wheel bearing/road noise? easy to replace?

eugenebd

Active Member
May 6, 2009
77
0
colchester
hi ya, how easy is rear wheel bearing replacement on mk4 ibiza tdi 03 reg?
is it a press in job? or not
as i have weird road/drone noise at some speeds but not any wobble when i jack it up and it just passed an mot!
but the drone is driving me nuts so need to fix it
 

vp1701

Guest
check your tyres first before changing any wheel bearings. i had similar problem on 06 ibiza dab and turns out to be dodgy bridgestone tyres - they had worn funny something called feathering causes a noise exactly like a knackered wheel bearing
 
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eugenebd

Active Member
May 6, 2009
77
0
colchester
i changed my wheels as the one on rear corner that was making the noise was buckled and £500 later still the same noise! not a happy bunny. swopped the wheels round still the same
i do get some noise from the disc rubbing but have got new discs and pads to go on.
but no more heat build up than the other side after a run so a bit stuck and was thinking it could only be the bearing
any ideas gratefully recieved
 

DEAN0

Old Git
Feb 1, 2006
5,288
300
Preston - UK
i changed my wheels as the one on rear corner that was making the noise was buckled and £500 later still the same noise! not a happy bunny. swopped the wheels round still the same
i do get some noise from the disc rubbing but have got new discs and pads to go on.
but no more heat build up than the other side after a run so a bit stuck and was thinking it could only be the bearing
any ideas gratefully recieved

Rear wheel bearings are easy to change - they come as a hub/bearing/abs sensor ring assembly.

you will need a 30mm 12 point socket for the hub nut.

If you are lucky - the disc will come off without removing the caliper carrier (caliper needs to come off)

I did mine not long back to solve the same issue - it failed - noise still there.

Have a good close look at the edges of your tyres - are the blocks wearing so that there looks to be a step pattern going around the tyre ?
 

DEAN0

Old Git
Feb 1, 2006
5,288
300
Preston - UK
thanks for that! will have a good look when i do the discs and pads
so you still have the problem?

Unfortunately - YES.

Car went through MOT without issues - even though I asked them to double check the wheel bearings.

Howls like a gud un - worse at around 40 mph - tyres have too much life in them to just junk them
 

rich3001

Active Member
Mar 9, 2009
137
1
What did you have on and what did you change to ?

Are you on 205/45-16 tyres ?

Yeh thats the size. i currently run toyo proxy t1r but was running avon zv3.

Edit: The noise drove me mad before i got a new set of tires so much that i put the car back onto 14'' steelies
 
Last edited:

DEAN0

Old Git
Feb 1, 2006
5,288
300
Preston - UK
Yeh thats the size. i currently run toyo proxy t1r but was running avon zv3.

I have run Uniroyal Rainsports for years and have been really impressed with them.

The last set were Uniroyal Rainsport 2 tyres and they are currently howling.

Looks like a change of brand is required when the next change comes along.
 

rich3001

Active Member
Mar 9, 2009
137
1
I have run Uniroyal Rainsports for years and have been really impressed with them.

The last set were Uniroyal Rainsport 2 tyres and they are currently howling.

Looks like a change of brand is required when the next change comes along.

I hadnt had problems with the avons before and it was my 5th set of them, but the noise drove me mad. So i thought i would have a change. The only problems with the toyo's im running now is ive done about 15k on them and will need a new set soon :whistle:
 
Feb 26, 2009
5,275
1
Wolverhampton
I've still got my noise, it's been through two garages and an MOT and none of them found anything. And mine isn't even an Ibiza, apparently a large proportion of VAG cars suffer from it. I'm just hoping I can afford some new rubber before the noise gets so bad that I run out of stereo volume....
 
Jan 11, 2005
680
0
Barnsley
I have run Uniroyal Rainsports for years and have been really impressed with them.

The last set were Uniroyal Rainsport 2 tyres and they are currently howling.

Looks like a change of brand is required when the next change comes along.

I'm glad you just said that as my cupra with Rainsport 2's is making the same noise. Was looking at replacing bearings but will wait until the tyres are done first. It's a shame really as they are cracking tyres for the money and the Rainsport 1's never had the problem
 

neiltdi

Guest
Im soo glad I found this thread.

Guys, I have the same problem. As soon as I hit 40mph the noise drives me crazy!

I took it to a 4 wheel alignment specialist, who despite correcting my tracking relative to the rear wheels, did nothing for the noise.

The noise started about 3 weeks ago when Seat fitted 'Rainsport 2' tyres to the front two wheels!! However the noise sounds like its coming from the rear and goes quiet when i turn left.

How did you guys get on?
 
Jan 11, 2005
680
0
Barnsley
I'm living with it until the tyres are done. I'll be replacing them before the MOT in september but not sure what to put on. Think the same will be going on again despite the noise.

I had someone take a look at mine just in case the bearings were going and he advised me to carry on using the car until the noise got worse as he couldn't feel any play.

If the volume is changing when turning, I'd get the bearings checked for piece of mind as that to me suggests a bearing is worn. The tyres may just be amplifying the noise
 

DEAN0

Old Git
Feb 1, 2006
5,288
300
Preston - UK
UPDATE - I have just had 4 brand new rainsport 2 tyres fitted ( 205/45 - 16 ) - this time i went with the recommended "W" speed rating rather than the "V" rated tyres everyone says are good enough.

Car is now as quiet as it has ever been.

When we inspected the tyres that came off the rears had a strange wear pattern in them - the inside edge blocks had a step pattern in them.

Mate who fitted them said that uniroyal have had a quality issue on the rainsport 2's and stopped making them for a short while.

The ones fitted are date code 2510 - ie they were made in week 25 of 2010
 

techie

Skoda Techie
Mar 22, 2003
5,438
5
Worcs
Its whats know as saw toothing.

The blocks of tread fold over and wear unevenly creating steps which make noise.
 

rf860

Active Member
Jan 23, 2010
3,575
2
scotland
i get this noise as well, i thought it was a wheel bearing but i am guessing it is now something to do with the tyres, always seems to be at 40 mph. Looking at getting some of those rainsport 2 tyres as apparantly they are good for road noise
 

krussel

Active Member
Oct 31, 2008
1,713
2
Hertforshire
Old thread i know but the past 2 months ive got the same issue. A awful howling between 35-45 mph. After that road noise blocks it out on B roads. It can pulsate at motorway speeds. Flipping driving be nuts !. Ive got Rainsport 2's all round and ive worn the outer edge on the fronts so swapped them to the rear. I will have to check on this sawing thing. i did see a vid on YT where a Mini was doing the same.
Ive been thinking wheel bearing as that how it sounds but its gone through an mot and a full point check at the dealers. Ive jacked up the front and checked for any play. none. I recon it could be the rainsports :-(