I have a Seat Ibiza 130TDi Sport. ( Same as Fabia VRS running gear)

There is what I can only describe as bearing rumble / drone when driving the car.

The sound changes with speed and is worse at around 30/40mph.

The sound does NOT change when you corner ( so i can't tell if it's left or right )

The sound also seems to float from front to rear depending on the speed of the car.

Slow speeds (up to around 40 ) sounds like it's from the back

40 to 50 sounds like all round

50+ sounds like it's from the front.

I have serviced all 4 brake calipers to make sure it's not a binding brake.

I have the handbrake hold off springs fitted.

I have tried swapping wheels front to rear (Std size 205/45-16 Uniroyal rainsport tyres) - no change.

Car suspension is not modified except for Cupra front wishbone bushes.

Anyone else had similar and what was the problem ?

Anyone any further ideas ?

Don't really fancy shelling out for 4 new wheel bearings + fitting on the front ones only to find out it wasn't the bearings.

Cheers Dean

A friend of mine was suffering the exact same problem on his Seat Toledo - he was suspecting a wheel bearing as well but turns out it was the wheel alignment! Do you have even tyre wear on your Ibizia?

I'm pretty sure this is a common fault mentioned on seatcupra.net, anyway thought it was worth mentioning but hope you get it sorted.

I have a Seat Ibiza 130TDi Sport. ( Same as Fabia VRS running gear)

There is what I can only describe as bearing rumble / drone when driving the car.

The sound changes with speed and is worse at around 30/40mph.

The sound does NOT change when you corner ( so i can't tell if it's left or right )

The sound also seems to float from front to rear depending on the speed of the car.

Slow speeds (up to around 40 ) sounds like it's from the back

40 to 50 sounds like all round

50+ sounds like it's from the front.

I have serviced all 4 brake calipers to make sure it's not a binding brake.

I have the handbrake hold off springs fitted.

I have tried swapping wheels front to rear (Std size 205/45-16 Uniroyal rainsport tyres) - no change.

Car suspension is not modified except for Cupra front wishbone bushes.

Anyone else had similar and what was the problem ?

Anyone any further ideas ?

Don't really fancy shelling out for 4 new wheel bearings + fitting on the front ones only to find out it wasn't the bearings.

Cheers Dean

have you tried getting the wheels up in the air and rotating them quickly and listening to the sound they make by putting your ear up against it?

Edited 19 April, 201016 yr by newskoda

A friend of mine was suffering the exact same problem on his Seat Toledo - he was suspecting a wheel bearing as well but turns out it was the wheel alignment! Do you have even tyre wear on your Ibizia?

I'm pretty sure this is a common fault mentioned on seatcupra.net, anyway thought it was worth mentioning but hope you get it sorted.

Had alignment checked and set about a month ago to see if anything was out.

All they managed to do was get the steering wheel to be a bit straighter when going straight.

Tyres seem to be wearing pretty even.

have you tried getting the wheels up in the air and rotating them quickly and listening to the sound they make by putting your ear up against it?

Not tried listening to them but have tried measuring the temp of them after a run with an IR thermometer.

Nothing felt warmer than normal.

If I get chance - I will jack up the car and try having a listen to the bearings.

Update - Have had the car up on all 4 corners and spun the wheels by hand.

No noticable rumble sound or any other unusual sound - bearings feel smooth and there is no play that can be felt when rocking the wheel.

Have decided to bite the bullet - have ordered a pair of rear wheel bearings.

Will get them fitted this afternoon and see if there is any difference in the sound levels inside the car.

Update - Have had the car up on all 4 corners and spun the wheels by hand.

No noticable rumble sound or any other unusual sound - bearings feel smooth and there is no play that can be felt when rocking the wheel.

Have decided to bite the bullet - have ordered a pair of rear wheel bearings.

Will get them fitted this afternoon and see if there is any difference in the sound levels inside the car.

I hope you sort it.Good luck

Update 2

The good news - One pair of nice new rear wheel bearings fitted and car back in one peice - nice easy job with the correct tools.

The bad news - After a 15 minute test drive - The bearings have made absolutely no difference to the sound I can hear.

Back to the drawing board.

Further Udate -

Done so far :

Serviced all 4 brake calipers to make sure it's not a binding brake.

