How to change Porsche 944 front wheel bearings - part 1

[@anthonymasters3885]

Thanks Van, great videos. I watched all 3 x parts several times to change the front bearings on my 928, which has a very similar arrangement. I realize you made the video 9 years ago, but good quality DIY videos are forever useful. I actually got a tip from another source....bake the hub in an oven for 30 minutes at 250 degrees C. Makes the races much easier to remove...For installation of new races, hub in oven for again 30 minutes....but also freeze the new races. Make sure the hub is clean before baking and you may want to invest in welding gloves! Cheers!

[@vsvenson]

I actually have a new technique - I use my mig welder to weld a bead onto the old race. When the weld cools it contracts, making the race small enough to just fall out with any force. I think this is safest for the hub because it's not damaging/smearing/moving the aluminum.

[@therotaryrocket]

Thanks for sharing this, it's incredibly helpful as I'm about to do a FW bearing on a 944. It's a rarity to find an awesome, informative video on the exact thing I need! Appreciate it!

[@zipezzz]

Thanks Van! Just did the bearings for my -86 944 N/A at my parking lot and your videos helped a lot! The methods are relatively same although the hub is different. Used my oven to heat the hub up (300°C), be sure to use something proper as a cover for the hot grease dropping from the bearings (unlike I did).

[@vornamemenachnameme5716]

I think a tutorial for that would be great, but still a lot of people couldn't do it since you need a high torque wrench. I'm not sure how much torque it was, but just to give a dimension, I think it was around 260 - 280 lbf ft. I don't have the Porsche manual here, at the moment, but i may look it up, if wanted. And last but not least: Van Svenson, i really like your videos. Thanks for that.

[@alpinewhite]

Hi, Van. Thanks for this video. It made it much easier for my son and I to tackle his right front bearing today. Question: Why did you have to remove the rotor from the hub on 2:38? We were able to remove the hub/rotor assembly as a whole. Everything else was per your instructions. The heat really helped to remove the races. They wouldn't budge until we applied heat.

[@vsvenson]

I was changing brakes at the same time!

[@Masikoira]

this is very informative video thanks!

[@happyfox711]

After installation, and a few/many rounds, do you ever have to tighten the locknut? Or do you swap them again, whenever you got some minor play

[@skwerldeath]

I, along with "boogerchamp", am curious if the cover was removed to aid cooling.... The only other reason I could guess would be to lessen unsprung weight. Or maybe the cover only helps to protect against splashing water, which might not be an issue for a track car. Very good video. Thank you!

[@jp554731]

PO was nice enough to include some bearings for my 944 S2 SAF model # BA2B309609AD Are these for the rear or front? How do I know when to replace it? They also included a Mahle fuel filter, got a video for that? How do I know when I should change that?

[@alpinewhite]

Do you have a video for the rear wheel bearings? We need to replace the rear-right bearings too.

[@vsvenson]

I don't... Maybe someday!

[@nismoskyline7960]

Would this be the same for a 1983 944?

[@Gawernator]

Very helpful

[@eltucanaso15]

Hi Van would like to ask what year Porsche do you have? Also would that front brake setup be compatible with a 1979 924 model? I want to run that brake setup on my car,would i be able to accomplish this? Please and thank you for your help.

[@vsvenson]

I have '84, '86 and '87 944s. But the video is from an '88 944 Turbo (that I don't have any more). I don't know if 944 NA brakes are the same as a 924 - you'll have to do some research on that. But I do know that the 944 Turbo brakes won't bolt on. Your best bet might be to see if Wilwood makes a brake upgrade kit for the 924.

[@epicars6902]

Hey my front wheel is angled in what could be the cause?

[@vsvenson]

Could be wheel bearings, could be a ball joint, could be a bent rim... might be time to take it to a mechanic.

[@bajsokiss9]

is it the same as on my 944 2.5 L 1984 model?

[@vsvenson]

Yes, it's pretty much the same. You'll have to take the hub off *with* the brake rotor... and your brake caliper will unbolt a little differently. Otherwise everything is the same.

[@PorschePadawan]

One dislike is a 911 that got beat by a 951.