2011 (B8) Audi A4 Front Wheel Bearing Replacement

Forgot to mention in the video. Before you tighten the upper control arms jack up the whole knuckle assembly to prevent premature bushing failure.
This is how i replace the front wheels bearings on a B8 Audi A4 Quattro . "Everyone has their own way of doing this repair "
Please perform this repair at your own risk . I am not responsible if you cause any damage to your vehicle for improperly torquing bolts . Bolts should be replaced and torqued accordingly . You can call your local dealership or check online for torque specs if you feel my specs are not accurate .
Pre-Assembled Wheel bearing kit w/ Hub
www.amazon.com...
Harbor Freight Torque Wrench (QUINN Digital)
www.harborfrei...

[@allahjoseph]

2 years later, this video still lit. changed my life. All the Guys now keep the suspension in tact, but this is a SOLID way to get it done!!!

[@theshoptopauto]

I agree, it can be done by removing the entire axle shaft. Not everyone is able to remove the 6x triple squares bolts for the axle at the trans so that's why I show how to do it this way. I appreciate you watching and thank you for the comment 🙏

[@nigelbarratt6825]

After I'd done a few of these and struggled to get the hub flange out of the bearing on the bench, I realised that if you screw the 4 old triple square bolts back into the bearing holes and put some packing between the ends of the bolts and the back of the hub flange you can tighten the bolts evenly and push the hub flange out of the bearing. I used a couple of spanners as packing to spread the load on the back of the flange. Works every time.

[@ganker24]

can you explain this if you are explaining it to a 10yr old? What is "packing"?

[@ganker24]

nvm, i figured what you meant by "packing" like using a spanner to wedge in between the bolt head and the hub and tightening down to push the bearing out

[@nigelbarratt6825]

You screw the bolts right into their threaded holes so the ends of the bolts push on to the back of the hub flange to push it out as you tighten the bolts. The problem is that the bolts aren't long enough to push it right out so I use the flat handle part of any 2 spanners as flat pieces of metal across the back of the hub flange as packing that the ends of the bolts press on. That way it distributes the pressure on the back of the hub flange to avoid damaging it and gives the bolts enough length to push the hub flange right out of the bearing.

[@cookiehead2]

Thanks, that worked!

[@nigelbarratt6825]

Glad to help!@@cookiehead2

[@dufftime]

I did this job on my wife's B8 2 years ago and it took me 4+ hours, and you blew through this faster than I would do an oil change - amazing. One of the lug bolts seized and broke off inside the hub so I need to replace the hub+bearing today. Thanks for taking the time to GoPro this.

[@theshoptopauto]

It's never easy the first time. As long as you got it done it doesn't matter how long you took. Thank you for watching and commenting 😀

[@michaldano7997]

I just wanted to say a massive thank you for taking your time to record the bearing change. Over the years I've watched hundreds of guides on KZbin on how to do various automotive repair work, but I have to say your format is the best. You show virtually the complete process, always using the right tools and displayed very clearly via Go-Pro, Brilliant.

[@theshoptopauto]

I'm glad I was able to help in anyway. Thank you for the kind words and support 🙏

[@michaldano7997]

@@theshoptopauto used your method this weekend at I have to say everything was EXACTLY as you showed it. I allowed a whole day for this job and in the end was done in less than 2 hours including extracting old bearing race and pressing the new bearing into the hub. Once again massive thank you for such clear way of doing the job. 👌

[@DumpStars]

Thank you bro! Awesome tutorial, you plowed through this job quick af. This video was a huge help for my 2013 s4 wheel bearing I did this weekend. Only thing I’d add is that when you tighten the upper control arm bushings, you should tighten them with the suspension pre-loaded with a jackstand underneath lower control arm. If you tighten them with the suspension unloaded, they will tear prematurely.

[@theshoptopauto]

Your welcome . Lol yeah I actually did record that but the video came out horrible not sure what happend so I didn't add it 😅

[@carYouTubefdaf]

Question for you both, how high should the jack stand be? Thanks

[@DumpStars]

@@carKZbinfdaf Best way is to measure the distance between fender and hub when your car is still on the ground. And then duplicate that measurement when your ready to tighten.

[@carYouTubefdaf]

@@DumpStars just to clarify. with the wheel off and car jacked up? Or wheel on and on the ground?