Handbrake hold off springs fitted.

Swapped wheels front to rear (Std size 205/45-16 Uniroyal rainsport tyres) - no change.

Cupra front wishbone bushes fitted.

New lower outer ball joints fitted.

New track rod ends fitted.

New track rods fitted.

Car feels like a new car now - no clunks or rattles - so a success on that front.

But the drone is still present and anoying.

Next experiment is to try a wheel swap with a mate for an hour or so to see if that solves it.

Further Udate -

Done so far :

Serviced all 4 brake calipers to make sure it's not a binding brake.

Handbrake hold off springs fitted.

Swapped wheels front to rear (Std size 205/45-16 Uniroyal rainsport tyres) - no change.

Cupra front wishbone bushes fitted.

New lower outer ball joints fitted.

New track rod ends fitted.

New track rods fitted.

Car feels like a new car now - no clunks or rattles - so a success on that front.

But the drone is still present and anoying.

Next experiment is to try a wheel swap with a mate for an hour or so to see if that solves it.

As you have changed everything at the rear that could possibly cause the noise, I can only think that the front wheel bearings are at fault. You did originally say it the drone was coming from the front. The nearside bearing is usually the first one to wear as it it under more stress due to drainholes, clipping kerbs and other imperffections that lurk near the kerbside.

Lifting the wheel and tuning it will not normally show up any wear, the drone only happens when there is a load on the bearing.

One other thought, you don't have lowered suspesnion that is causing rubbing in the arches etc. do you?

Edited 25 April, 201016 yr by Soot1e

What tyres are you running?

I have found that tyres with a symmetrical "V groove" pattern ie Toyo T1R,Vredestein Sportrac 3 to be very noisy,producing a rumbling noise that I thought was wheel bearings.

For the past 13 months I've had Michelin PE2s fitted and the rumbling noise has gone.

The tyres, yes they could rumble, perhaps he has tractor tyres fitted.

What tyres are you running?

I have found that tyres with a symmetrical "V groove" pattern ie Toyo T1R,Vredestein Sportrac 3 to be very noisy,producing a rumbling noise that I thought was wheel bearings.

For the past 13 months I've had Michelin PE2s fitted and the rumbling noise has gone.

I'm running Uniroyal Rainsport 2 tyres - I ran rainsport 1 tyres before that - always have run rainsports without problems.

Had the car for over 5 years so I know the normal tyre noise it has/had.

This sounds like bearing drone but the sound seems to swap ends and does not get louder with speed like bearing drone.

Exhaust??

Mines does this too!

An interesting thread - I've got the same problem. The car has a typical bearing-like noise from the front off-side. Both front bearings are less than 2 years/10,000 miles old as they've already failed previously . It'd be particularly annoying if one has gone again already. It was at the garage last week (where it had new discs/pads all round) and they could find no fault with the wheel bearings - no play/noise etc. I'm somewhat left with a noisy car for no apparent reason. The tyres (Dunlop SP2000) are in good condition and there are no signs of uneven wear, tyre problems or tracking problems. Any suggestions would be gratefully received. I've seen complete wheel hub assemblies for around £50 on fleabay, I wondered about just having a go and replacing this anyway, is this easy enough to do oneself - I presume if you get a complete hub you don't need to worry about pressing the bearings in and out and so on?

My guess is flat spots on the rear tyres! I had it with mine the noise filled the car and i wasnt sure where it was coming from, got them changed and all is silent. My other half's Vrs is doing the same and the back tyres have fairly visible flat spots! Worth a try. Is there anybody near you that would maybe lend you some wheels? at least you would know for sure before spending more cash!? :yes:

Edited 25 April, 201016 yr by Gaz_vrs

My guess is flat spots on the rear tyres! I had it with mine the noise filled the car and i wasnt sure where it was coming from, got them changed and all is silent. My other half's Vrs is doing the same and the back tyres have fairly visible flat spots! Worth a try. Is there anybody near you that would maybe lend you some wheels? at least you would know for sure before spending more cash!? :yes:

Cheers for all the suggestions.

No the car is not lowered - The only mod is the cupra wishbone bushes.

The noise is quite odd - up to 30 it sounds like it's from the rear - 30 to 40 ish it sounds all around - 40 + it seems to be from the front.

