DIY Guide: How to Replace the Wheel Bearing

on a Passat

In this article, we’ll show you how to replace the front wheel bearing on a Passat B7. With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to change the wheel bearing yourself in your own garage with minimal effort. The goal is to help you save money while guiding you through the entire process. This post covers everything you need – from tools and parts to the required torque specifications for all relevant components.

Contents
  1. Is the wheel bearing really defective?
  2. Required Tools & Components
  3. Step 1: Jack Up the Car & Preparations
  4. Step 2: Remove Brake Caliper & Brake Carrier
  5. Step 3: Loosen Brake Disc & Control Arm
  6. Step 4: Loosen the flange bolt & pull out the drive shaft
  7. Step 5: Remove the hub with the wheel bearing
  8. Step 6: Install new wheel bearing including wheel hub
  9. Step 7: Reassemble in reverse order
  10. Tabelle: Zusammenfassung der Drehmomente
  11. Conclusion: Replacing the Wheel Bearing Yourself
  12. More Articles

Is the wheel bearing really defective?

To be 100% sure that your problem is actually caused by the wheel bearing, you should read the following article: “Defective Wheel Bearing – Symptoms, Causes & Costs”. There, we explain what a wheel bearing actually is and why it’s important to replace a defective one as soon as possible. In addition, we list all the relevant symptoms and causes of a faulty wheel bearing and discuss the total costs involved. So before you grab your wrench to replace the wheel bearing, make sure to check out the details in the linked article.

Faulty wheel bearing view: front/rear
Defective wheel bearing on a VW Passat B7 (Front)

Required Tools & Components

Tools

Car jack and, if necessary, jack stands
Impact wrench or lug wrench
Socket wrench set:
The following socket sizes: 16, 17, 21, 27
Allen key bits: H5, H7
Torx bits: T27, T30
Included in the linked ratchet set below!
XZN spline socket (size 12)
Torque wrench
Wire brush
WD-40 or another rust remover
Brake cleaner
Copper grease
Pry bar or leverage tool and a hammer

Components:

New wheel bearing including hub
New wheel hub nut (optional, usually included in the delivery)

INFO BOX:

Here, we’ll show you exactly how to replace the wheel bearing along with the hub. To replace only the bearing itself, you would need a hydraulic press. However, if you compare the price of just the bearing with the price of the bearing including the hub, you’ll notice that the complete unit is more cost-effective. That’s why we always recommend replacing the entire component.

If you're missing anything, we've linked all the recommended tools and components for this replacement right here:

Offer
Wagenheber hydraulisch 2,5T – TÜV – 85-380mm Hub – flach für tiefergelegte Autos – Rangierwagenheber inkl. Gummiauflagen [Karton]
Wagenheber hydraulisch 2,5T – TÜV – 85-380mm Hub – flach für tiefergelegte Autos – Rangierwagenheber inkl. Gummiauflagen [Karton] *
Parkside Performance Akku-Schlagschrauber PASSP 20- Li X20V, max. 1898 Nm, bis M33, 1/2 im Transportkoffer, ohne Akku und Ladegerät
Parkside Performance Akku-Schlagschrauber PASSP 20- Li X20V, max. 1898 Nm, bis M33, 1/2 im Transportkoffer, ohne Akku und Ladegerät *
Passend für Metallschrauben bis M33; Lösedrehmoment: max. 1898 Nm; Das Gerät ist geeignet für den 20 V Akku der Parkside 20 V Familie
Amazon Prime
HASKYY XZN Vielzahn Steck-Schlüssel Satz Set M4 -M16 8 tlg. Innenvielzahn Bit
HASKYY XZN Vielzahn Steck-Schlüssel Satz Set M4 -M16 8 tlg. Innenvielzahn Bit *
Amazon Prime
Proxxon 23040 Steckschlüsselsatz, Komplettkasten mit 6,3mm (1/4') & 12,5mm (1/2') Umschaltratsche Nüsse von 4-32mm 56teilig Werkzeug Set Stahlkasten
Proxxon 23040 Steckschlüsselsatz, Komplettkasten mit 6,3mm (1/4″) & 12,5mm (1/2″) Umschaltratsche Nüsse von 4-32mm 56teilig Werkzeug Set Stahlkasten *
Amazon Prime
HASKYY Innensechskant Inbus Stecknüsse Set 1/2' Nüsse 12tlg 5-22mm Nuss Steckschlüssel Bits Bit Sechskant Set Schlüssel auf Schiene
HASKYY Innensechskant Inbus Stecknüsse Set 1/2″ Nüsse 12tlg 5-22mm Nuss Steckschlüssel Bits Bit Sechskant Set Schlüssel auf Schiene *
Offer
Hairich Drehmomentschlüssel 1/2 Zoll, 40-210 Nm für Auto & Motorrad, TÜV Süd GS, Drehmomentschlüssel 6tlg. Set inkl. 125mm Verlängerungsstange, 1/2'-3/8' Adapter, 3 Stecknüsse für Reifenwechsel
Hairich Drehmomentschlüssel 1/2 Zoll, 40-210 Nm für Auto & Motorrad, TÜV Süd GS, Drehmomentschlüssel 6tlg. Set inkl. 125mm Verlängerungsstange, 1/2″-3/8″ Adapter, 3 Stecknüsse für Reifenwechsel *
Amazon Prime
14-teilig Drahtbürste Bohrmaschine Metall Satz,Rundschaft 6mm,Abtragen und Polieren,teilig für Bohrmaschine, gewellter Stahldraht ,Im Set Scheiben, Topf, Pinsel und Zylinderstahlbürste
14-teilig Drahtbürste Bohrmaschine Metall Satz,Rundschaft 6mm,Abtragen und Polieren,teilig für Bohrmaschine, gewellter Stahldraht ,Im Set Scheiben, Topf, Pinsel und Zylinderstahlbürste *
Amazon Prime
Offer
WEICON Sprühreiniger S 500 ml | Reiniger und Entfetter für Metall, Glas, Keramik und Kunststoff
WEICON Sprühreiniger S 500 ml | Reiniger und Entfetter für Metall, Glas, Keramik und Kunststoff *
Amazon Prime
Offer
WD-40 Specialist Sprühfett 300 ml – Hochviskoses Sprühfett für Zahnräder, Scharniere & Seilzüge, bildet eine widerstandsfähige Schutzschicht für dauerhafte Schmierung unter Belastung
WD-40 Specialist Sprühfett 300 ml – Hochviskoses Sprühfett für Zahnräder, Scharniere & Seilzüge, bildet eine widerstandsfähige Schutzschicht für dauerhafte Schmierung unter Belastung *
Amazon Prime
NIGRIN RepairTec Kupferpaste, hochdruckstabil, hitzebeständig, ideal zur Vorbehandlung, 100 g
NIGRIN RepairTec Kupferpaste, hochdruckstabil, hitzebeständig, ideal zur Vorbehandlung, 100 g *
hochdruckstabiles, hitze-, salz-, wasser-, laugen- und säurebeständiges Trennmittel; Verpackungsabmessungen (L x B x H): 19.0 x 12.0 x 3.0 Zm
Amazon Prime

