a lug bolt, then strike the rotor to free it.

4. Remove the old hub

   Remove the 27mm hub nut, thread the axle bolt in halfway and strike it with a hammer to free it from the hub, remove the three 16mm control arm nuts and pry the arm down, tap the axle out of the hub, then remove the four 12-point 12mm hub bolts, threading one back in halfway to tap the hub loose.

5. Install the new hub

   Seat it, insert and torque the four 12mm bolts to about 50 ft-lb plus an extra quarter turn each, push the axle back in, seat the control arm on its studs and torque its three 16mm nuts to about 50 ft-lb, then thread the hub bolt on by hand.

6. Reinstall the rotor

   Slide it on, insert its T30 screw, refit the bracket, then torque its two 21mm bolts to about 90 ft-lb.

7. Reinstall the brake pads

   Seat them in the bracket, refit the caliper, torque its T47 bolts to about 30 ft-lb, then snap the retaining clip and plugs back on.

8. Reinstall the wheel

   Torque the lug bolts to about 100 ft-lb in a crossing pattern, push the caps back on, torque the hub bolts to about 150 ft-lb, then refit the center cap.

Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.