Front Wheel Bearings – Checking, Adjustment, Repacking, and Replacement

Overview

This procedure guides you through checking, adjusting, repacking, and replacing the front wheel bearings on your Porsche 944 with a 16v engine. Properly maintained wheel bearings ensure smooth wheel rotation, reduce wear, and prevent damage to the hub and spindle. This guide is tailored specifically for the 16v engine model.

Pink and blue text represents links to additional resources, tools, parts, and partner websites.

Tools Required

• Small flat-tip screwdriver or probe (for early models)
• Medium flat-tip screwdriver
• Hammer
• Chisel
• Medium round-tip punch (preferably brass)
• 6mm (1/4 inch) Allen head wrench or long Allen head socket
• Floor jack
• Jack stands

Parts Required

• Wheel bearing kit (includes inner and outer bearings) – 944 105 157 02
• Bearing grease seal – 999 113 426 40
• Moly bearing grease

Required Additional Procedures

Steps in these procedures are required to complete this process:

• Brake Pad Replacement

Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1: Check the Wheel Bearings

1. Raise the front of the Porsche 944 using a floor jack and secure it on jack stands.
2. Spin each front wheel by hand and listen for grinding or rough noises. The wheel should spin freely without excessive resistance.
3. Remove the front wheel using a 19mm (3/4 inch) wrench.
4. Remove the wheel bearing grease cap by tapping around its back edge with a hammer and chisel. For early 944 models (pre-1985.5), first remove the E-clip from the speedometer cable on the left front wheel using a small flat-tip screwdriver or probe.
5. Use a medium flat-tip screwdriver to turn the bearing thrust washer (behind the locking collar). Ensure the screwdriver doesn’t touch the locking collar or hub. If the washer spins freely or won’t turn, adjustment is needed.

Step 2: Adjust the Wheel Bearings

6. Loosen the locking collar’s Allen head bolt using a 6mm (1/4 inch) Allen head wrench or socket. Rotate the hub until the detent aligns with the bolt head.
7. Turn the locking collar clockwise to tighten or counterclockwise to loosen until the thrust washer requires moderate effort to turn with the screwdriver.
8. Tighten the Allen head bolt to 20 Nm (15 ft-lbs).
9. Reinstall the grease cap, reattach the wheel, and lower the vehicle.

Step 3: Replace the Wheel Bearings

10. Raise the front of the vehicle on jack stands and remove the front wheels.
11. Remove the brake pads. Follow this link to ensure this step – Brake Pad Replacement – of the process is followed accurately.
12. Remove the two caliper retaining bolts (13mm wrench), slide the caliper off the rotor, and hang it with shock cord or wire.
13. Remove the grease cap as described in Step 1.
14. Loosen the locking collar’s Allen head bolt with a 6mm (1/4 inch) Allen head wrench or socket, then turn the collar counterclockwise to remove it.
15. Pull the hub and rotor assembly off the spindle. Catch the thrust washer and outer bearing as they may fall out.
16. Pry the grease seal from the back of the hub with a flat-tip screwdriver and remove the inner bearing.
17. Use a hammer and brass punch to tap out the old bearing races from the hub, alternating sides along the two channels inside. Be careful not to damage the hub surface.
18. Clean the hub’s inner surfaces thoroughly with a rag and brake cleaner.

Step 4: Install New Bearings – Checking, Adjustment, Repacking, and Replacement

19. Place the new bearing races in a freezer for at least 1 hour (preferably overnight).
20. Heat the hub in an oven at 250°F (121°C) for at least 30 minutes.
21. Wearing gloves, remove the hub from the oven and place it on a heat-resistant surface.
22. Remove the races from the freezer and press them into the hub. They should slide in easily due to the temperature difference.
23. Pack the new bearings with moly bearing grease, either with a bearing packer or by hand, ensuring grease fills the rollers.
24. Place the inner bearing into the back of the hub and tap a new grease seal (999 113 426 40) into place with a hammer.
25. Slide the hub assembly onto the spindle and insert the outer bearing.
26. Install the thrust washer and locking collar, then adjust the bearing as described in Step 2.
27. Tighten the locking collar bolt to 20 Nm (15 ft-lbs), reinstall the grease cap, reattach the wheel, and lower the vehicle.

Post Procedure Checklist

• Spin the wheel to ensure it rotates smoothly without noise or excessive resistance.
• Check that the wheel bearing adjustment feels firm but not overly tight when turning the thrust washer.
• Verify the locking collar bolt is torqued to 20 Nm (15 ft-lbs).
• Ensure no play exists in the wheel when pushed side to side.

Sources

• Clark’s Garage
• Pelican Parts
• Porsche 944 Workshop Manual, Volume 1
• YouTube