Possible wheel bearing gone....

andyj

There's no F in Quality..
I think I've got a wheel bearing on it's way out, but I'm not sure which!

I get a whoom-whoom-whoom typre noise at about 60-65mph, and slight vibration through the steering wheel.

I thought it might be the wheel balancing, but I can't see any balancing weights that have fallen off or anything.

Might drop it in the local garage and see what they say.
 

andyj

There's no F in Quality..
Just has a bit of a search for 'bearing' in the in the Mk2 Leon section, and it sounds like the noiuse could be coming from the rear-tyres, particularly if they're worn down on the inside edge....

I know they're getting low, not on the indicators yet, so I guess that it could be that.....

Toxic, did ou manage to cure your problem?
 

Viking

Insurance co's are crap.
May 19, 2007
2,317
4
Near Richmond, North Yorks
I had a wheel bearing gone on the rear last year. I could hear it, the wife couldn't, the guy at the local garage couldn't, the kids couldn't, but I knew it was going so I asked him to change it as we were heading off to France on holiday. He admitted it was going when he got it off.

Anyway, the noise was a rumbling sort of sound distinctly from the rear, but I couldn't tell really which side. I thought it was the near side and I was correct. So for your sound and symptoms I think it sounds more like front end, particularly with the steering vibration.
 

markirel

faster on 2-wheels
Apr 7, 2006
169
0
Midlands
Do check the inside edge of your rear tyres though. I would favour this as being the problem over wheel bearings. When the tracking is out the tyres wear like 50p's and the sound through the cabin is just like wheel bearing failure.

PC010017.jpg


On my last Altea GK advised that I go to Derby tyres on Mansfield Road for tracking because they couldn't do it themselves. It was a bit expensive, towards £100 for four wheels sticks in my mind, but didn't half make a difference.
 

andyj

There's no F in Quality..
Right, think I've fixed the problem..... I'd actually pumped the rears up to 39psi (actually recommened 41psi on the filler cap!)

So, I dropped it back to 32psi on the way into work this morning.... seems better, but not had chance to do 60-65mph yet.... fingers crossed!

The virbation was coming through the car rather than through the sterring wheel, so I'm inclined to think it was the rears.... and hopefully just over inflated!
 

Viking

Insurance co's are crap.
May 19, 2007
2,317
4
Near Richmond, North Yorks
I usually run mine up there at the top end of the pressure range. I find I get better miles per gallon that way, and also better tyre life. I can't remember what I have them set at usually but the wifes away in the car at the moment and I topped them up as she had a car full (mother in law, y'know...)
 

andyj

There's no F in Quality..
:no:

Noise/vibration is still there. Spoke to a local VAG Specialist over the phone at lunch (recommend by another SCN'er) and the guy reckon's it the rear tyres, as per the 'normal' problem on this VAG platform!

The rears are down to about 2mm, so going to get some new ones fitted. Options I've got are:

Avon ZV5's - £60ea fully fitted
Avon ZZ3's - £70ea fully fitted - great tyre, had them on my LCR, but a bit OTT for the Altea I think, and 18k/year will eat them I reckon due to them being 'softer' performance tyres
Goodyear F1's - £76 fully fitted - currently got these on the fronts, and they're wearing very well. Only down to about 5mm after ~15k.

Half tempted to go for the Goodyears, as they're what I've got on the fronts. hmmm.... :confused:

Also going to spend the £50 and get the 4-wheel alignment done while I'm there, to save me spend ££ on new tyres in the future !!!

The local VAG guy said that if I'm still getting the noise/vibration after having new tyres, then to pop it in and he'll have a look at it for me :thumbup:
 

andyj

There's no F in Quality..
Booked it in for tomorrow morning, and opted for the Avon ZV5's after readin g a few reviews.

Looks like they're a longer wearing tyre, whilst still having a fairly good level of grip and anti-aquaplaning abilities.

Also gone for 4-wheel laser alignment @ £49.

Will let everyone know how it feels afterwards!
 

andyj

There's no F in Quality..
All done, and sorted for a grand total of £126..... :confused: Not sure how they worked it out ot be that, but I'm not complaining ;)

It should have been £120 for the tyres, and £50 for the alignment, making a total of £170. Less my 5% discount = £162.50

So somehow I've managed to save £40 :thumbup:

And the best bit.... the noise and vibration have stopped! Quiet motoring has returned :D
 

andyj

There's no F in Quality..
Just dragging this one out of the archives ;)

Just fixed this very same issue on my wife's Altea, after recalling having it on my Altea (6-years ago!!!!) ;)

Bought some cheap winter tyres (on steel rims) and fitted them to 'prove' my diagnosis of uneven tyre-wear rather than a wheel-bearing, and I was right.

Going to leave the winters on until Eater probably, then look at getting a new pair of rear tyres, or swap the fronts/rears round.

In the mean-time I'm going to get the rear alignment adjusted back in spec so that the new tyres don't get worn the same way! ;)
 

lovemygti

Active Member
May 23, 2012
51
0
Hi,

Did it sound a bit like a helicopter following you from behind?

I have exactly the same problem, though it is intermittent rather than every time i hit 60-65.

Thanks

Ryan
 
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sahar

Active Member
Dec 3, 2008
20
0
Eastleigh, Hants
This is a common issue with tyres due to the rear suspension type we have on our cars.

It is causing (well, thought to be causing) tyre feathering which makes this rumbling, "wheel bearing gone" type of noise.

After going throu 4 sets of rear tyres (and ~150 k miles) I seem to have found a sweet spot in terms of the tyre pressure so that the problem does not resurface again : max. 30psi empty, max 32 full load.
I know it is under the recommended values but works for me.
 

lovemygti

Active Member
May 23, 2012
51
0
cheers for your help Andy / Sahar. This has been an on off issue with my FR since i bought it two months ago. I thought it was bearings, my indy thought tyres but i didn't want to shell out for new tyres as the current have loads of tread left, just in case it wasn't. I'll try dropping the PSI and see if this helps.

Beautiful - Kudos for you's two's...
 

Rich07

Active Member
Feb 15, 2015
104
0
This is brilliant! I have this exact some noise, have for a while now! Was toying with balancing, coz vibe thru the seat, sometimes it's worse than others, but yes when I get up to about 60mph it's whoom whoom whoom, yes rather like a helecopter lol, was guna check for disc runoff wheel play but now this makes sense, the rear tyres seem to have a lot of meat on them, however they have worn to a camber? But mileage wise they have done 40k + nd still got life.
 

Rich07

Active Member
Feb 15, 2015
104
0
Goodyear efficient grips on rear, excellent wear on rear, shame I have to change em, is there a fix for this type of wear? Or is it just vehicle specific.