This week I noticed a rolling noise when driving over 35 mph and decided to lift the car to inspect the wheels. One of the rear wheels had a lot of play in its vertical axis, so much that at first I thought that the nuts where loose. I suspected the wheel bearing so I took it to the local Skoda garage (my warranty expires in two days!). They confirmed the problem with the bearing and (fortunately) told me that it will be covered. They also advised not to drive the car until replacing the bearing tomorrow.

Now, I've done about 15k miles since I bought it (new) two years ago. I don't know if this is normal wear but my previous car (a Polo) did over 70k miles before developing such a problem. Any thoughts?

3 hours ago, eyegr said:

This week I noticed a rolling noise when driving over 35 mph and decided to lift the car to inspect the wheels. One of the rear wheels had a lot of play in its vertical axis, so much that at first I thought that the nuts where loose. I suspected the wheel bearing so I took it to the local Skoda garage (my warranty expires in two days!). They confirmed the problem with the bearing and (fortunately) told me that it will be covered. They also advised not to drive the car until replacing the bearing tomorrow.

Now, I've done about 15k miles since I bought it (new) two years ago. I don't know if this is normal wear but my previous car (a Polo) did over 70k miles before developing such a problem. Any thoughts?

 

Doesn't sound normal to me at 15k miles.

Does not sound normal.  Do you also have the option of taking out extended warranty - that could be an idea ?

 

Are you on mainland Greece or Island ?

7 hours ago, RickTT said:

Does not sound normal.  Do you also have the option of taking out extended warranty - that could be an idea ?

 

Are you on mainland Greece or Island ?

I'm not sure, I will ask tomorrow. Seems like I will need it

 

I live in the island of Crete.

I'd say just a bad bearing.

The rear ones I've seen that have failed like yours (with play in the vertical axis) occurred early in their life.

I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

 

You have been unlucky...  Check small print - Is that issue covered by extended warranty?

My daughter's late 2009 Ibiza 1.4 16V SE SC has had what I can only describe as a "missing ball" in one of the rear bearings, I only noticed that when I started looking after that car and checking the rear brakes, so far 3 or so years on, apart from a cyclic noise - which I'm thinking is that bearing, the bearing still feels to be intact.

 

So, maybe Skoda made a bad job of specifying that bearing design/supplier way back in the late "2000's" ?

Good news, everyone! They replaced the bearing under warranty and everything went back to normal - the noise disappeared.

I also took a glance at the old bearing, two balls were missing, although they could have been removed by the mechanic.

Hum, interesting, when I rotate the rear wheel with that suspect bearing, at a certain point, I can hear what sounds like, ball bearings dropping down to fill an empty space, which could be a space were more than one ball bearing is missing!