My wife's '55 plate Octavia 4x4 TDI estate has developed a horrendous metallic banging/clattering noise from the rear of the car when going over 20mph and especially over any bumps. It is easily audible externally, I could hear my wife coming from round the corner of the road.

Originally I thought it was the exhaust but found out tonight it is the cover/guard behind the brake disc on the driver side rear wheel.....it's loose and banging around. I assume this is a stone guard for the brake disc?

I have 3 questions:

1. Firstly and most importantly is it safe for my wife to drive with our baby and 5 yr old in it every day until we get it to the garage??

2. How much is a replacement and how hard is it to replace?

3. Any ideas how this could have happened?

Thanks,

Dan

I wouldn't be too concerned about the car's safety - I would have thought the worse that's likely to happen is that the backplate falls off, but even that's fairly unlikely unless it's very badly corroded.

That probably answers your third question - I would guess at corrosion of the area where it's bolted to the hub assembly.

Cost-wise - maybe £15 or so for the backplate and perhaps an hour to fit?

Note that I'm not an Octavia expert but based on experience of other vehicles the above seem to be a fair bet.

regards

P.

I wouldn't be too concerned about the car's safety - I would have thought the worse that's likely to happen is that the backplate falls off, but even that's fairly unlikely unless it's very badly corroded.

That probably answers your third question - I would guess at corrosion of the area where it's bolted to the hub assembly.

Cost-wise - maybe £15 or so for the backplate and perhaps an hour to fit?

Note that I'm not an Octavia expert but based on experience of other vehicles the above seem to be a fair bet.

regards

P.

I don't know how the octy's bolted together but i'd be fairly sure this is a hub off job to replace.

Temporary fix -- nip to B&Q and buy a pair of £1.99 tin snips, out in the car park turn the wheel full lock in the opposide direction. Use the tin snips to cut it off (saves it flying off and slicing a rubber flexi hose for the brake fluid to escape and the car to brake to one side. You could be really cheeky and take the £1.99 tin snips back in for a refund afterwards...

My only concern leaving it on would be chaffing the brake hose.