Wheel Bearing with Hub *

Wheel bearing incl. hub for VW Passat Variant (365) 2.0 TDI 4motion – with/without integrated ABS sensor.

Auf AUTODOC ansehen
New wheel bearing including hub

Step 1: Jack Up the Car & Preparations

1.) Preparation:

Park the vehicle on a flat surface and engage the handbrake. If necessary, secure the rear wheels with wheel chocks to prevent it from rolling. Then loosen the wheel nuts using an impact wrench and the socket size 17. Next, lift the front of the vehicle with a car jack.

Preparation: Jack up the car, remove the wheel
Prepare for the repair: Jacking up the car and removing the wheel

2.) Treat all fasteners:

As a general rule, before you start, briefly clean all fasteners with a wire brush and lubricate them with WD-40. This can help prevent seized bolts in advance. Even better would be to do this a day before replacing the wheel bearing.

Step 2: Remove Brake Caliper & Brake Carrier

1.) Loosen the brake caliper:

Entferne als Erstes den Drahtbügel, der den äußeren Bremsbelag vom Verrutschen hindert. Benutze dafür entweder einen Schraubenzieher oder eine kleine Brechstange.

Loosen the brake caliper spring clip using a screwdriver or pry bar
Unclip the spring clip

The screws of the brake caliper are located behind the caliper itself. Remove the dust caps from the guide pins and loosen the mounting bolts of the brake caliper with an Allen key size H7.

Loosen brake caliper bolts
Remove the brake caliper using a H7 hex key

Then carefully remove the brake caliper and hang it on the suspension with a wire to avoid tension on the brake hose.

2.) Remove the brake carrier:

Remove the brake pads from the brake carrier and loosen the mounting bolts of the brake carrier itself with a socket size 18. These are also located on the backside.

Remove the brake carrier
Loosen brake carrier bolts using a size 18 socket

INFO BOX:

These brake carrier fasteners are the most likely to be seized or rusted. It is definitely beneficial to treat these two bolts with some heat and especially apply WD-40, allowing it to penetrate. There is an increased risk of breakage here!

Seized brake carrier bolt snapped
Broken bolt on the brake carrier

Step 3: Loosen Brake Disc & Control Arm

1.) Remove the brake disc:

Loosen the front mounting bolt of the brake disc with a Torx bit T30 and remove the brake disc. If the brake disc is stuck, use a hammer to gently tap it from behind to loosen it.

Loosen the brake disc mounting
Remove the brake disc using a Torx T30

2.) Loosen the control arm:

Under the entire wheel suspension are the mounting bolts of the control arm. Loosen these with a socket size 18 and push the control arm out of the suspension to finally gain free access from behind.

Remove the control arm
Loosen lower control arm bolts using a size 18 socket

Step 4: Loosen the flange bolt & pull out the drive shaft

1.) Loosen the flange bolt of the drive shaft:

To gain full access to the wheel hub including the wheel bearing, you need to loosen the central flange bolt of the drive shaft with a socket size 27. Manufacturers always recommend using a new flange bolt during reassembly.

