Questions and Answers

Removing Volkswagen Jetta Drums Q. I would like to replace the rear brake shoes. After removing the tire I noticed a center "cap" or hub. Are there bearings under this? Do I need to remove this center hub or does the brake drum pull off without removing this? I attempted to pull of the drum but was having difficulty. If I need to remove the hub, how is it removed? It seemed difficult to remove this. 1998 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 4 cylinder Manual transmission Thanks in advance for any info!

A. There is the rear wheel bearing under that cap. It's pretty much a standard setup so you should have no problem with them. Just make sure you clean them thoroughly and repack them well.

I wrote an article on replacing wheel bearings that may be of help to you. How to Replace Front Wheel Bearings.

1. Grease cap
2. Cotter pin (Always replace)
3. Lock ring
4. Nut
5. Thrust washer
6. Outer wheel bearing
7. ABS wheel speed sensor rotor (Only on vehicles with ABS)
8. Brake drum (Clean thoroughly, check for wear, damage, damaged wheel bolt threads and dimensions) Vehicles with front wheel drive: Diameter: 200 mm (7.874 inch) Wear limit: 201 mm (7.913 inch)
9. Stub axle
10. Socket-head bolt (Tighten to: 10 Nm (7 ft lb))
11. ABS wheel speed sensor (Only on vehicles with ABS)
12. Backing plate with brake shoes
13. Dished washer
14. Hex bolt (Tighten to: 60 Nm (44 ft lb))