I've got a 2.0 tdi 4x4 and guess what. I've just had the offside front wheel bearing replaced at exactly 30,000 miles. I first noticed a noise nearly a year ago, but it was indistinct and difficult to pin point and could have been tyres. My Skoda specialist listened and said he couldn't be sure either, but he then said  "If its the wheel bearing then the noise will develop" ...which is common sense when you think about it. It did develop..which made it a lot easier to identify the wheel......."Nearside bearing" I announced with confidence as I delivered the car.......it was the offside...

 

The bearing is in a hub assembly and I was charged £88 +vat for the part and £65 + vat for fitting. Whilst it is a bolt on assembly you do have to pull the driveshaft  and disconnect the strut to get at the bolts, so its only a driveway job if you are prepared.

 

I had four new Bridgestones fitted just over a year ago and it has taken the outer edges off the rear ones in spite of being four wheel aligned. The fronts are wearing evenly which makes bearing failure less easy to justiy. The only other car we have owned that got through front wheel bearings faster was an early Montego 1.6 (I know, I know). Rover sorted that problem by altering the geometry slightly.

 

My opinion..... This isn't good enough.  Its a design fault as I have heard of quite a few front bearing failures at low miles.

Edited 26 October, 20187 yr by alfalincs
Adding an S to make bearing in bearings

To check a wheel bearing jack the car wheel in question off the ground. Place one hand on the coil spring at half way position. Then turn the wheel with the other hand. If the wheel bearing is fine, you should feel no vibration on the spring, which amplifies any roughness.

 

Repeat on the other side to compare. Usually very obvious if wheel bearing in failing.

After months of the car howling like a jet once I hit about 80kph and rumbling and grinding noise going slow around certain bends on the road. Thought it must be a bearing but no it was the cheap chinese tyres I replace with four continentals  and the noise was gone. So quiet after half a year of hell

On 26/10/2018 at 20:53, xman said:

To check a wheel bearing jack the car wheel in question off the ground. Place one hand on the coil spring at half way position. Then turn the wheel with the other hand. If the wheel bearing is fine, you should feel no vibration on the spring, which amplifies any roughness.

 

Repeat on the other side to compare. Usually very obvious if wheel bearing in failing.

^ this is how our company mechanics checks bearings in case of doubt, too.

My Octy have 99200km after 4 years- and at the moment have suspicion on front/left bearing. And warranty ends after 1 month.

Any idea which bearings are from factory? FAG, like it was for Fabia or some another brand?

Skoda source parts from many suppliers so could even be different supplier depending on the week it was built. Probably the cheapest supplier at the time.

 

I would recommend FAG bearings.

5 minutes ago, xman said:

Skoda source parts from many suppliers so could even be different supplier depending on the week it was built. Probably the cheapest supplier at the time.

 

I would recommend FAG bearings.

Yes, FAG is my No.1 choice for bearings, too.

BTW, on Fabia Mk1 OE front bearings (FAG) lasted 177k...220k km- but those were Gen2 bearings.

I've had my front wheels tracked twice in the past year and still there's a bit of excess wear on the inside edge of the nearside tyre. I'm beginning to suspect a suspension fault as different noises are beginning to manifest themselves but frustratingly the mechanic cannot find any fault with the car. Indeed it passed its MOT at 190k miles a few weeks ago with two advisories, both for brake pads.

On 22/04/2021 at 13:48, indars said:

^ this is how our company mechanics checks bearings in case of doubt, too.

My Octy have 99200km after 4 years- and at the moment have suspicion on front/left bearing. And warranty ends after 1 month.

Any idea which bearings are from factory? FAG, like it was for Fabia or some another brand?

Bearing just changed under warranty. Local dealer advised that "this is new design/different ID" :-D Let's see...

Both front bearings were changed on mine too. It was done under warranty on around 110000 km, but I think they failed at around 90000…