Hey folks...

Bought my wife a wee Fabia.

4 days motoring bliss then started droning....

Thought it was exhaust as exhaust was scrappy. Replaced rear and middle sections..drone continued...getting worse.

Replaced front downpipe.

No difference.

Its a constant very loud drone that starts at about 15mph and gets louder as you get faster.

Its making us not want to drive the car. Had big drive last week...drone was so bad after an hour, almost felt like my ears wanted to pop repeatedly.

Doesnt seem to go away even if coasting in neutral.

What on earth could it be?

Don't think its related but eml light is also flashing last week or so...low power, lumpy idle.

Wheel bearing most likely.

 

If you can jack the wheels up and give them a spin and tug you may be able to identify it.

 

Phil

Wheel bearings lol. Mine went a while back it got to the point where it started squeaking, when I took it to the Garage the guy made me walk home because he didn't want me to drive it.

 

The funny thing was I had the tracking done a week or so before and how they never noticed it i'll never know.

Jeepers....could it really be that loud???? I was convinced it was exhaust. Never heard anything like it!

Checking....how much play am I looking for?

I assume I give it a rock side to side and up\down

Are they easily replaced diy? I see them on eBay...look like they are contained in housing that just slides on rather than needing a press etc.

Apologies...I'm more used to big old Land rover which is nice and simple.

I've read that modern wheel bearings are crafty buggars, so you might not spot any play or rough noises by just rotating a wheel. Similarly these modern bearings are very easy to replace - but only if you have invested in some specialist "modern" bearing removal/fitting kit - sorry!

 

If I remember correctly Land Rovers do not have any bearings problems normally - that is unless you just happen to bend an axle, but usually there are too many other noises to hear wheel bearing noises!

Ha yes.. My land rover is too noisy to notice any particular issue.

The bearings look like they are I a hub housing. Do I just need puller to remove then side new ones on? That's what it looks like?

And can they really become this noisy? I never expected that. Thought exhaust was surely shot!!!

Edited 17 March, 201511 yr by DDNI

Ha yes.. My land rover is too noisy to notice any particular issue.

The bearings look like they are I a hub housing. Do I just need puller to remove then side new ones on? That's what it looks like?

And can they really become this noisy? I never expected that. Thought exhaust was surely shot!!!

You'll need a fair old amount of force to press out a wheel bearing from the wheel ...

I know the experience of a Land Rover having more noises to drown out any bearing problems and I haven't ever even owned one!!

JRJG

You can buy the bearings + housing as a unit, they are easy to replace in that fashion, no press needed, just a big socket to get the hub nut off iirc. There are guides...

 

I spent a month or so chasing a repetitive squeak at certain speeds on my Cordoba (same as a Fabia underneath), swapped brake pads/discs, installed hold off clips etc. always thought it was near side. Anyway, turned out to be off side wheel bearing in the end!

Yrs that's what I had thought regards the ones I seen on ebay. £24 quid from local seller so will go with that. Still assume need puller to get it off?

Don't get cheap ones... unless you want to do the job again fairly soon.

 

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=188

 

I can't remember exactly how it comes off as it was a while ago, but you don't need a puller. Undo the hub nut and it just taps off I think.

 

Edit: for clarification the one I did was a rear bearing...

Ha yes.. My land rover is too noisy to notice any particular issue.

The bearings look like they are I a hub housing. Do I just need puller to remove then side new ones on? That's what it looks like?

And can they really become this noisy? I never expected that. Thought exhaust was surely shot!!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Front-Wheel-Bearing-Tools-Remover-72-mm-Audi-A1-A2-Seat-Ibiza-Skoda-Fabia-VW-/281539738831?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item418d137ccf

I used the same kit to do mine,worth every penny imo,i also bought a long 1/2 driver to get the leverage on the puller,it was quite easy but requires driveshafts and brakes to be removed from hub to get access.

Edited 18 March, 201511 yr by pastie

if you don't get one with the bearing, you'll need a nut as they are "single use"  - tenner from main stealer or £2 from flea bay.

 

I've had both of my bearings done (once one goes, the other  won't be long apparently).. first one cost me 2 hours of garage time and parts £120 all in, second cost me around £100.

 

(symptom - one vibrating/droning which went off when going round roundabouts, 2nd one a year later, very noisy in straight lines and bends getting worse and worse till I got it done.).

 

Both different mechanics said they were a bit of a pig to do, but i'm Certain neither had the bearing kit above. 

 

That should give you an idea on prices. If you buy the whole arm, then you won't need to pop the bearing out.

 

Needless to say, the bearings vary in quality too.

 

Hope this gives you an idea of cost.

 

If it was me, and I had the help of someone mechanical, I'd buy the 46 quid kit, and the bearing and nut, and have a go, even if you have to buy the extra sockets, at least you 'll know its been done properly. One more tip.. make sure its the correct one you replace!, you can usually hear them groaning when you jack up and spin the wheel.

Thanks for the info. Ordered the bearing in the hub. Got great selection of sockets and bars so covered there. Have puller kit ordered. Just need to find the lock but remover that's lost somewhere on stoned driveway!!!!

How much did you pay fir the bearing in the hub just out if interest. Was it from the internet or a local motor factors

:-)

In end ordered online. Local factors on my trade acc was 48+ vat. Ordered from eBay seller motorseamus aka APS motor parts. Based in Newry NI but free UK postage. Ordered tons from them for my wife's cars (I only drive Land Rovers due to my job) and never had a part fail. Cost me about 30 quid but better brand than other ebay ones I looked at.