Hi!

I've owned my 1999 Skoda Felicia 1.3 mpi for roughly five years, and I finally tried to cut some costs down on maintenance and got a membership to the local shared garage. Problem is, I've realised how scarce information is, and one I'm extremely worried about, is that I've fitted the rear ball bearings too tight / loose. I'ver seen nowhere a torque value given on how tight I should fit the ball bearings on the rear wheels. It's a little urgent, because I need to have car up and running before my new job. Thank you very much!

1 hour ago, Hobbyist said:

Problem is, I've realised how scarce information is

Nothing further from the truth. All you had to do was to search this section of the forum. Moreover, there is another section called Classic Skoda Guides with plenty information.

Now, for your rear bearings problem, here is a video from the aforementioned guides section. Go to 41:40.

 

2 hours ago, Hobbyist said:

Hi!

I've owned my 1999 Skoda Felicia 1.3 mpi for roughly five years, and I finally tried to cut some costs down on maintenance and got a membership to the local shared garage. Problem is, I've realised how scarce information is, and one I'm extremely worried about, is that I've fitted the rear ball bearings too tight / loose. I'ver seen nowhere a torque value given on how tight I should fit the ball bearings on the rear wheels. It's a little urgent, because I need to have car up and running before my new job. Thank you very much!

just nip them up to the point no play is present (a tad bit more if they are new),
if you want you can use the screw driver method 
if you can move the thrust washer by using a flat blade screw driver without levering it on the drum shell then u are ok

Edited 21 April, 20206 yr by Thefeliciahacker

5 hours ago, Thefeliciahacker said:

just nip them up to the point no play is present (a tad bit more if they are new),
if you want you can use the screw driver method 
if you can move the thrust washer by using a flat blade screw driver without levering it on the drum shell then u are ok

 

6 hours ago, RicardoM said:

Nothing further from the truth. All you had to do was to search this section of the forum. Moreover, there is another section called Classic Skoda Guides with plenty information.

Now, for your rear bearings problem, here is a video from the aforementioned guides section. Go to 41:40.

 

 

 

Thank You both very much!

I did try the methods, and the bearing got probably the right tightness, since now I can hear it rumble away while driving. Seems like after giving it it the instructed break job (cleaning the break pads and sanding down the 0,5cm ridge in the ridge), I need to get rid of any leftover metal dust by buying new ones.. Oh the fun of this car and my rapidly emptying wallet! Good thing is, I got the exercise mostly correct on the nth try and now I can spare some cash on new parts.

Just add thicker grease and the roar might go away if not buy new bearings 

3 hours ago, Hobbyist said:

I did try the methods, and the bearing got probably the right tightness, since now I can hear it rumble away while driving.

That is total nonsense.

3 hours ago, Hobbyist said:

cleaning the break pads and sanding down the 0,5cm ridge in the ridge

What are you talking about?? What pads on the rear brakes? And what 5 mm ridge??

3 hours ago, Hobbyist said:

Oh the fun of this car and my rapidly emptying wallet!

It is your lack of knowledge that emptied your pockets. Otherwise Felicia is the cheapest to repair and maintain family car.

3 hours ago, RicardoM said:

That is total nonsense.

 

I used old parts, and I followed the instructions given by the video. But yeah, the car has now a little bit of rumbling. I'm not ruling out lack of experience either, but I think I got the tightness right.

 

3 hours ago, RicardoM said:

What are you talking about?? What pads on the rear brakes? And what 5 mm ridge??

 

So, a little bit of history; the car was bought five years ago, I have never opened the rear brakes myself, always went to a shop to get it fixed. I opened the back brakes with a friend who's a trained car mechanic and who was willing to show me what to do before he had to leave. What we found was that the back brake drums had developed an approx 5mm high ridge where the shoes (I called these erroneously pads, the front breaks have pads) don't come into contact with the drum. It made getting the brakes off hell. In an effort to save money until my first paycheck, I sanded down that ridge (this was what my friend adviced me to do, but to change the brakes once next month immediately) and I think I ****ed up here. I might not have been successful in removing all of the metal dust before installing the ball bearings back and tightnening.

 

 

3 hours ago, RicardoM said:

It is your lack of knowledge that emptied your pockets. Otherwise Felicia is the cheapest to repair and maintain family car.

 

I tried to crack a joke a little bit with the wallet thing, since I'm very close to not being able to pay my rent next month and have less than 200€ to buy essentials. I'm fixing the car to be able to get to my new job.

 

I'll see what I can do, but now I need to leave to work no matter in what state my car is.

I agree with everything, except the 5 mm ridge. There is no way the drum can have such deep wear. Maybe we're talking about 0.5 mm (half a millimeter). I don't see you sanding 5 mm of steel, unless you are 90 by now and a very long beard.