MK1 Cabrio wheel bearing, hub and ball joints.

[maaarcooose]

After about a week of problems, I am still having trouble getting the wheel bearing housing off the drivers side of my 1992 MK1 Cabrio so I can replace the hub and the wheel bearing.

I just cant remove the tie rod ball joint. I'm starting to realise that maybe I need a special tool. I'm also having trouble remoiving the lower ball joint. It seems like it's rivited on because no mater how much I clean up the top and bottom retaining bolts, they don't seem to have heads on them and no allen key hole either. Do I have to replace the entire lower wishbone?
In all honesty, I'm starting to think that this is a good idea anyway and I can do the bushes at the same time.
I've not even started the passenger side yet, but I would like to do it too.

Secondlly, is it worth trying to replace the wheel bearing yourself as I've seen that it needs a press to get the old one out and the new one in. Correct?
Can you buy, the tools to do it fairly inexpensively?

Also, which workshop manual is best to get for a 1992 cabrio? I can't seem to find the haynes or bentley that covers the cabrio and the MK2 one is a little different.

Any advice will be greatly received.

!m!

[maaarcooose]

Got the right tool and got the ball joint out.

Also found an online copy of the bentley Cabrio manual.

I still don't seem to be able to find any info on removing the wheel hub though.
Anyone?

!m!

[Agreeable Slick]

assuming this is the front, it should just be a massive hub nut holding it on, if it is anything like my audi 80s though you will need to wallop the crap out of it to get it to shift as they have a habit of welding themselves on being an interference fit and all.

[maaarcooose]

I will give it a good smack with my mallet.
I did get the nut off, but it isn't moving at all. More brute force required then...

Then all I have to do is replace the wheel bearing.....

And I thought this would be a simple job. Just from how much hassle it's being I think I'm gonna replace the shocks, springs, ball joints and all the bushes at the same time.

It's like the car keeps saying things like 'While you're down there...'

!m!

[rubjonny]

Get the brown mk1 haynes manual, it also covers scirocco and cab.

Ball joints are just held in with 3 bolts, but if you cant get them out undo and remove the large pinch bolt holding the hub carrier to the balljoint.


After that you got the 24mm nut holding the driveshaft in, undo this with a big breaker bar and a good 6 point socket.

[maaarcooose]

Finally got it off. 
Got a nice seperator fork and it's all come off.

Got the bearing a hub pressed in at a local garage....

Now to replace.

!m!