Possible wheel bearing?

[Leyton388]

Hi guys

Just wanted to get some advice if I can? Over the past week or two I've been getting what I can only describe as a whiring noise from the from of the car when I'm getting past 40 mph.

At first I was worried it might be the engine, however when I get the car up to speed I've put the car in neutral and let it coast so there are no revs from the engine and the sound is still there but as I slow down the sound becomes less.

I can also feel I slight vibration in the cab. I think it might be a wheel bearing but just wanted to get other people's opinions if I can.

Thanks.

 

[Buxton2901]

I've got the exact same at the moment with my a6 and I'm 95%sure it's a wheel bearing. Mine kind of sounds like a little aeroplane is under the bonnet. Speeds up when I speed up then when coasting down from 50mph to 30mph it's the worst.
Mine is booked in next week as ive only had the car 2months and have a 12 month warranty so fingers crossed it's covered.

Good luck with yours

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[Leyton388]

Thanks for the advice. Sound just like mine. Got mine booked in this saturday.

 

[Buxton2901]

Please let me know how you get on mate

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[AudiLeon]

Jack it up. Spin the wheel whilst holding the spring. You'll be able to feel the slight vibration through the spring on the bad wheel.

 

[Buxton2901]

I jacked mine up at the weekend and span the wheel to feel for wore bearings buy didn't hold the spring at the same time.
Will have to try that
Cheers

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[jakm15]

I had my drivers side front wheel bearing changed at 75K, made a slight noise at first but sounded like a Lancaster bomber after a while. Cost about £100 get it done


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[Leyton388]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Jacked mine up before and span the wheel while holding the spring. Could feel a very small vibration but not sure if it's just the wheel normally spinning causing this.

I've got it booked in with riverside racing on Saturday who'll take a look and if it is a bearing it's £80.00.

Reading other people's descriptions I'm 99% sure that is what it is. Sounds like a jet when I get over 40mph and when I'm costing with the engine idle the sounds still there and like I said am getting vibration. Got to admit is wasn't that noticeable at first but over the past week has got louder.

The cars got 75k on it so it's round about the right mileage for a bearing to go.

 

[Buxton2901]

Yep that's identical to mine mate.
My car only has 62k so mines early i think
Are you going to change both fronts?

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[Leyton388]

Yeah I'm going to get both done. Might as well as the other one is bound to go at some point.

 

[Buxton2901]

I'm going to push for the same although I doubt they'll do both under warranty if only one is showing wear. Just hope the other goes within the next 9 month before the warranty runs out lol

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[Leyton388]

Just picked the car up and it's not a wheel bearing according to Riverside. The noise is coming from the gear box. Was surprised as like I said previously when the car is taken out of gear and costing the noise is still there.

Going to have to take it to a gearbox specialist and see what they say.

 

[rum4mo]

When my 2000 VW Passat 4Motion started making these noises I guessed it was front diff area issues, so I swopped over to my winter tyres/wheels and that changed nothing in my mind that kind of confirmed it as being a transmission issue. Handed it into VW who diagnosed a front wheel bearing so I was so happy that I got them to replace both - noise disappeared!
So, I hope your first garage was wrong, good luck!

 

[Buxton2901]

I honestly hope your garage was wrong as well. I'll be very very upset if my noise is related to the gearbox. I've only had the car 2 months and its only done 62k miles

Please keep us informed.

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[Leyton388]

To be honest I'll be really upset if after only having 76k on the clock the gearbox is on the way out.

What the mechanic said was that he took it on a test drive and the noise was coming from the gearbox.

Having driven the car the sound always sounds like it's coming from the front drivers corner. I have no issue with gear changes, putting the car into gear and there is no slipping.

I am honestly surprised with what he said so like I said am going to have to take it to a gearbox specialist.

If the gearbox is the issue then I imagine it's not going to be cheap. If that's the case I think I'll be finished with Audi as it's the second one I have had as I previously had a A4 B7 and after having the car for only 8 months the turbo blew.

 

[Buxton2901]

What gearbox do you have mate ?

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[Leyton388]

6 speed manual.

 

[Buxton2901]

I have the 8 speed tiptronic
So fingers crossed

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[Lavis89]

I've got the same symptoms, always thought it was the drivers front, took it to a garage and they got a thermal imaging camera and put it on each corner. Rear drivers was significantly warmer than the other 3 corners. Haven't had it replaced yet though.
I also had no noticeable feeling when turning the wheel, just a noise

 

[Buxton2901]

Good to know mate thanks mines going in on Wednesday so fingers crossed it's wheel bearing and gets done under warranty

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[Leyton388]

Had the car looked at this morning by a gearbox specialist who took it on a test drive. According to them there's nothing wrong with the gearbox and they are sure it's a bearing.

Got it booked in with them for next Wednesday as they can't do the work right away.

 

[Ginge247]

Had the car looked at this morning by a gearbox specialist who took it on a test drive. According to them there's nothing wrong with the gearbox and they are sure it's a bearing.

Got it booked in with them for next Wednesday as they can't do the work right away.

