But I can't figure out if we can install it ourselves. Apparently theres some weird nut-socket combo key we have to have , at least thats what it looks like. Can I rent a tool set on the net? My friend has several presses at the dealer, just not this weird tool. TIA!

Other than a press and appropriate drifts to press the old bearings out and the new ones in, you'll need a joint separator tool for the track arm ( or whatever Audi calls it). The end of the track arm that connects to the bearing carrier has a spherical joint with a tapered rod that fits into a tapered hole in the bearing carrier. The tool looks like a C-Clamp with a fork at one end. The fork fits between the two parts, and the threaded rod of the c-clamp presses the tapered rod out of its seat.

If there were room to swing a hammer you might be able to smack it around until it came loose, but after a few minutes of that I went to the local parts store and bought a tool for $10 that was almost right. The fork was a bit too wide, so it would spread under load and slip off the joint. After 15 minutes or so (it seemed like hours) of messing around with another c-clamp to hold the fork of the tool closed I was able to apply enough force to get the joint open.

Depending on what your friend has at his shop you may not need to remove the bearing carrier from the car. If he has a set of bearing press tools which use threaded rods to apply force (I know that Mac makes one) the job can be done with the carrier still on the car.

The other thing to be careful about is the ABS wheel speed sensors. I trashed both of mine taking them out (>$200 each at the dealer). If they don't slide out relatively easily trace the cables to under the back seat and unplug them there.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Greg