Odd wheel bearing question

[werd_103]

hi guys.
now here's the story. i replaced the wheel bearing on my VR6 a while ago but haven't had it on the road since so i didn't hear the strange noise coming from it. its the first wheel bearing ive done and now that i think about it i dont think i greased one side of the bearing now i wouldn't have driven it but it was the only car that was home and i had to get to my grand final.
So my Q is do you think it might be ok if i take the bearing out and regrease it after 60km of driving? Worth a try?

[h100vw]

hi guys.
now here's the story. i replaced the wheel bearing on my VR6 a while ago but haven't had it on the road since so i didn't hear the strange noise coming from it. its the first wheel bearing ive done and now that i think about it i dont think i greased one side of the bearing now i wouldn't have driven it but it was the only car that was home and i had to get to my grand final.
So my Q is do you think it might be ok if i take the bearing out and regrease it after 60km of driving? Worth a try?

Rear bearing I would expect to be damaged by that drive. Jack that corner up, spin the wheel and have a listen.

Gavin

[werd_103]

its the front left which is the one i replaced and it is defs making some noise. but would greasing it up help with that? if not having enough grease is what caused the problem/noise?

[h100vw]

its the front left which is the one i replaced and it is defs making some noise. but would greasing it up help with that? if not having enough grease is what caused the problem/noise?

Front bearings are sealed so not sure if we are talking about the same thing here????

Gavin

[Stanton]

???????????
Sealed bearing front ones are.
Pressed into the hub.
What did you use the grease on ?

[werd_103]

oh ok, didn't know it was a sealed bearing :/ new wheel bearing it is then.

[h100vw]

Lift that corner and spin the wheel anyway. If you drove it with the hub nut slack it might have damaged it. I wouldn't leap straight in with another one without investigating properly.

gavin

[werd_103]

so your thinkin tightening it up a little might help?

[h100vw]

so your thinkin tightening it up a little might help?

I am saying don't assume the bearing is toast without investigating it. So definitely spin the wheel and check the nut is tight before pulling it apart again for fun.

Gavin

[werd_103]

ok so. the bearing is pretty noisy but also very tight. i tried tightening it a little bit more, didn't help. now im loosening it little by little because it kinda sounds like it too tight.

[werd_103]

also could it be the new disks and pads i put on? the pads i got are from, i think, the newer VR6 and are exactly the same just a couple mm thicker?

[h100vw]

also could it be the new disks and pads i put on? the pads i got are from, i think, the newer VR6 and are exactly the same just a couple mm thicker?

A very possible maybe. Go and drive it some more and use the brakes a bit.

[gldgti]

werd_103 - the front wheel bearings don't really have a correct tension in the sense of a normal tapered roller bearing setup (since they arent tapered roller bearings!!! - they are a duel race sealed ball bearing), and its highly unlikely you could have done them up too tight - the proper torque is something like 200Nm IIRC, but i've never gone wrong putting a 1m bar on it and using almost my full weight to do it up.

It is very important with these kinds of bearings to make sure that the bearing is never subject to any significant loads until its tightened right up. Normally, I would do it up as tight as possible with a breaker bar and someone with their foot on the brakes while the wheel is still off (car on jack stands), then do it up properly once the car has been lowered back to the ground (usually takes less than 1/2 turn).

[veggiemight91]

Odd wheel bearing question

also could it be the new disks and pads i put on? the pads i got are from, i think, the newer VR6 and are exactly the same just a couple mm thicker?

Possibly new breaks that have not been fully "bedded in"? To do this, go for a 10min lap around the block breaking heavily but not locking up (or ABS kicking in), until you experience a very noticeable reduction in brake effectiveness, be careful not to go too crazy because you don't want to glaze the rotors. Let them cool down and the noise should be gone, or reduced.

The wheel bearing is sealed like mentioned before and should be good for ~100,000km, that isn't the likely cause.

[werd_103]

well this is a bit worrying.
MK3 Golf VR6 Bad wheel bearing - YouTube
^^^ my car
ill also make sure she's all the way tight