I had this, mine wasn't making the usual bad wheel bearing noises so I took it to a box specialist. They couldn't confirm but said highly unlikely to be the box or diff so to change the wheel bearings as it's the cheapest option. Soon as I took the passenger side one off I knew was knackered. Anyway both fronts changed and spot on now so I hope it's the same for you

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[desertstorm]

Wheel bearing drone on my B8, You couldn't feel any movement in the wheel when it was jacked up and made no noises that I could hear when it was spun. If you steered left and right it made no difference to the noise as I have had in the past with wheel bearings. The difference in loading usually causes the noise to change. Changing the OSF bearing resolved the issue. First noticed the noise about a week after I hit a decent size pot hole on the drivers side of the car.

 

[rum4mo]

Well the noise that my one on the front of the B5 Passat 4Motion made was very much like the noise arm trucks make with their rough lugged tyres, sounds like things are going to be okay after the bearings on both sides are changed.

 

[Sematic]

6 months ago i had passenger side front wheel bearing replaced under warranty.

I reported the right one literally a couple of weeks afterwards. Audi had the car for a full day and said it needed new tyres and then they will do 4 wheel alignment at MoT in April.

Swapped all 4 tires (2 needed doing anyway) and then on MoT i was told nobody can do anything about it on a saturday. Noise getting worse.

The noise got worse and worse and the dealership stopped answering their phone.

Went through Audi UK and booked the car in AFTER warranty expired and they confirmed that it was wheel bearing and the worst they had ever seen. I had vibration through the pedals, steering wheel. Poor handling and also the loudest noise when driving.

It was hard to make them understand that it isnt a "good will" gesture to replace free of charge outside of warranty when i reported it in warranty. never the less we got there in the end and it was sorted. I made sure when i collected the car for the technican who worked on it to take me out as that was the same guy who recommended changing all 4 tyres and confirm that im happy with my car before taking it back.

on multiple occasions i stated that i've never known wheel bearings to fail so quickly, 50k on the clock and 3 years old. The responses i got were all different.

"They are made differently these days" - Why would they make them worse? makes no sense.
"The roads have more potholes and humps than many years ago" - Why doesn't every manufacturer have this issue then? Also i avoid potholes for this very reason!!

 

[rum4mo]

Quoted from Sematics posting “They are made differently these days" - Why would they make them worse? makes no sense.”

I’d think that the reason that they have improved them to be made worse will be down to only a few bearings manufacturers nowadays, much cheaper that way, then they will get packaged in proper reliable/trustworthy branded boxes, shame that means that we can only get crap bearings though - but there again you can’t call them crap because that is all there is now?

Edit:- something to do with country of origin, if you can ever find out which country that is.

 

[Sematic]

the same as when i was a kid and i looked at the "made in xxxxx" on the bottom.

 

[Leyton388]

Wheel bearing drone on my B8, You couldn't feel any movement in the wheel when it was jacked up and made no noises that I could hear when it was spun. If you steered left and right it made no difference to the noise as I have had in the past with wheel bearings. The difference in loading usually causes the noise to change. Changing the OSF bearing resolved the issue. First noticed the noise about a week after I hit a decent size pot hole on the drivers side of the car.

Sounds exactly like mine does.

 

[Buxton2901]

Sounds exactly like mine does.

Yep mine the same mate although very slightly higher pitched. Mines in tomorrow so will update on the outcome

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[Buxton2901]

Drop off my a6 this morning.
Got a canny courtesy car too
Manual Petrol s works mini cooper

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[Buxton2901]

So I've just heard back from the garage they said have listened to both front wheel bearings with a stethoscope and picked up some rumbling of the passenger side wheel bearing.
they have also noted that both front wheels are buckled apparently although i have just had 2 screws took out of the drivers side tyre on 2 separate occasions and the tyre fitter didn't notice this and balanced the wheel no problem.
£2100 for 2 new wheels which i kindly declined.

They have said they cant guarantee the noise will go away as might be the buckled wheel causing it lol

I've told them to just fix the wheel bearing under the warranty and i will get in touch with the garage i bought the car from to complain about the wheels being buckled, see how far i get

 

[Leyton388]

£2100 for 2 new wheels?

Are they gold with Diamonds? If you get nowhere just get a set off eBay.

 

[jdp1962]

£2100 for 2 new wheels?

Are they gold with Diamonds? If you get nowhere just get a set off eBay.

Depending on which design it it, OEM Audi wheels retail at around £800 a piece; add in two tyres and you can easily reach - in Audi's world - £2,000.

 

[Buxton2901]

Picked the car up this morning and the noise is gone. Car drives mint.
They have swapped the front wheels to the back even though I wasn't getting any vibration from the buckled wheels.
Think I'll take it to a wheel specialist to see how bad the buckling is and if they need to be replaced or not

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[Daveplyjeep]

Hi.
Audi A4 and A6. Done both. Easy to do. Hardest part is finding someone to press out and press in the stub.

 

[Leyton388]

Had mine done last week and it was the OSF bearing. The sound is now gone and the car drives, feels great and the vibration is also gone so the first garage I took it to was talking out their ****.

 

[Buxton2901]

Good to hear mate. Mine is also sorted although the garage damaged my wheel so it's going back tomorrow for them to refurb it.

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