[@carYouTubefdaf]

Just did some more googling, is it true an alignment is required after removing control arms?

[@MrRodgersNeighborhoo]

Great video thanks! Did this last night. So glad I watched your video. Removing the control arms was brilliant! I’ve watched multiple videos of bearing/hub assembly replacement, everyone struggles with the bolts but especially that bottom front bolt... but with control arms loose wow this was so much easier! Thank you!

[@theshoptopauto]

Thank you . Glad I was able to help in any way 💪. Will be making more how to videos soon 😇

[@dinoturd6951]

I did the bearing this morning, took me 3 hours. No need to take of the control arms, you can get to the bolts with the arms in place.

[@GG-eg6kn]

You are highly skilled, thank you for talking through it. God speed

[@theshoptopauto]

Your very welcome and thank you 💪

[@arildbakke8079]

One of the best videos on youtube.

[@theshoptopauto]

Thank you 😊

[@grahamelias9306]

Nice video and good idea removing the upper control arm bolts. Did this job today. Thanks!

[@theshoptopauto]

Thank you. Glad I was able to help in anyway.

[@Tcc3137]

Appreciate the guide 👍👍.. trying it out tomorrow

[@theshoptopauto]

Your welcome. Glad you enjoyed the video 💪

[@ganker24]

Btw it's best to preload the upper control arms before tightening so the bushings don't wear out faster

[@theshoptopauto]

Yeah, I know. I was replacing those arms but didn't have them at the time. In the description, I stated the preload, which I forgot to mention in the video.

[@BrianaSanchezx3]

Very helpful 👌 #audigang

[@theshoptopauto]

🙏💙

[@nickjohnson3871]

I have no play in my tire ( 12 and 6 ) but I’m getting the annoying hum that increases with speed. Very slight steering wheel jiggle so I’m assuming wheel bearing. Will be doing this weekend, I’ll be using this video.

[@theshoptopauto]

Yeah definitely a wheel bearing on its way out.

[@19NinetyUK]

I've seen a few of these bearings fail, but give no play when you wiggle the wheel.

[@danutagancarz1401]

Good job Tomek😃

[@theshoptopauto]

Thank you 👍

[@ricobanderas1995]

Bro how much did you charge to replace the bearing?

[@shotgunharry980]

Thanks for the video.

[@theshoptopauto]

Your welcome 💪

[@jubedmiah2411]

That hub came out wayyyyy to easy

[@theshoptopauto]

Hahaha yeah sometimes they come apart easy .

[@mysteryMachinePL]

Vibrations from impact wrench, that helps a lot.

[@arildbakke8079]

Usaly they do😁

[@crescentandstarglory]

You don't need to remove the upper control arms. By swaying the spindle back and forth, the lower control arm bushings are probably messed up. I wouldn't go overboard with that wire brush on aluminum surfaces. Other than these, good video.

[@beamerino]

wait, how'd you get the bearing race off the hub after getting the old bearing off? did it luckily happen to come off with the bearing?

[@theshoptopauto]

You can cut it or grab a chisel and hammer it off . It comes off pretty easy . Or you can grab a torch and heat just the race with the hub laying upside-down so basically it'll fall off

[@beamerino]

@@theshoptopauto okay cool, thanks man! Hopefully getting both my front bearings on my s4 swapped out today, great vid!

[@tagapiouplayz3737]

I was doing this job, then the M12 got stripped so it had to be drilled out. To do that I had to remove the knuckle! Which meant the bottom ball joints needed to be removed and the control arms from the strut mount

[@theshoptopauto]

Typically there's enough room to drill out the bolt(s) but that definitely sucks 🤦‍♂️

[@tagapiouplayz3737]

@@theshoptopauto yeah the jobs done now. I just need to replace the tie rod now after tearing up the boot ! 😶 joys of DIY but oh well, I’m enjoying it and learning

[@theshoptopauto]

@@tagapiouplayz3737 hahah your definition rite about that. We live and we learn, sometimes the hard way.

