Article Date: 25/05/18
In order to replace the wheel bearing on your Golf MK5 (140HP Diesel), you will need the following tools.
This job will take approximately 1.5 hours to do for the average home user without access to ramps / vehicle lifts and constantly jacking the vehicle up and down (possibly less but I was taking photos)
After you have identified what size wheel bearings you require (see notes below), you will need to purchase a good quality set of wheel bearings. When I originally went to do this job I went for the best parts you can buy (generally SKF are regarded as the best) and normally what OEM parts are, although any of the below choices are suitable alternatives so feel free to use them. Wheel bearings are universal fitting (there is no "left" or "right" side). All the wheel bearing kits should come with the Bolt you need (strength class 10.9) - from what I can work out the OEM part number is WHT000229A
30MM Wheel Bearing Kits | 32MM Wheel Bearing Kits |
SKF (UK Seller) | SKF (German Seller) |
SNR (UK Seller) | SNR |
FAG | FAG |
FEBI-BLISTEIN (UK Seller) | FEBI-BLISTEIN (UK Seller) |
Make sure you know the CORRECT size of hub required for your car, there are TWO sizes (30mm and 32mm). DO NOT use suggestions on the internet about checking the rear face of the wheel bearing for raised bits to determine if it's 30mm or 32mm as this is wrong (as a note the comments on the internet suggest the 32mm has a flat face and 30mm has raised bits). My car had a flat face but was a 30mm disc. There's a possibility that this order was reversed (30mm flat face and 32mm raised but I've yet to confirm this, I will update the article should I get notes with correct information). From what I can understand, you can identify the brakes you have fitted to your car with the option codes (they look something like PR1 in your owners manual), I'm not sure if the size of the brakes also determine the wheel bearing size too. If this were true then 312mm discs would be the 32mm, I'll update this post if I ever confirm it further
From various posts, it seems that 30mm is the common fitment size, so if you can only afford one for your car, either remove your existing one (and measure it) or order a 30mm one. Although you run the risk of this being incorrect. The only correct way to make sure is to buy both sizes. I personally think the 32mm is reserved for the 4-motion models, but haven't confirmed this yet. I think there is one method to confirm the size which involves measuring the distance from the front face > rear magnetic sensor but I need a 32mm to compare this measurement against. You could try ringing VW, but unless their information is updated. Their system normally says use Hub A, or Hub B. They normally have both in stock so don't have to worry about which one is the correct size (don't think about buying from VW - their wheel bearings are £160 each!)
UPDATE 2022
Again, this is unconfirmed. I came across a post in a forum by "Samisnake", it seems to be related to the PR codes. If correct the PR codes 1KZ, 1KD, 1KS and 1KE = 30mm BEARING, 1KJ = 32mm BEARING. It may be useful to help someone. My car had 255mm rear brakes (1KD code and was 30mm so possibly correct)
Please note concerning the steps below, I didn't have access to an impact gun (just a breaker bar / cheater bar). I found that in the second step in this procedure, the wheels where really tightly held on and kept turning even with the handbrake + brake caliper applied. I actually put the wheels back on and lowered the car, then loosened the nut whilst it was on the floor (something to consider) if you get problems. Otherwise it should remove with a bit of persuasion when it's jacked up.
Note the "Flat" face of the bearing, online posts suggest it should be a 32mm bearing (which is why I originally purchased 32mm SKF bearings. Guess what, they weren't. They were 30mm!! If you have previously removed your caliper you can use some verniers to double check the size of your wheel bearing hub. It will be either 30 or 32mm. Make sure you buy the right ones.
When installing the new bolt it's a two phase process.
You have now successfully replaced the wheel bearing on your car. A good wheel bearing lasts around 100k miles or more so once done it should last the life of your car.
Once the new wheel bearing is fitted, your car is then driveable again. All Axle parts should be replaced in pairs (don't bother buying 1, the other will go roughly around the same time)