Hi

I recently (May 2004) bought a 4yr old Fabia. Pretty basic 1.4 8V, but only done 5000 miles when I got it due to the previous owner being my elderly uncle who bought it new and then became too ill to drive. Since I got it it's done an additional 1100 miles. Over the last week or so it developed a speed (not rev) related rumble from the front end. Took it into the local dealer's today who say both(!) front wheel bearings need replaced. Is it just me, or does that seem a bit worrying for a car that's only done 6100 miles? Bearings should be lasting at least 10 times as long, shouldn't they?

Anyone else had similar problems?

pajjy

Welcome,

I suppose it depends how long the car was standing un-driven. 6100miles is a very short distance.

Was the car serviced annually as Skoda recommend?

Chris

Maybe wheel bearings is a weak point on the car? TFboy had one of his Fabia RS bearings replaced after a couple of thousand miles.... and bizzarely, when seat released the Leon Cupra R 225, the only different item apart from the engine ecu was the wheel bearings :confused:

Was the car serviced annually as Skoda recommend?

Chris

Yep. Car was serviced every 12 months on the dot. Geoff (my uncle) was picky about such things.

Welcome' date='

I suppose it depends how long the car was standing un-driven. 6100miles is a very short distance.[/quote']

Thanks for the welcome.

I'm not sure how long the car sat undriven in the garage. I was under the impression that other members of the family used to drive it occasionally just to 'give it a run', but I guess that was probably pretty infrequent. Would the bearings be likely to seize up on their own if just left unmoving for several weeks/months?

Yep. Car was serviced every 12 months on the dot. Geoff (my uncle) was picky about such things.

In that case, it may be a good idea to approach the Skoda Dealer or even Skoda Customer Services and see what they say. Realistically, you would not expect wheel bearings to fail after 6k miles which suggests a manufacturing fault, unless the garage can suggest otherwise.....

Chris

In that case' date=' it may be a good idea to approach the Skoda Dealer or even Skoda Customer Services and see what they say. Realistically, you would not expect wheel bearings to fail after 6k miles which suggests a manufacturing fault, unless the garage can suggest otherwise.....

Chris[/quote']

I'll speak to them when I get it back (later this afternoon, hopefully) and see what they say. Thanks.

Pete

In case anyone's interested I got an answer from Skoda customer services. They're giving me back the price of the parts - a reasonable result, I guess, since the car is no longer under warranty.

Thanks for the comments all.

P

Sounds like a result...! My dealer (current one) has been quite good to me recently, but I've been getting my servicing done privately, and also sourcing the necessary parts/oil from buttco/factors.

50K and my bearings are stil good!

My W reg had front right replaced @ 31k as part of pre purchase prep in May - the lhs one has started going past week - now 33k. Looks like i will have to get warranty documents out!