[@tagapiouplayz3737]

@@theshoptopauto yeah and this was my first major job on this car too. First job I did was removing the bumper, soldering a oarking sensor wire and replacing a grill. So this was a tough one to learn

[@hamzaissa8236]

Du bist nicht Schlecht aber hättest du den bremsträger mit den Bremsesatel. Komplett raus geschraubt

[@theshoptopauto]

Danke . Ich habe den Job so schnell wie möglich gemacht. Ich bin auch mit Google Übersetzung lol.

[@jayakrawe8339]

Thank you for the great video brother appreciate you.. I have a 2011 Audi A4 Quattro do you have any idea if they sell a preassembled wheel bearing and a hub for my car? I’ve been looking around but haven’t really found anything. And Also do you think its wise to by the whole hub assembly used from a junkyard ??

[@theshoptopauto]

Your welcome and glad my video was of any help. If you Google wheels bearing and hub for your vehicle I'm sure one will pop up . I don't think salvaged yards sell wheel bearing and hubs as the bearing gets damaged upon removal. They usually sell the whole knuckle assembly but thats a waste of money unless yours is damaged. The hub presses into the wheel bearing very easily . You can even take it to your local automotive shop and have them press it in if your not able to .

[@jayakrawe8339]

@@theshoptopauto they don’t have anything I’ve looked everywhere. They only have the ones that you have to press and I do not own one. So im not sure how I’ll be able to separate they hub from the other piece.

[@theshoptopauto]

If you buy both the hub and bearing separately you can use a piece of wood ( 2x4) and a hammer . Lube up the hub and slightly hammer it on. It'll go on pretty easy. I used a vise because a majority of ppl have a vise at home.

[@jayakrawe8339]

yeah I saw the way you did it its brilliant! but I do not have a vice I'm not mechanic I'm a hack lmao

[@theshoptopauto]

@@jayakrawe8339 If it works than it work no matter how it's done hahahah. Like I mentioned before you can hammer the hub onto the bearing. All you need is a piece of 2x4 . Lay the hub on the floor and set the bearing on top of it . Take the 2x4 and place it against the bearing . Now remember the bearing can only gone on one way . Give it a few hits with the hammer and you'll be good to go .

[@chenglongguo5181]

Hearing humming noise once hitting 30km/h, wondering if that’s a wheel bearing problem. Also so hearing hum when cornering

[@theshoptopauto]

Your wheel bearing is most likely on its way out. Beginning stages of failure. If I were you I would replace both sides at the same time. Cheap parts , easy labor and less of a headache later on.

[@chenglongguo5181]

@@theshoptopauto Is that possibly due to excessive tyre noise? Cause once it hits the 30km/h, the noise seems to be the same when accelerating. And at the high speed like in the motor way, every time when braking the noise just shows up again and again.

[@theshoptopauto]

@@chenglongguo5181 yes tires would cause noise like that as well. Especially new tires . What brand tires do yu have ? Also do you have enough air in them? As per vehicle specs.

[@chenglongguo5181]

@@theshoptopauto Those 4 tyres are continental mc6 equipped in the 2016 Mercedes Benz cla180 shooting brake. The tyres were bought in last November, have done 7000km on them. The tyre pressure should be fine as I regularly check on that.

[@theshoptopauto]

@@chenglongguo5181 if you can't determine what's causing the noise . You'd have to bring it to a mechanic and have them attached a tool called chassis ear . It's a electronic version of a stethoscope. It'll help pinpoint where the noise is coming from .

[@AkbarVsTheMachines2]

Did this cure the wheel vibration

[@theshoptopauto]

Wheel bearing failure typically causes alot of noise as if you had off road tires on the car lol. If you have a Vibration I would check to make sure your wheels are balanced correctly.

[@luislozano1513]

Where did you get just a bearing with bolts? Seems like the only way to get bolts is to buy a hub and bearing together.

[@theshoptopauto]

I purchase all my parts from a company called Northside imports . They deal with parts only for German vehicles. You can reuse the bolts , just put some medium strength lock tight which is the blue one . Don't put lock tight on the axle bolt though..

[@luislozano1513]

@@theshoptopauto oh ok. Just Google searched them and it looks like they are wholesale only?

[@theshoptopauto]

@@luislozano1513 yeah you need to have a account with them. Sorry should of mentioned that 🤦‍♂️

[@luislozano1513]

@@theshoptopauto hey no worries! I'll just reuse the bolts and use blue loctite on them. Except the axle bolt of course lol. Thanks for the quick replies man!

