Rubber-Metal H-Axis Mounts: Improper Installation

Hi,

Can the rubber-metal bearings of the rear axle (on a Golf 3 Variant) be pressed out and pressed back in, or will they not be securely fitted afterwards?

The issue is that I had the bearings installed, and at least one of them is not properly aligned (the inner races need to face forward, but the one on the right is slightly twisted upwards).

"Furthermore, the H-axis has been making noise since the change."

m;

EDIT: Pictures attached.

"Damn, those idiots installed the bearing so tightly that it hits the frame when it retracts."

How can someone be so stupid?!?

m;

Hello Martin,

You're just unlucky. Did you have that done at VW?
If I had installed the new bearings myself, I would try that "push-pull" method. When you install a bearing, you can get a sense of how smoothly it goes in, and then you can compare that to how it feels when you try to pull it out.
I wouldn't trust those specialists who came to your place.

That wasn't VW, and it wasn't me.

I had it done by an independent mechanic because he did a good job on a G3 Variant for a friend, and at a reasonable price. Actually, the mechanic was supposed to have been a master technician at VW at some point .

That was the same person who first told me it would cost 220 EUR, and then handed me a bill for 291 EUR.

m;

Hi!
What's the problem? Go to the dealer, complain, and demand a fix. Just because he's a freelancer doesn't mean he has free rein. By the way, there was a change in the installation position of the component from VW (allegedly for comfort reasons) in my Polo. So maybe print out the correct instructions from the dealer beforehand.

Best regards,
Dirk.

@ dieselmartin

Hey, am I blind/stupid, or did they only replace the inner linings for you too?

In the photos, the outer casings don't look new.
Furthermore, it appears that the outer left side of the chassis is already almost rubbing against the support bracket. In any case, the mounting points were not loosened to properly align the axle laterally.

I wouldn't do anything myself; I would request the workshop to fix it properly, meaning they should remove everything and replace it with new parts.

As I see it, they loosened the large bolt through the bearings, swung the axle out, and pressed the bearings back in.

They didn't touch the support bracket attached to the body.

The marks on the latch are from the swinging motion.

The bearings all need to be replaced, but I'll take a closer look at them tomorrow.

m;

brezelmann01 wrote:

Hi! Where is the problem? Go there, complain, and demand a fix. Just because he's a freelancer, he doesn't have free rein.

Before this turns into a never-ending saga and you end up footing the bill, go to the workshop and demand they fix it! Otherwise, it will become just as complicated as the issue you had with your tires.

Please find a better workshop this time. Somehow, you're still facing the problem that being cheap isn't always the best option .

Quote:

Somehow, you're still facing the problem that being cheap isn't always cool

.

I don't quite see it that way.
For the battery replacement, I chose a workshop that has successfully done this before and is a reputable establishment, not some shady back-alley garage. I had some much cheaper offers, but I was worried about the quality of the work on my car.

VW couldn't give me any concrete information about the work and the price... They always talked about completely removing the entire axle assembly (which is not necessary).

Regarding the tires, it's obviously a problem for the manufacturers (not the discount retailers), and Conti is certainly not a "cheap is good" product.

m;

Okay,

The analysis is now complete.

I have several sources of noise.

If you shake the car violently:
Loud cracking noise - the bearings on the rear right side can move within their housing. This is the side where the inner bearing presses against the housing. This is a 100% valid reason for a complaint. Should I also request new bearings, since the current ones are damaged?

when something is less shaky:
"A rumbling noise - likely coming from either the wheel bearings or the brakes, as it disappears when the driver shakes the car and I apply the brakes. The right wheel bearing is 95,000 km old, and the left one is unknown (possibly 225,000 km). At least the left one is certainly securely mounted."
But could it be that if a wheel bearing is worn, it can't be tightened properly, and yet it still has excessive play?


I'm leaving unmentioned here the creaking in the bodywork and the rattling of the rear seat.

m;

Hi,

Quote:

But could it be that if a wheel bearing is worn, it cannot be tightened further, and yet it still has a loose, rattling play?

The inner or outer ring of the bearing may have excessive clearance on the axle shaft or in the hub (bearing seat in the bucket).
It's quite rare, though. In 95% of cases, the problem is resolved by adjusting the settings.

Best regards, Rainer.

If the steering isn't adjustable, it's either due to the bearing or the steering column (which, in my opinion, should be a separate part). Take a look at the steering column.

My concern wasn't about the products you bought, but about the workshops. The tire dealer where you bought the tires wasn't particularly good, and the workshop that replaced your wheel bearings is beyond description; it's terrible. I would be furious.

Make sure you address any suspension issues before complaining about your tires. If you need to make a second claim, they will likely require a vehicle inspection, and they probably won't replace the tires again.

Quote:

Make sure you address your suspension issues before you complain about your tires.

That was the plan!

The car is at Fred's at the HA warehouse; he's going to take a look at it.

"Achse ist locker" didn't blow him away (is he already used to that )

m;

NEWS FLASH

ALL four bearings are rotating within the Auchskoerper!

The mechanic will order four new (this time from VW) parts by tomorrow and install them under warranty.

It's funny, he and I thought that Febi/Bilstein bearings should be of good quality.

It looks like things might turn out well, hopefully.

m;

After not hearing anything from the mechanic all day, I decided to just go see him shortly before the end of the workday.

The car now has 4 new bearings, which are original VW parts. They required significantly more force to be installed. The mechanic wants to claim the other bearings from the manufacturer (he can do that if he wants, I don't care).

I was really surprised to find that the car had large droplets of brake fluid on the brake line near the axle. Of course, they need to be cleaned up... but couldn't someone have just wiped them off?

I hope everything is alright.

m;

Hi.

I recently tried to fit some into a Passat 35i, or rather, they fell in by themselves.

I then insisted on a different brand, and those fit snugly, as they should.

Best regards, Rüdi.