Keeping a constant speed and turning left or right slightly does not change the sound so I can't tell which side it is.

Had the car in to the place I take it for it's MOT. He came out in the car and heard the noise - then put car on ramps for a check.

Nothing that he saw or felt would fail the MOT or cause him concern enough for an advisory.

Exhaust and heat shields are all mounted as they should be and not touching anything they shouldn't.

My next experiment will be swapping all 4 wheels/tyres with a workmate who has a polo sometime in the week to see if there is any change.

Can't see any flatspots on the tyres but I guess it wouldn't take much to cause tyre howl.

The good news as already stated is that the car feels like new again. For that alone the £110 for 2 track rod ends, 2 track rods and 2 lower ball joints was well worth it.

The brake service cost very little in parts (£4 for two brake springs) but has given them a new lease of life.

Edited 26 April, 201016 yr by DEAN0

I've seen complete wheel hub assemblies for around £50 on fleabay, I wondered about just having a go and replacing this anyway, is this easy enough to do oneself - I presume if you get a complete hub you don't need to worry about pressing the bearings in and out and so on?

If it is complete ( hub/bearings/wheel flange ) then yes it would be quite easy to change.

Just make sure it isn't the wheel flange/bearing/abs sensor ring assembly or you still need to press it in.

Hate to break this too you, but i had almost the exact same problem had both front wheel bearing replaced under warranty still didn't fix it. Eventually took it to a VAG specialist and they have since told me its a gearbox... lots of money later its fixed, hope its not the same thing for you but thought it might be worth mentioning!

don't think it is gearbox..

i built my estate vrs and i change everything over except for rear suspension and vrs wheels.

the car was ok but last weekend i changed rear suspension to proper vrs one and i put vrs alloys on and since then my head wants to blow off due to this noise.

this is definitely not front bearings and gearbox. it may be rear bearings or low profile tyres... i have 1 pair of wheels with V shaped thread and 1 pair with standard...

i am gonna put standard fabia alloys to check that and will keep you posted about results...

i changed wheels over to standard 15" fabia alloys and the noise is gone!

i had the car serviced today and mechanic pointed that the tyres on the back are worn uneven.

nothing to do with bad tracking. it is like somebody (previous owner) was using handbrake too often at high speeds

so there are more bald areas on the tyre and this is causing the noise...

bearings were checked and they are fine (anyway it is ok with different wheels)

i changed wheels over to standard 15" fabia alloys and the noise is gone!

i had the car serviced today and mechanic pointed that the tyres on the back are worn uneven.

nothing to do with bad tracking. it is like somebody (previous owner) was using handbrake too often at high speeds

so there are more bald areas on the tyre and this is causing the noise...

bearings were checked and they are fine (anyway it is ok with different wheels)

Best news I have heard yet - cheers

I am trying a mates wheels and tyres at the weekend so heres hoping for the same result

i changed wheels over to standard 15" fabia alloys and the noise is gone!

i had the car serviced today and mechanic pointed that the tyres on the back are worn uneven.

nothing to do with bad tracking. it is like somebody (previous owner) was using handbrake too often at high speeds

so there are more bald areas on the tyre and this is causing the noise...

bearings were checked and they are fine (anyway it is ok with different wheels)

Interesting possibility. I had a problem with corroded brake discs so I used to [gently] apply the handbrake whilst driving at the start of each journey to try and clean the rear discs off so perhaps this might explain my problems. I'll have a look over the tyres to see if there are obvious signs of uneven wear.

sorry i couldn't expalain in detail what i meant so i cheated a little bit about this using handbrake...

what i meant is that on the outer piece of tread there are small bits which are worn uneven on my tyres.

you can clearly see the difference between tread height on that bits on the picture.

sometimes it is the whole piece at different height but sometimes it is one end of this piece higher that the other end...

so the problem is that they are not same height between each other and when wheel is rotating you get that noise...

the other thing may be heatshield of the exhaust being loose or not mounted properly...

then when you driving the exhaust may be tearing or hitting the shield causing noise as well...

also check if the rear suspension springs are sitting in properly. the color dots on one spring should face dots on the other spring

sometimes they move slightly out of the 'goblet' causing noise similar to putting can of WD-40 in metal bucket and keeping it that way in the boot while driving

Edited 28 April, 201016 yr by dj_max