A rear one that is. It's that time of year when garages are shut, and I need to drive well over 400 miles between Xmas and New Year.

Apart from the irritating droning noise at 60/70mph, any other issues driving on a grumbling rear wheel bearing? Wheel's not going to fall off is it? I doubt it will hit fuel economy significantly. I just think I will have to have the radio up loud to drown out the drone.

A rear one that is. It's that time of year when garages are shut, and I need to drive well over 400 miles between Xmas and New Year.Apart from the irritating droning noise at 60/70mph, any other issues driving on a grumbling rear wheel bearing? Wheel's not going to fall off is it? I doubt it will hit fuel economy significantly. I just think I will have to have the radio up loud to drown out the drone.

It'll be fine, ran a van for 2000 miles like it, just whack the radio up

The bearing can overeheat, and yes they can collapse.     But what is the worst that can happen.

 Best have Recovery cover or a list of handy Briskoda Members phone numbers.

 

As to Toxicvrs and car reliability and advice on ignoring things,

what is the worst that can happen.

I had a rear wheel bearing fail spectacularly whilst driving on the M62. When the RAC patrolman came to rescue me he said it was lucky the wheel hadn't come off. When jacked up you could easily move the wheel from side to side - well scary.

Just in the off chance that the worst should happen, can you please post your route and timings so that members on here can avoid the potential of being held up by a broken down car.

Or the emergency services attending an RTC.:-D

Devon to Leicester 28th December

Leicester to Tamworth to Devon 30th December.

The bearing can overeheat, and yes they can collapse. But what is the worst that can happen.

Best have Recovery cover or a list of handy Briskoda Members phone numbers.

As to Toxicvrs and car reliability and advice on ignoring things,

what is the worst that can happen.

Actually quite right, ignore my advice.

I did 5000 miles in my Audi with a whine from the rear wheel bearing, the reason being everybody thought it was the rear diff. I am sure it will be fine, after all you are still using it to commute to/from work.

Of course its a potential danger and bad things can and do happen.

Most wheel bearings are actually two bearing back to back and most likely only one is grumbling.  The danger is when one gets so hot it melts the grease out the one now doing all the work.

But more likely it will hold up. Driving with circumspection may be a good idea though.

Hopefully, it will still be one piece come next week.

Bon Chance!

It'll be fine, ran a van for 2000 miles like it, just whack the radio up

Something here tells me you're talking bo110cks. You ran a van for 2000 miles? Do you think we're green or what?

Something here tells me you're talking bo110cks. You ran a van for 2000 miles? Do you think we're green or what?

Yes my dads works van, :P

Might be worth jacking up the noisy corner & checking for any serious play in the bearing.....just to put your mind at rest,if there is no play then you should be ok. 

Will likely do that in the morning before work just to check.  Only just stuck different wheels on the back (only) and I don't recall there being any play - not that I gave it any serious stick.

It could be ok.

But then again it could collapse or it could seize up causing the wheel to lock up.

No body can say for sure but I would check for play first.

 

And although some garages are shut there are still plenty of Indy's that are open and would welcome the work.  

Jack it up, check for play and if it doesn't feel rough when the wheel is rotated (not spun), then it's good enough for a MOT pass.

Well, for some assurance for a good while I have thought the droning was poor tyres on the back.  It was still there on the trip to the Ring which I put down to the Federal RS-R tyres, so thought nothing of it.  Now I am testing out these bugger narrow Nexen Eco tyres, the noise is now still there which it really shouldn't be if it was tyres alone.

Disks or drums on the back? If it's drums it normally means a taper bearing on VAGs so you might be able to nip it up a bit.

Worst case is driving down the motorway and your back wheel suddenly ****s off by itself.

Edited 23 December, 201411 yr by StevesTruck

Have the 256mm rear disc upgrade on mine.  Was disc as standard though.

Worst case is driving down the motorway and your back wheel suddenly ****s off by itself.

Oh right... No biggie then... O.o haha.

If its annular contact bearings, it can sometime be difficult to detect wear because of the preload, even at quite gross levels, so it may be a bit of a waste of time.

Have you mentioned how long you have had this moaning and groaning?  Presumably if it started some time ago or you would have dealt with it, knowing your situation over the festive period. 

A bit of restraint regarding speed and load, not optimum, but you should be fine. 

 

Leicester being my old home town, is now a majority non white city.  This may mean there are non christians working.  Although in my experience the various communities all seem to enjoy any excuse to have a bit of fun.

At least if the worst happens there are quite a few really good ethnic, mainly from the sub continent, restauraunts.  Melton Rd, Narbourough Rd and some posher ones on the London Rd, up from the station.  Amongst other places.

Just make sure you have recovery...  I had one go on the M6 and apart from a squeaky bum moment as the back end wobbled it was ok, other than being stuck on the M6 with no coat in the freezing cold

I'll be staying in Kibworth to be honest.  Unlikely to venture into Leicester.  Market Harborough is my nearest big place.

 

Already tapping up some family for recommendations.  I'll be doing 40 miles tomorrow just to see how it is.  I am not overly concerned right now.

 

i do have recovery with my bank should the worst happen.

i do have recovery with my bank should the worst happen.

 

Flex Plus??

i do have recovery with my bank should the worst happen.

Will they recover the wheel when it makes its own way down the motorway?

Sorry. :p.

Luckily the wheel stays connected been there, tried that