Oh Deah - strange wheel noises!!!

[geeza]

Hi All,

I was driving around yesterday and out of nowhere i started hearing some rubbing noises from front off side wheel, very quite noises that sped up when i accelerated...

then i took a right hand turn (at about 50 k per hour) and felt a not so good wheel vibration and more louder noises - question is - do you think its the wheel bearing or hub etc?

the car is a 93 MK1 Convertible - the suspension is well knackered and i'm thinking's the bumps and crashes have sped up the bearings demise....

Also any idea of cost of replacement??

My girlfriend is not happy!!!

any insight is much appreciated!!

Gary

[Peter Jones]

Jack it up and try giving the wheel a shake. That'll soon give you an idea.

Check wheel nuts and the axle nut too.

Wheel bearings are about $50-$60 or so plus labour to dismantle the hub and press in a new bearing.

Process is here.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f13/how-replace-front-wheel-bearings-41402.html

The hubs can fail as well, usually in conjunction with the wheel bearing.

CV joints can make some weird noises too.

[geeza]

Jack it up and try giving the wheel a shake. That'll soon give you an idea.

Check wheel nuts and the axle nut too.

Wheel bearings are about $50-$60 or so plus labour to dismantle the hub and press in a new bearing.

Process is here.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f13/how-replace-front-wheel-bearings-41402.html

The hubs can fail as well, usually in conjunction with the wheel bearing.

CV joints can make some weird noises too.

thats a great start so much apreciated, i did think about the CV joints but it really sounded mechancial / metal and there were some wierd metal creaking noises as well.

so you tihnk about $250 ish should cover it? or would that be extra for a hub if that has failed as well ?

[Jarred]

get your head under the car, and check the CV boot to see it it's split or not, that might give you some indication if it's a CV.

My money would be on the wheel bearings though, as Pete mentioned!

[Peter Jones]

I'd imagine so but best to get some quotes. I do all my own work am I'm not too familiar with commercial rates for this sort of stuff.

Pete

[geeza]

I'd imagine so but best to get some quotes. I do all my own work am I'm not too familiar with commercial rates for this sort of stuff.

Pete

no worries i spoke to a couple of places and it seems around 300 inc about - you mentioned 50 -60 bucks for the wheel bearing but someone said it was more like 130ish - any idea where i could go for the lower price?

i'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible as i'm moving flats - DOH!!!

[geeza]

quick update - i've got the car booked in tomorrow to see if its the wheel bearing, (williamstown road yarraville) yesterday i noticed some new scratches on the front off side brake caliper - definitely new and obviously the cause of this scraping noise, it also seems to have shaved a mm or 2 off the inside of the alloy wheel

So do you think this means the wheel bear HAS gone and caused the wheel to move a couple of mm?

or does it mean some thing else has failed....thought would be appreciated!

[geeza]

quick update

got the car checked out by the guy's on Williamstown road, confirmed it was the wheel bearing - got it fixed and did a complete service (plugs, filters, oil etc)

and now the car drives AMAZING!! steering is really "tight" and direct, suspension is really smooth now and have loads of power i never knew i had! Missus says i'm driving like a hoon now

Highly recommend those guy and cheap to boot