Haven't been on here for a while but my wheel bearing saga might help some one else before they attempt this job.

 

Have had a whining front wheel bearing ( I think ) for some time. After driving the car for some time, I used an infra-red thermometer

to check temperature at both front hubs.Drivers side was 2 degrees warmer than passengers so jacked up car and spun the wheels.

I was convinced there was more noise coming from passenger side so proceeded to do that bearing yesterday.

 Imagine my frustration on going for a test drive to realise the noise was still there!

 

This ever happen to anyone else? Now I am not even sure if it could be coming from the back? Any ideas?

Swap the front tyres to the rear, just to see if it's a tyre feathering or going out of shape. The noise might be a CV joint is check if the noise is better / worse when taking left or right bends.

Best way to check them is to take hold of the road spring and spin the wheel. You will usually feel the grumbling of the bearing through the spring.

Yep quite common you only hear the noisiest one then when you change that you can hear the other side.

Look on the bright side, it might be the differential.

I've had a set of ****ty tires which were making the car sound like all it's bearings were shot. Easy fix..not expensive though either.

Thanks to everyone for the comments and suggestions.

Will check out the tyres first and then maybe change the other front bearing.next Saturday

More Frustration!!  Got working on this car again today - I first swappped the wheels around as somebody here

suggested, took it for a test drive  -  no change.

I then replaced the other front bearing and guess what? - the noise is still there.

I raised the front of the car off the ground and ran the car in a high gear and the noise goes away?

Is it likely to be the gearbox, what should I try next?

Did you check the bearing first by rotating the wheel and holding onto the spring? Could you feel the bearing grumbling?

I assume when changing the bearing you used a puller and not a press?

Did you check the bearing first by rotating the wheel and holding onto the spring? Could you feel the bearing grumbling?

I assume when changing the bearing you used a puller and not a press?

I did try holding the spring and spinning the wheel but could not feel any vibration or grumbling from the bearing.

 

I did not use a puller but took the hub to a near-by reputable machine shop and had the bearing pressed in.

I did not use a puller but took the hub to a near-by reputable machine shop and had the bearing pressed in.

 

If they pressed the bearing in by the hub flange it will be toast.

If they pressed the bearing in by the hub flange it will be toast.

TMB, are you saying the only way these bearings can be done properly is by pulling them in

using the proper tool?

It really does still sound like a bearing whine but could it be anything else?

TMB, are you saying the only way these bearings can be done properly is by pulling them in

using the proper tool?

It really does still sound like a bearing whine but could it be anything else?

You can press them in if you have the correct tooling that allows you to press on the bearing itself and not the hub flange (which puts the force of the press through the bearing). The fact that VW group developed special tooling that was later copied by several after market tool manufacturers high lights the need to do it correctly.

You can press them in if you have the correct tooling that allows you to press on the bearing itself and not the hub flange (which puts the force of the press through the bearing). The fact that VW group developed special tooling that was later copied by several after market tool manufacturers high lights the need to do it correctly.

Mate I'd give up I've seen several wheel bearing issue threads in which you state the correct way of installing the bearing and no one is taking a blind bit of notice! Then complaining of noises still being there.

TMB, are you saying the only way these bearings can be done properly is by pulling them in

using the proper tool?

It really does still sound like a bearing whine but could it be anything else?

 

Yeah, what Tech1e said.

 

You can get the tool cheap(ish) but I'm not sure how good the cheap ones are http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/b-Front-Wheel-Bearing-Tools-72-mm-for-Audi-A1-A2-Seat-Ibiza-Skoda-Fabia-VW-/371492705340?hash=item567eb0d43c:g:nDsAAOSw7FRWUrqQ

Edited 19 January, 201610 yr by TMB

^ That's the same set as I acquired recently, but via Amazon, for about the same price. Don't have anything to try it on just now to see how it fares, but it's certainly not 'lightweight' at about 7Kg for the boxed set.

^ That's the same set as I acquired recently, but via Amazon, for about the same price. Don't have anything to try it on just now to see how it fares, but it's certainly not 'lightweight' at about 7Kg for the boxed set.

 

Cool, I'm thinking of buying one.

I brought one too . Yet to try thou . Looks well made

I brought one too . Yet to try thou . Looks well made

 

 

If I had bought one at the start, I would have saved myself some money.

 

Thanks to everyone who helped me out on this.

 

Hope to tackle it again at the weekend and hopefully get it sorted.

Just an idea, I had this on my dads Fabia, turned out to be the drivers CV joint, replaced and all was quiet! Just a thought if you've tried all other avenues and you're still having noise!  :clap:

Just to get some completion on this topic:

Went at the car again on Saturday, after talking to the guy in the machine shop who 

had pressed in the bearings. He told me he had dozens of those g type bearings and never had any issues.

Having already rotated the wheels, I was now prepared to replace both rear bearings.

Jacked up the car and after spinning both rear wheels by hand, I thought I detected a very slight noise from rear passenger side wheel.

Could feel no vibration from the spring while doing this.

Replaced the bearing, took the car for a test drive and couldnt believe how quiet it had become - the dreadful whine was gone.

On the 3rd attempt, I had had finally got the right wheel.

All I would suggest to anyone doing this job is dont rush in as I probably did!!

Once again thanks for all the suggestions and help.

Well done.

The fourth line of post #8 (with 20:20 hindsight) should have been a giveaway.

Could be a useful diagnostic step for others in future.