[@luislozano1513]

@@theshoptopauto when you separated the hub and bearing in this video it didn't seem like the inner race stayed on the wheel bearing. Did you have to pull that off or did it just come off when you hammered the hub through? I'm planning on using your method with the vise.

[@techstuff786]

My hub and wheel bearing came out together, did the chisel and hammer method work and if they are stuck tight whats an alternative other than a bearing puller? I have a bearing press if that helps.. Thank you.

[@theshoptopauto]

Pressing out the hub from the bearing will work. You can also buy a hub/bearing online. Some people say they can get it as one piece . I only buy the bearing

[@techstuff786]

@@theshoptopauto thank you for quick reply.. will try with bearing press ... Customer car so they wanted to save money rather than buying the full unit

[@theshoptopauto]

@@techstuff786 Your welcome. Well sometimes buying both new turns out to be cheaper. Sometimes it takes longer to take apart and press back in .

[@ProjectArjun]

So no fancy press required?

[@theshoptopauto]

Not at all, you can even purchase a hub/ bearing assembly already pressed together. Makes life easier if you don't have a vise 🫡

[@stevestadnik9206]

You sound like Keith Defosio from Staten Island.

[@theshoptopauto]

Lmao don't know who that is but google says it's keith defazio. 🤣 Thanks for watching anyways 👍

[@eugenfendel8425]

27:08 diese schrauben musst du fest ziehen wenn das auto auf den rädern steht... so machst du die gummus kaput die verdrehen sich zu stark

[@ravvdaddy03]

How would you be able to do that with the wheel in the way?

[@audia4addict950]

Toooooo speed mechanic

[@magicmax6973]

Same on the back ?

[@theshoptopauto]

No the rear is alittle bit more complicated. You basically have to remove the whole knuckle assembly off of the vehicle to access the 4 bolts for the bearing . But it's rare for the rears to fail . So before you replace your rear bearing(s) make sure it's 100% it lol

[@magicmax6973]

@@theshoptopauto ok thanks, i don't know how to be sure ^^

[@theshoptopauto]

@@magicmax6973 lol well that issue are you having ? Are the tires in good condition. If your not sure first swap the front wheels with the rear . Cheapest way to determine if it's tire / rim related . Check your brakes . Make sure your dust shield behind your rotor(s) isn't touching the rotor(s) . There can be many possibilities to a noise. Like I said it's very rare for the rear bearings to fail on these audis. Typically the front one fail due to so much stress and shitty axle bolt design

[@theshoptopauto]

@@magicmax6973 sorry I ment to ask . " what issues are you having " **

[@magicmax6973]

@@theshoptopautomore of noise day After day. Vroouuuuuuu 😅

[@Kiss__Kiss]

All throughout the video, I'm thinking, "I would NOT take my car to this Chimp." LMAO!!! But.. Then I heard, "It's my own car." So then I was like Ahhh Okay.. So if it was a CUSTOMER car, I am sure He would take BETTER care of it... In that case, Great Job overall..

[@theshoptopauto]

Lmfaooooooo

[@Kiss__Kiss]

@@theshoptopauto LMAO!! Glad you got a chuckle out of that..

[@stefanseeber7948]

God morning tho Germany , this workshop is not good , no haf a lift from car , it's a minimum on this work, another thing is because demontage the over ,querlenker ?.

[@theshoptopauto]

I have Lifts now. This is old video hahaha

[@jlopez2351]

Those amazon bearing cheapo don't last long...Get FAG is to go or SKF

[@theshoptopauto]

I don't buy car parts from Amazon. I have a supplier called North Side Imports, which only sells parts for German vehicles. If I were to buy from Amazon I'd purchase the bearing/hub assembly so I wouldn't have to deal with all the extra work lol

[@stefanseeber7948]

Ich Habe noch nie eine solche unprofessionelle Arbeit gesehen , ohne Hebebühne !. Wiso den oberen Querlenker lösen ? . Alles umsonst , und bei Montage der Querlenker must du das Fahrwerk auf 0 Position bringen , heißt ein gefedert !. Sonst reisen die Buchsen frühzeitig aus , alles sehr unprofessionell , soll das ein Audi Profi sein .