Are we talking front or rear of car here? I'm not sure you specified? I followed other's in thinking it was front bearing/hub/whatever.

Again, I see that ABS ring in the mk1 parts diagram (for rear), but not the mk2?

16 minutes ago, Wino said:

Are we talking front or rear of car here? I'm not sure you specified? I followed other's in thinking it was front bearing/hub/whatever.

Again, I see that ABS ring in the mk1 parts diagram (for rear), but not the mk2?

 

Both. The rear was replaced this week because of a fault with the ABS ring (https://www.autodoc.co.uk/vemo/12867912) and the front next week because "O/S/F wheel bearing rough - new required for MOT".

Still dont think your car has such a ring front or rear.  The rings are magnetic, integrated into the bearing/hub.

Try and retain the old hub, I would like to know for the future if the bearing can be removed, TBH its hard to imagine a construction where it cannot.

 

I totally get that Skoda and most of the aftermarket sellers sell the complete assembly but would like to know if there is anything actually preventing bearing removal and replacement.

I'll see what I can do @J.R.

stuart I'd a front hub replaced last year and it cost nothing like £250... I'm sure my local garage took around £100 or slightly less 

1 hour ago, labman1001 said:

stuart I'd a front hub replaced last year and it cost nothing like £250... I'm sure my local garage took around £100 or slightly less 

 

£100 covers the labour. Just. A cynical person might say they're exploiting the fact I need it to pass an MoT next week.

Stuart my garage charged me 1/2 hours or thereabouts for the labour plus the cost of the part .... Admittedly I've been using them for almost 35 years now so I might get a slightly better deal  but either way £250 is a rip off never mind £100 in labour as its at most an hours work  ... Is it a main dealer you're using 

4 hours ago, labman1001 said:

Stuart my garage charged me 1/2 hours or thereabouts for the labour plus the cost of the part .... Admittedly I've been using them for almost 35 years now so I might get a slightly better deal  but either way £250 is a rip off never mind £100 in labour as its at most an hours work  ... Is it a main dealer you're using 

 

No, it's a small independent that specialises in VAG cars.

5 hours ago, labman1001 said:

£100 in labour as its at most an hours work.

 

Which is about the hourly rate at a main dealer. 

13 minutes ago, Tech1e said:

 

Which is about the hourly rate at a main dealer. 

 

It's not a main dealer.

Hi you want to find out exactly what you are paying for I had a wheel bearing changed last year and they recommended changing the drop links at the same time so you need to make sure you are not comparing apples to oranges. 

42 minutes ago, seriesdriver said:

Hi you want to find out exactly what you are paying for I had a wheel bearing changed last year and they recommended changing the drop links at the same time so you need to make sure you are not comparing apples to oranges. 

 

I'm not. The drop link (singular) is an extra £60 on top of the £250 bringing the work on that corner (OSF) to £310.

Edited 23 June, 20196 yr by StuartA

I have just fished my bill out from last year,  on my 2009 Octavia front wheel bearing, the wheel bearing was £85.10 plus vat, 2 drop links £21.20 each plus vat.

 

the labour was £155 plus vat but that covered a full service including diesel filter and check of brakes suspension etc etc as well as the bearing and drop link change.

Edited 23 June, 20196 yr by seriesdriver
spelling

12 minutes ago, seriesdriver said:

I have just fished my bill out from last year,  on my 2009 Octavia front wheel bearing, the wheel bearing was £85.10 plus vat, 2 drop links £21.20 each plus vat.

 

the labour was £155 plus vat but that covered a full service including diesel filter and check of brakes suspension etc etc as well as the bearing and drop link change.

 

Thanks. That's both interesting and depressing. I make your total costs for those jobs £339 (inc VAT). Using my prices for last years major service and drop link plus this year's work, my total is £735.

 

It gets worse. I also need new rear shock absorbers for which I have been quoted £111 for the parts and £99 labour (total £210).

I have put my bill away already but you need to add on the cost of the oil and the various filters so the total cost was higher than you have come to.

5 minutes ago, seriesdriver said:

I have put my bill away already but you need to add on the cost of the oil and the various filters so the total cost was higher than you have come to.

 

Probably not £400 more though 😉

It was about £470 all in, if I were you I would be looking in to finding another garage it does seem you are paying a high price for your work currently.

4 minutes ago, seriesdriver said:

It was about £470 all in, if I were you I would be looking in to finding another garage it does seem you are paying a high price for your work currently.

 

I concur 👍

Thanks to everyone for their helpful comments in this thread. In the end, it appears there was nothing wrong with the bearing at all. I decided to take it to another MoT station and get it tested there. It passed.

Result! 🙂

Either there was nothing wrong with it or they didn't spot it..lol

It looked a pretty thorough inspection to me! Also, the bearing wasn't making any noise...

Its possible that a, MOT may not pick up a failing wheel bearing that has not got any play or is not making any noise especially on the driven wheels because they cant spin them up fast enough to feel any vibration if there is any.

 

If the OP has not heard or felt any rumbling then its just the garage trying to make an easy £250 by saying the bearing will fail the MOT, cough up and sure enough the other one will be gone the next year, "we always recommend replacing them in pairs sir"

 

Alucky escape and time to find another garage or start DIY'ing.

Couldn't agree more @J.R. 👍