One of my rear wheel bearings has started droning so looking at replacement options. It's probably the original one which is now 15 years/170k miles old so a pretty good innings.

 

Can anyone recommend a good brand and supplier? It looks like it should be DIYable, I already have the 30mm socket to undo the hub nut from doing the same job on my old Clio.

 

I've looked on Euro Car Parts, they have SKF at £63.69 and an unknown brand for a bit cheaper. GSF list two options but don't list the brands. The 'premium' one is £47.04 with the current discount code. There is a 'standard' one as well which is about £33. There are also Meyle ones from vwspares.co.uk/eBay at about £38.

SKF are fine, but I tend to fit FAG, never have any dramas with them. Some of the cheaper aftermarket ones I have found the new hub nut strips before proper torque is met. Specifically Drivetec, however the bearings seem ok in them. 

Stick with a decent brand, SKF, FAG etc and avoid the cheap end of the market.

No opinions on Meyle then?

 

GSF got back to me - their 'premium' part will be a FAG or SKF so I'll probably order tomorrow as they usually have a 50%+ discount code on Wednesdays.

 

Are they easy enough to fit once the caliper/disc is off?

 

Cheers

Here you go

rear bearing.pdf

I replace both of mine for a pair off eBay that have been in over a year and no issues and they come with a two year warranty.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-OCTAVIA-RAPID-ROOMSTER-REAR-WHEEL-BEARING-KIT-PAIR-x2-NUT-1999-on-NEW-/151221692389?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda|Model%3AOctavia&epid=1688446962&hash=item233583e7e5:g:3-0AAOSwNRdX6UK-

 

To replace them you will need 13mm spanner for brake calliper bolts, 16mm short socket or dog leg spanner for calliper carrier, Phillips screwdriver for disc securing screw, a small chisel to remove the dust cap, 30mm twelve sided socket for hub nut, you can knock off the hub with a hammer but I've got a three legged puller which makes life easier. It usually leaves the inner race on the stub but you can use the small chisel to knock it off slightly to use the puller or knock it all the way off. To refit just start the new bearing on the stub and with a socket on the race of the bearing tap it on.

Ended up ordering SKF from CarParts4Less - £54 ish. I'll keep an eye out for discounts so I can do the other side as well. Didn't fancy chancing it with a cheap one.

 

I did a similar job on the Clio (bearing was already fitted to the new rear discs on that) without a bearing puller so fingers crossed it'll be OK.

 

I found that the 30mm socket I already had was a six sided one so I bought a 12 sided one from B&Q - only about £1.60 odd!

I had an early start on it this morning. All going well until I tried to undo the carrier bolts. I put plusgas on them and used a breaker bar but they're not budging. Don't want to use too much force in case I mash the bolts. Will probably need an impact driver to undo them. I suspect they were over-tightened by the garage that replace the brakes last year! The disc retaining screw was quite mangled too but luckily I managed to undo that OK.

A good 6 point socket and 600mm + breaker bar should get them off easy enough. 

I managed to undo one of them on a second attempt. The other one was stuck so tight the socket slipped. Frustrating!

 

Got the car booked in to a local garage now and also ordered some replacement bolts.

All fixed!

 

A few notes in case anyone searches and stumbles on this thread in the future:

The disc comes off without removing the carrier (just remove the retaining screw)

It may be worth getting new retaining screw(s) in case they have been mangled by primates that may have previously worked on your car. However the disc retaining screws are not necessary - they just make it easier to line the wheel bolts up through the disc.

The bolts for the carrier are M10x30mm and a fine thread (not standard thread!)

The bolts holding the caliper on need a 13mm socket and 15mm open ended spanner to undo.

2 hours ago, vrsTom said:

All fixed!

 

A few notes in case anyone searches and stumbles on this thread in the future:

The disc comes off without removing the carrier (just remove the retaining screw)

It may be worth getting new retaining screw(s) in case they have been mangled by primates that may have previously worked on your car. However the disc retaining screws are not necessary - they just make it easier to line the wheel bolts up through the disc.

The bolts for the carrier are M10x30mm and a fine thread (not standard thread!)

The bolts holding the caliper on need a 13mm socket and 15mm open ended spanner to undo.

 

Glad you got there. 

 

Just to add to this Tom, in the absence of screw to hold disc in place, a couple of lengths of M14 threaded rod are very handy to loosely screw into the hub assembly with the disc lined up appropriately,  then can be used to guide on the wheel,  pop in bolts where you don't have the rod, unscrew when ready and put the last two bolts in.   This is soooo much quicker than the ball ache that is wobbling around a heavy rim trying to line holes up especially if your disc is wobbling around.   Particularly so for front wheels when you don't have a handbrake to apply to aid holding everything in place!