DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

I jacked up the front of the car and rocked the front wheels top to bottom and there was quite a lot of play.
In the past I have adjusted the wheel bearings and taken up the movement however this time it made no difference.
It may be relevant that last year the wheel bearings were replaced when the disks were replaced.
What else could it be?

Worn balljoint ...

Thanks Andy
I will book it in with Chris and take the Passat to Prescott tomorrow

Or maybe the struts? I've had play in the damper inserts before.

You were right Gary.
The big castellated nut at the bottom of the strut insert had come loose.
I took it to Tuthills expecting to leave it there and was able to drive away and play with the country roads soon after.
It was a great result.

Love it when stuff like that happens

+1 .....had the same problem on my E.

JB, can you describe how you adjusted the wheel bearings? My car just went through it's MOT with 3 x advisories for play in the wheel bearings. I have no noises coming from any wheel, so wondering if the bearings just need adjusting. Any pictures would be helpful. Regards, Alan

Hi Alan

I would suggest that you take it to someone who knows 911s like Chris Turner to determine whether they do really need adjusting as mot stations often raise it as an issue when they are actually adjusted ok. Once adjusted ok, jack it up and feel the play if any, so you know how it should feel when correct.
Having said that, I slacken off the security bolt with an allen key and turn the bearing to lightly tighten it with screwdriver in the slot and then back it off a bit and then tighten the security bolt again and finally I check for play when the wheel is back on and if excessive start again.

My take on this:
Slacken the 5 wheel nuts
Jack the wheel up (securely)
Remove wheel and grease hub cover
slacken the 'CV' nut via the allen bolt.
turn the nut until the large washer under it cannot be readily moved sideways with a small screw driver. pinch the allen bolt up
Spin the hub a few revs
slacken the bolt and back it off until the large washer can be slid across with some finger effort. Tighten the allen bolt.
Replace the wheel with 3 nuts over hand tight and spin the wheel.
Try to rock the wheel 'North-south and east-west'.
You should just feel some play (as in 'just')
If so remove wheel, replace grease cap replace wheel and nuts finger tight.
Lower car and torque up the nuts correctly, remove jack.

If too much play repeat the adjusting bit!

Alanjf, As above, Graham's description is spot on for the fronts. If you have play at the rear then things are much harder! I've had rear bearings fail to a noise level where I thought the wheel was going to fall off and there was still no perceptible play, so I'd be surprised if the play is in the bearing. I have my Mot on Friday and haven't checked anything since last year so we will see how that goes!

Graham has the chapter and verse on this subject

Thanks All,

Your advice has been really helpful. I have adjusted the front nearside which had an advisory and that is fine. Strangely when I went to the rears I could fine no play, so no adjustments. There may be a tiny amount on the offside compared to when I observed the MOT and was expecting a fail for the amount of play. May be time for a visit to CH. Alan