Loosen flange bolt connecting driveshaft to axle
Loosen flange bolt using a size 27 socket

2.) Pull out the drive shaft:

Once you have removed the flange bolt, you can now push the drive shaft out of the hub. You don’t need to worry about the exact position when pulling it out, as the drive shaft is connected to the hub by a fine splined connection. This means you can safely reinsert the drive shaft into the new wheel hub including the wheel bearing during reassembly.

Remove the driveshaft from the wheel suspension spline
Pull the driveshaft out of the wheel suspension

Step 5: Remove the hub with the wheel bearing

1.) Loosen the wheel hub with the wheel bearing:

The wheel hub is secured by a total of four mounting bolts from the rear. These can be loosened using special bits that are not typically standard in every toolbox. These are XZN bits that hold the wheel bearing including the hub in the Passat B7. To loosen them, you need a socket adapter with XZN bit size 12.

Replace wheel bearing yourself with XZN bit number 12
XZN bit number 12 as a socket attachment
Replace wheel bearing yourself: Loosen bolts
Loosen bolts of wheel bearing including hub

2.) Remove the hub including the wheel bearing:

Pull the wheel hub together with the wheel bearing off the axle. You might find it helpful to use a hammer and some WD40 here.

Replace wheel bearing yourself: Technique to pull out the wheel bearing including hub
Pull out the wheel bearing including hub

Step 6: Install new wheel bearing including wheel hub

Thoroughly clean the axle mount with a wire brush and brake cleaner to remove dirt and rust. Instead of a regular wire brush, a cordless drill with a round wire brush attachment works best for this.

Clean the position of the wheel bearing and hub on the car
Thoroughly clean the hub installation area with the wheel bearing using a wire brush

Next, apply a thin layer of copper paste on the contact points of the wheel hub to prevent corrosion in the future. Place the new wheel hub including the wheel bearing onto the axle and align it properly to secure it again with the new bolts.

Tighten the new bolts with the specified torque (see table below) and use the XZN bit socket size 12 again for this.

Replace wheel bearing yourself: Installation of new wheel bearing
Install new wheel bearing including hub

Step 7: Reassemble in reverse order

Reassembly is naturally done in reverse order to disassembly, with the exception that you should pay attention to the torque specifications listed in the table below.

Additionally, the axle shaft's central bolt should only be tightened to the specified torque when the vehicle is in its normal position. Normal position means the suspension should not be fully extended. The steps for reassembly are as follows:

1. Install the axle shaft (do not tighten): Insert the axle shaft back into the guide. Screw on the central bolt but only tighten it by hand for now.
2. Secure the control arm: Reinstall the control arm in its place and tighten the mounting bolts to the specified torque from the table below.
3. Mount the brake disc: Place the brake disc and secure it with the Torx screw (T30).
4. Install brake carrier and brake caliper: Screw the brake carrier back in with a socket wrench size 18 and tighten it with the correct torque. Insert the brake pads and mount the brake caliper using an Allen key size H7. Don’t forget to lubricate the guide pins before installing them.
5. Mount the wheel & lower the car: Put the wheel on and hand-tighten the lug nuts. You can now remove the car from the jack so it returns to its normal (compressed) position.
6. Tighten the axle shaft’s central bolt: Tighten the central bolt of the axle shaft to the specified torque.
7. Final tightening of lug nuts: Tighten the lug nuts in a cross pattern with the specified torque and double-check that you haven’t missed anything.
Replace wheel bearing yourself: Reassembly
Reassembly of all wheel suspension components

Tabelle: Zusammenfassung der Drehmomente

ComponentBoltTorque [Nm]
Hub including wheel bearingXZN bolt No. 1274 Nm
Control arm (strut)Hex nut No. 1855 Nm
Brake discTorx 30 bolt9 Nm
Brake carrierHex bolt No. 1875 Nm
Brake caliperAllen bolt H735 Nm
Axle boltHex bolt No. 27195 Nm
RäderHex bolts No. 17120 Nm

Hinweis: Consult the vehicle documentation or repair manuals for specific values, as these may vary depending on the model variant.

Conclusion: Replacing the Wheel Bearing Yourself

Replacing the wheel bearing on the VW Passat B7 is a challenging but feasible task for experienced DIY enthusiasts. With proper preparation and the right tools, you can fix the problem yourself and save significant costs.

A major challenge in this repair is definitely the risk of bolt breakage, especially those of the brake carrier. Bolts corrode and seize over time, particularly if the correct torque was not applied during previous repairs. Therefore, when loosening stubborn bolts, you should always proceed with some heat, lubricant like WD40, and above all, patience.

In our opinion, the rest of the wheel bearing replacement process is child's play with this guide for an experienced hobby mechanic. Always ensure to follow the specified torque values and check after the repair that everything functions properly and no symptoms persist.

Replace wheel bearing yourself: New vs. old comparison
Comparison: New and old wheel bearing including hub – VW Passat B7

However, if you do not consider yourself an experienced hobby mechanic or have any doubts, you should leave the wheel bearing replacement to a professional workshop. This guide is intended solely as assistance and does not encourage anyone to work on their car themselves.


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