Expensive Wheel Bearing Replacement!

[AndyPandy]

A year ago I had a front wheel bearing replaced on my sdi,which cost £150,at a Skoda Garage.Recently the other side

bearing got noisy ,and I took it to the same garage to get it replaced. They were unable to remove the shaft

from the bearing because it had siezed. bending their hand held puller in the process!.They ended up replacing

the wheel bearing casting,constant velocity joint,Hub,and stub axle!.The total cost was £532,including 2 hours labour!.

I had to accept this was the only solution to solve the problem. My query is has anyone had the same problem?

Their puller was one that bolted on the wheel hub threads,and had a bolt about 3/4" to press on the axle.

I would have thought a hydraulic bench press would have been able to free the siezed bearing?

Edited 1 February, 2010 by AndyPandy

[MoggyTech]

Can't get a complete car under a bench press If the shaft seizes into the bearing you are well and truly stuffed. Sometimes a massive heat up with a blow torch will get the hub off, but not always, as the hub can expand in all directions so it grips the bearing even tighter. It can be split off with an angle grinder, but it's a load of hassle.

[AndyPandy]

thanks for reply-

I meant dismantle ,taking the wheel bearing housing,etc off in one go? It must be possible because I saw the siezed shaft in bearing ,and housing on the floor of the garage. (When they showed me what the problem was).

[MoggyTech]

thanks for reply-

I meant dismantle ,taking the wheel bearing housing,etc off in one go? It must be possible because I saw the siezed shaft in bearing ,and housing on the floor of the garage. (When they showed me what the problem was).

I doubt they would have a jig that would accept the hub, carrier, driveshaft as an assembly mate. Also the force needed would most likely wreck the end of the driveshaft. I feel your pain though, one expensive wheel bearing for sure.

[Willsvrs]

Yeh I feel your pain regarding the cost, but there again these things do happen.

I had a similar thing happen to my brother's honda prelude 2 years ago - the CV boot had split and needed replacing. Attempted to fit a 'complete' boot by taking the driveshaft off, but couldn't separate the driveshaft from the hub as the splines had well and truly seized inside the hub. I bust my puller trying to get them apart and then tried hitting the end of the driveshaft with a drift and hammer, but just ended up spreading the end of the driveshaft. Just didn't budge! The solution: I had to fit one of those wrap-around / split CV boots that you glue together (which I absolutely detest doing as they normally come apart shortly afterwards). This one's now lasted over 2 years...

So, it does sound costly and a real pain when this happens, but at least you're now back on the road!

[AndyPandy]

Yeh I feel your pain regarding the cost, but there again these things do happen.

I had a similar thing happen to my brother's honda prelude 2 years ago - the CV boot had split and needed replacing. Attempted to fit a 'complete' boot by taking the driveshaft off, but couldn't separate the driveshaft from the hub as the splines had well and truly seized inside the hub. I bust my puller trying to get them apart and then tried hitting the end of the driveshaft with a drift and hammer, but just ended up spreading the end of the driveshaft. Just didn't budge! The solution: I had to fit one of those wrap-around / split CV boots that you glue together (which I absolutely detest doing as they normally come apart shortly afterwards). This one's now lasted over 2 years...

So, it does sound costly and a real pain when this happens, but at least you're now back on the road!

Hi thanks very much ( no thanks 'button' available on page?)

Andy

[felicia16v]

quite common for them to seize in the hubs, we have made a jig so that we can get them into the 20 ton press and press them out, get the hub as hot as you can with gas torch then press it, some are unbelievbly tight even then and need a smack while under pressure to release them..

not many garages have gas now as insurance is a bit of a problem so maybe they dont have it

[AndyPandy]

quite common for them to seize in the hubs, we have made a jig so that we can get them into the 20 ton press and press them out, get the hub as hot as you can with gas torch then press it, some are unbelievbly tight even then and need a smack while under pressure to release them..

not many garages have gas now as insurance is a bit of a problem so maybe they dont have it

thank you all very much

Andy

[ric04vrs]

we have to replace rear wheel bearings on Volvo XC90s, luckily the driveshaft comes out quite easily but with the bearing still attached, 20 ton press in the red, and then some heat and they usually let go

[tag1_uk]

I feel your pain too. I've had to have both front wheel bearing done, about a year apart, at under 38k miles. Pretty rubbish if you ask me as my previous cheapo Hyundai was on its original bearings at 100k miles.

[rum4mo]

I feel your pain too. I've had to have both front wheel bearing done, about a year apart, at under 38k miles. Pretty rubbish if you ask me as my previous cheapo Hyundai was on its original bearings at 100k miles.

That concerns me a bit, did you has wide wheels on with the wrong off-set? My 2000MY Passat 4Motion with its heavy stuff at the front needed a new front bearing at 60K - so I got both changed, the Polo 2003MY 1.4 16v that my wife has is at 64+K so might need this soon, it does make the odd noise from the front - but its had factory fitted 15 alloys on all its life.

[tag1_uk]

That concerns me a bit, did you has wide wheels on with the wrong off-set? My 2000MY Passat 4Motion with its heavy stuff at the front needed a new front bearing at 60K - so I got both changed, the Polo 2003MY 1.4 16v that my wife has is at 64+K so might need this soon, it does make the odd noise from the front - but its had factory fitted 15 alloys on all its life.

Standard factory fit steelies and driven gently (by me at least and previous owner was an old codger by all accounts). I think the wheel bearings are just widely regarded as yet another of the weak spots on the Fabia and presumably other VAG cars sharing the platform.

[Mr Ree]

Standard factory fit steelies and driven gently (by me at least and previous owner was an old codger by all accounts). I think the wheel bearings are just widely regarded as yet another of the weak spots on the Fabia and presumably other VAG cars sharing the platform.

I'm pretty sure I've got a front bearing gradually going on my Fabia, but in all honesty it's not actually got any worse in 12 months and 15000 miles.

Can't make my mind up which side the humming is coming from so I might get both sides changed before the annual trip to the 'Ring in May.

[colkai]

Well, count me in the same 'expensive' group :(

Put my car (Fabia 1.4MPI) in to Andys VW Centre at St Helens for a replacement nearside front bearing.

Initial quote, 130 plus vat

Hub was seized on the CV - ended up, final cost to replace a bearing, a few pence under £360

- bit of a subtle difference in the end or what!

Worse, they are saying the drivers side is noisy too so that will need replacing, saying "hopefully it won't be as bad" ARGGHH

Expletives abound at the moment, seems this year, everything is falling apart.

[kwacka]

Just had both mine done at 86k miles, nearside was definitely noisy. Had the ball joints renewed at the same time and it'd made such an improvement. Interestingly, the standard 'pull to the left' has all but disappeared, so wondered if the nearside bearing was causing it?

[tag1_uk]

Funny how this thread has been resurrected as I've got another bearing going, I suspect the front driver's one from the direction of the noise. This was replaced less than 2 years/7,000 miles ago. Not a happy chappy at all.

[colkai]

Well I got my car back but it's booekd back in as now the left one is repaired, you can tell the right one is almost as bad as the left was. Assuming of course it wasn't coming from hte right all along. Cars Humpphh.

I suppose the only thing I can draw from this is once it's done, I know both bearings on the front are good. Don't think my bank manager would be comforted by that fact though, especially if the right one is as much a problem as the left was. :(

I long for the days of my old MKI escort, replacing the bearings on that was a total doddle and dirt cheap.