Are there no rear wheel bearings available without hubs??

I've been looking into replacement rear wheel bearings for my mk4. All I see are replacement hubs and bearings as an assembly.



Why no bearings themselves without the hub? I see plenty of front wheel bearings sold individually.

Its just the way the style is, they are pretty cheap assemblies anyways.

https://www.idparts.com/rear-wheel-hub-and-bearing-kit-optimal-a4-p-344.html

Rockauto has a version for $25

Install is much much easier.

I've been bit too many times by cheap parts to go that route. I've got enough tools that replacing the bearing in a hub should not be a problem, and have replaced several front bearings. What's the difference with these rears?



For the parts I'd be willing to buy, it'll be around $150 minimum to do both rears, whereas if I could get quality bearings alone, I could do it for half that at most.

It is just a different design. Lots of cars are like that.

The hub and inner race is all one piece, so there is no way to replace just the bearing.

I meant outer race. Sometimes you have to go by what I meant, not what I said.

OK. Thanks to everyone for the replies.

On fronts.. I always go a decent brand due to the work involved, they take a beating but backs are pretty straight forward. I'd have no issue with that $40 kit from idparts. I've put basic bearings on the back and never had a problem with them again.

Alchemist said:

The hub and inner race is all one piece, so there is no way to replace just the bearing.

Click to expand...

You pull the hub off and the inner race stays on the stub axle. Careful work with a small dremel cut off tool + a chisel and it comes off. Clean the stub axle.
Then Snap-On make the coolest simple tool to press the bearing: it is a nut with a longish tub that matches the bearing and you crank it in until it stops then finish with the new nut.

https://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/rear-wheel-bearing-removal-replacement-mk4/

I usually slice the inner race up with an air cut off tool, smash it with a chisel and it will crack on the grind mark. Then it pulls off pretty easy. It takes me about an hour for the job time.