Rear disc replacement..

[hardmonkeys]

Hi, as part of my winter maintenance on the Cabrio, I'm looking to change the discs and pads, that part I'm ok with, but I've seen you've got to ( or it's best to)  change the rear bearings, how easy is that to do?  Also, I've heard you must tighten it correctly, to tight and it could cause it to overheat and collapse...

Any advice would be great

Thanks

[itavaltalainen]

It is relatively easy. Depending on the age of the bearings I would be inclined to just fit new ones, a decent pair is less than 20 quid.

Otherwise you'll need to knock the old ones out.... which is tricky on some discs (VW ones should have three slots so you can do this, had some drums that don't).

To do bearing up you need to adjust the setting so that the washer for lack of a better term behind the nut can still just about be moved (e.g. with a small screwdriver on the outside). Obviously greasing bearing etc is needed, but first get old the old gunk out with brake cleaner and let it dry off.
Too loose or too tight and your wheel will come off!

[lemski]

How i was taught and still do now is tighten the nut to the bearing with a normal ratchet and then knock it off 1/4 turn. Which in turn actually means the washer can move a touch still as explained above.

They should be roller bearing in the mk3 stil but it can be upgraded using polo set up i think... Might just be a mk2 think.

Easy though to do just the carrier bolts can be a pitter

[hardmonkeys]

thanks for the advice, will give it a go

will i know if its correct, or is it a case of ' that'll be fine...i hope?'

[lemski]

Spin the disc after. Youll know if its too tight. And if its too loose youll feel the play

[LR5V]

I always bolt the wheel up with the centre cap & dust cap off, the extra leverage of the wheel makes feeling for play easy to gauge how tight to get the nut -if its solid its too tight

[itavaltalainen]

Yep, easier with wheel on.

I would not do it up with ratchet, I only used a large socket and did up by hand. If you do up with ratchet and don't know exactly what you're doing you might do it up too tight and damage the cage (I did see someone one that was done up to 200Nm - and owner was surprised wheel was solid )

[lemski]

200nm. f**king hell.
Although ive seen someone also with a breaker bar jumping on it and wonder why there wheel was locked

[hardmonkeys]

I don't think I'll be that bad :-)