Oh no , not another front wheel bearing fail

[peteRS]

My Octy vRS 05 reg only has 46k on it and it sounds like the wheel bearing on the front is on its way out, this will be the third knackered one in my ownership from new . I have been trying to convince myself it is tyre noise as the tyres are cold and outside temps are low causing more tyre roar, do I need a reality check and just face up to the fact it really is toast . I must say I have had the wheels up off the ground and both fronts when spun don't sound bad..................

[vrsmark]

if you put your hands on the top and bottom of the wheel (while jacked up!) and give it a good shake back and forth it will reveal whether the wheel bearing has failed by having play,assuming all the ball joints are sound! it may not feel rough when you just spin the wheel as the bearing has little weight on it!

[mbames]

I have 208k on my front bearings.... are you buying ones made of cheese?!

[Frisco]

How are they being fitted? Properly or using a hammer?

[nitrovrs]

Wheel bearings will fail very quickly if incorrectly fitted. My vrs and 4x4 are 120k miles plus on original bearings.

[mannyo]

My Audi is still on its original 12 year old bearings, 182K miles and going strong. When replacing use OEM parts rather than some cheap brand from a motor factors, and most of all they must be fitted correctly and run true otherwise they will fail quickly.

[KenONeill]

At 111k mine still has the original OSF; the NSF started singing about a year ago, I suspect due to too much splashing through deep puddles (unable to avoid them all here; happily very few pedestrians) washing the grease out.

[dieselV6]

Use VW parts to fix, and most importantly change workshop as this one is no good, at least when it comes to fitting bearings.

With the right press, the job can be done on the car, I had mine replaced in under 20 minutes from handing keys over to collection, but the bearing failed because the wheel hit kerb in a skid. Never had a wheel bearing fail on 3 cars/300k+ miles in the last 12 years.

[Frisco]

I wouldn't be stuck on VW parts only since VW wont have made them, any of the tier one manufacturers like Timken, NTN, FAG etc will be fine.

[dieselV6]

Yes, but unlike other items that you can replace more easily if they go wrong, wheel bearing is a pain as it takes a specialised press to replace correctly. That's why I'd go VW Group dealer supplied only, though fitting is likely to be better done at an independent.

For other things I used Febi in the past, very good quality. Meyle I am not happy with after getting a leaky fuel filter (distorted housing).

[Frisco]

My point is that if you buy a VAG bearing it will most likely be an SKF bearing in a VAG box with VAG tax added for the privilege of buying it in a dealer.

[dieselV6]

True, but if you buy it outside dealership you may not get the quality you want. I used to buy at GSF often, but e.g. suspension bushes there were plastic while dealer had metal ones.

If you know the exact supplier to VW, by all means, go for it. But if not sure, I'd get it from the dealer (and pay through the nose). Especially if it's 3rd bearing to be replaced.

Anyway, hopefully it is just sawtooth wear especially as it is vRS. Changing wheels front/rear should help determine, if the sound moves, tyres are the reason.

[Liverpool-Lad]

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item5d38afdabe

These are OEM, cheaper than a dealer too I guess.

Edited 15 February, 2013 by Liverpool-Lad

[demonufo]

Personally, if the bearings have already failed three times, I'd just fit a new OEM hub and be done with it. No point fitting yet another bearing to a hub that could well be cream crackered.

[Frisco]

Fair point

[STSKODA]

you can buy a GENUINE bearing for £35 delivered to your door from David at Sere Motors N Ireland, why you would go oem at that price is beyond me

[Liverpool-Lad]

you can buy a GENUINE bearing for £35 delivered to your door from David at Sere Motors N Ireland, why you would go oem at that price is beyond me

do you know if thats just the bearing or the nuts, circlip, grease...?

[peteRS]

The first set of bearings were replaced under warranty at my local Skoda dealer so hopefully they were fitted with a press not a hammer at around 15k , the next one NSF was changed at 37k by a moblie guy I trust and and have used for about 12yrs, it's the OSF that is suspect now . I have had a look today and cannot detect any noticable play getting hold of the wheel at 12 and 6 o clock and rocking the wheel , took the wheel off and found I can move the disc in relation to the hub due to the securing screw being a little loose and will not tighten as I think the countersunk boss on the screw has been worn , maybe been chattering , but the wheel will hold the disc tight anyway. also checked the rear wheel bearing OSR for play and nothing detected ........... dieselv6 may have a point , maybe I should swap the wheel front to back and see if the noise moves, I did have the wheels powder coated a few months ago but surely that would not cause anything ?

[peteRS]

Just put my spare wheel on and run it for today , noise still there so looks like a quality bearing will have to be fitted

[peteRS]

Just an update , the wheel bearing has been replaced and now all is quiet, just so surprised that the bearing was knackered in about 30k miles, no big potholes drove in or kerbs struck , the mechanic asked me if I had possibly driven through floodwater , no to that as well

[Jonneh]

My NSF bearing lasted nearly 100k. Just depends on how they've been treated. Mine had done a full 4000 mile trip across Europe and a few top speed runs on ze autobahn (well, quite a few) so id say they've lasted well!

[dubDEAN]

think i need one :( not happy as got an fag one from gsf 12 months since supposed oe quality hmmm made of toffee

[fordfan]

think i need one :( not happy as got an fag one from gsf 12 months since supposed oe quality hmmm made of toffee

You would have got two years warranty on a VW bearing.

[dubDEAN]

yep dude thats where i'll be getting replacement straight from the stealers

[Frisco]

Two years warranty on paper until they claim it was incorrectly fitted