There is no substitute for a proper hydraulic press for bearing fitting - the forces required are considerable and must be applied in a progressive and controlled manner (no hammering).

In your position, get a local garage (knowledgeable, so they press on the correct races) to install your bearings using a press. Buying an expensive tool for this job does not make sense - my local independent pressed in a couple of VAG front bearings for me at £10 per side.

VAG bearings nearly always fail due to water ingress (this Company has yet to learn about the characteristics of both water and gravity) - so the other side will follow shortly. ECP sell an SKF kit for this car which contains all you need.

Hope you can get the pinch bolts out...

659.

With the advice from this Forum and others plus the weather, I chicken out and had the job done by the local VW dealership for £166 incl VAT + the bearing cost. The cause of the problem was water ingress into the bearing leading to corrosion.

Thanks for the help.