what hubs work for 5 bolt swap on a B4V?

Steve Addy

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Aug 7, 2002
Location
Iowa
TDI
97 Mk3
GLX and GLX. Mk3 VR6 (GLX) and B4 Passat VR6 are the only US vehicles that can provide those in 5x100.

On the front you need the bearing carrier assembly, ball joint and control arm (VR6 are different) plus the tie rod assemblies for the ZF rack. On the back you just need new rear 5x100 rotors (hub built-in) and bearings.

You might need different outer CV joints but I can't remember.

Steve
 

JordanTr

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Joined
Mar 28, 2022
Location
Kimberley, BC
TDI
1996 B4V x2, 2006 Dmax, 2005 Allroad, 2005 BHW
I wonder if the B4 GLX 5 lug hubs could be machined down to match the dims of the 4 lug hubs. This would be particularly promising if the outer CVs on v6 and TDI do match as @alanack says. My research from Vortex says this isn’t the case but who knows. I should have GLX and TDI hubs loose in hand at some point later this year 🙂
 

Steve Addy

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Joined
Aug 7, 2002
Location
Iowa
TDI
97 Mk3
Transmissions are the same between AAA and AHU / 1Z, both cars use 02A MT, so the inboard CV joints are the same.

7Zap (online etka) claims the outer CV is different between AAA and AHU / 1Z engine and by extension that complete axles are different. I know that the outer bearing is the same between the two but whether or not the hub splines are the same count or not I cannot say. The axle nut is different as well, 6 pt vs 12 pt nut. My first guess is that the outer CV is different, but I've not compared the two.

I have new 4x100 and 5x100 hubs, I can take a look at them and see how they compare.

EDIT: outer CV joints are different because the spline count is different. 36 spline for AAA engine (VR6) 5x100 and 22 for AHU / 1Z 4x100 cars. Obviously hubs will differ too.

Steve
 
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JordanTr

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1996 B4V x2, 2006 Dmax, 2005 Allroad, 2005 BHW

Steve Addy

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Location
Iowa
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97 Mk3
Steve, how sure are you that the bearings are the same? I’ve always heard (and seen) them be different numbers for TDI vs v6.
ID parts specifically saws v6 only on these bearings 1h0498625 https://www.idparts.com/front-wheel-bearing-vr6-lug-1h0498625-wbk5434-p-1493.html

TDI ones here: 357498625B
The difference is that you're looking at a kit and the kit has other parts in it. The nut is six pt for 4x100 cars but it's a 12 pt for 5x100 cars. Whether any of the other bits are different I cannot say, but perhaps.

If I look for just the bearing alone, it's the same for both 4 cyl and 6 cyl, a Timken 510004, SKF FW130 and a GMB 7800030 (plus many more) are all listed to work with both 4x100 and 5x100 suspensions.

I sometimes only buy the bearing if I have good used circlips etc, that's how I figured out that they're the same.

Steve
 

JordanTr

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1996 B4V x2, 2006 Dmax, 2005 Allroad, 2005 BHW
@Steve Addy , would you be able to compare your 5 lug hub against these dimensions below?
Reason being is that I want to install the plus front end without the 5 lug. Weird, I know, but I am somewhat invested in 4 lug wheels and would like to keep the car that way. I also don’t have a good set of VR6 axles or even good outer CVs.

Thanks!

https://flic.kr/p/2q98NhU
 

Steve Addy

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Joined
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Location
Iowa
TDI
97 Mk3
Since they use the same bearing it's unlikely that the hubs would be very much different in that respect, however, the flange for the 6 cylinder appears to be 4.98" vs the 4.73 you list above. Further, you're talking about comparison of just one piece of two different systems. The bearing carrier (spindle), ball joints and control arms are different as is the sway bar and the sway bar mounting. The problem with mixing the two comes when you try and blend the brake components. I'm not sure that the calipers and carriers from a 4 cyl will mount to the 6 cylinder spindle and if they don't then you'll need to figure out how to get a 4 bolt rotor on there because the rotor for the 6 cylinder is significantly different. The resolution I guess would be to have your 5x100 rotors redrilled as 4x100, but that seems excessive and then you're also worrying about clearances too.

If you're invested in 4x100 then the only thing that the plus suspension really offers is the better upper strut mount and bearing, but that was standard in 1997 on Jetta and I think standard on all B4 cars from 1995 (US import) so the reason to go full Plus suspension is IMO not worth the effort, especially when the car is not going to have the 5x wheels.

Next time I have a chance I will compare the two hub types to see whether there's any other difference besides the rotor mounting flange.

Steve
 

JordanTr

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Location
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1996 B4V x2, 2006 Dmax, 2005 Allroad, 2005 BHW
At first glance, I thought I could use the Corrado 280mm 4 lug rotors but the hat heights differ from Plus and non-Plus cars. With that said, it looks like drilling the 5 lug rotors would be the ticket but only if the hub shoulders and offsets don’t differ.

My goal for the plus isn’t really for 5 lug but for the improved geometry, namely caster.

I do have some 5 lug wheels on the wall too so going 5 lug isn’t a bad option after all either. We will see what shakes out! I have more pressing maintenance catch up to do before then.
 

Steve Addy

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Joined
Aug 7, 2002
Location
Iowa
TDI
97 Mk3
Yeah caster maybe, but it's still non-adjustable AFAIK, and going to all that effort just for that seems a bit much.

This is one of those things where either you go with one or the other and take your pick. Personally I don't mind the base suspension, I just need the car to perform and have it be reliable, and adding the plus upper mounts to any car without helps quite a bit.

Steve
 
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