During a trip to Germany last week, my 1999 Octavia developed a whining noise which appeared to come from the left hand rear wheel. The noise got progressively worse during the journey and was loudest at around 80 - 90 km/h. It was more audible with the windows closed.

I took the car to a Skoda garage in Augsburg and they replaced the left rear wheel bearing and hub. After driving 300 km on the new hub, the noise was, if anything, worse so I returned the car for further testing. I was then told that the rear shock absorbers were worn and that this had caused "sawtooth" wear on the tyre treads (the edge of the tyre was worn more than the centre) which was responsbile for the whining noise. Inspecting the tyre revealed a visible step between the inner tread blocks and the centre ones on both left and right rear tyres. Slewing the car from left to right during road testing caused the noise to come and go, as did driving over bumps on the road.

Does anyone have a view on whether shock failure is likely to be the root of the problem? The car has a mileage of only 75,000 miles. The German garage suggested that shocks can need replacing as early as 120,000 km.

Tyre wear can be effect by a great many things, such as...

Tyre pressure

Loading

Driving style

Alignment

Dampers? Not so sure.

However Firestone tyres tend to knock out the outer blocks of tread whatever you do..lol

The car has a mileage of only 75,000 miles. The German garage suggested that shocks can need replacing as early as 120,000 km.

75,000 miles is 120,000kms exactly.

It's not surprising, the shocks in my Omega MV6 stopped working at about that mileage, but they din't do anything to the tyres. I don't see how they connect.

75' date='000 miles is 120,000kms exactly.

It's not surprising, the shocks in my Omega MV6 stopped working at about that mileage, but they din't do anything to the tyres. I don't see how they connect.[/quote']

Have a look at this site which suggests how worn shocks can cause uneven "cupped" tyre wear http://www.goodyear.co.uk/services/guides/maintaining.html

Okay that's new information....thanks

Mines doing this aswell. Inside ege of the rear tyres have feathered with uneven block wear (Toyo Proxes). I also notice that the inside edge of the tyre is much warmer than the outside edge which suggests something aint quite right.

Mines doing this aswell. Inside ege of the rear tyres have feathered with uneven block wear (Toyo Proxes). I also notice that the inside edge of the tyre is much warmer than the outside edge which suggests something aint quite right.

I found this post which describes similar rear tyre wear and suggests the cause might be misalignment of the rear wheels.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31178&highlight=whining

I found this post which describes similar rear tyre wear and suggests the cause might be misalignment of the rear wheels.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31178&highlight=whining

I had my shock absorbers checked by a Skoda service centre at the weekend and they are fine. The rear tyres were in very poor shape so I had them replaced.

Does anyone know where I can get my rear wheel alignment checked? Preferably in the East Hertforshire / Essex area.