Front left wheel bearing gone after one year

T

technoman52

New Member
Hi all,
I had my front left wheel bearing replaced with as brand new genuine Audi/vw bearing one year ago. About 10 thousand miles done, the bearing started causing whinning sound and needs replacement.

My question is what could have gone wrong that a genuine vwaudi front left bearing is worn out after 10,000 miles ( that was relaced just about a year ago) .
Could there be a problem with the wheel?
Please advise.

Thanks.
 
technoman52 said:
Hi all,
I had my front left wheel bearing replaced with as brand new genuine Audi/vw bearing one year ago. About 10 thousand miles done, the bearing started causing whinning sound and needs replacement.

My question is what could have gone wrong that a genuine vwaudi front left bearing is worn out after 10,000 miles ( that was relaced just about a year ago) .
Could there be a problem with the wheel?
Please advise.

Thanks.
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Shouldn’t have had if fitted correctly. When you say genuine VAG/AUDI, what was the source? Pretty sure Audi sourced WB from third party companies and never made them themselves?

When dad had his 1.4tdi back in 99 he said he was going through WB every 20k/30k but the subsequent quality of OEM supplier WB then improved. Pretty sure in later years we’ve always used FAG bearings which are excellent quality
 
Hi, there are a few ideas that have been said on here before. Having done all my own bearings on the A2 it seems simple.

However

1) the front bearings need to be pressed in to a click point and no more. So perhaps they were not pressed in to the precise point.
2) possible it was a "bad" bearing to start with
3) some say (@Howey ?) That you should pump them with grease prior to fitting, some say they come pre greased.
4) may have been pressed in not straight
5) the hub knuckle inner circumference may be damaged/warped making it sit not straight.

Otherwise I can see a reason really, they are big chunky bearings and a simple design.

Either or, it will be easier to see what happened with it removed.
 
technoman52 said:
what could have gone wrong
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Who changed the bearing, and how?

The front wheel bearings must be changed with a dedicated tool that a vast majority of garages do not own. The standard method employed by most garages for most models of car - a hydraulic press - should not be used as this can (and does!) damage the bearings upon installation.

Cheers,

Tom
 
The bearings are sealed so I do not know of a way to realistically add grease and certainly never have done myself, only ever added grease to taper bearings but these are not fitted to an A2.

Other than incorrect fitting as already mentioned, poor driving style like banging the car up curbs, driving thru water/ford's and big wheels/low profile tyres are the usual contributing factors
 
Howey said:
The bearings are sealed so I do not know of a way to realistically add grease and certainly never have done myself, only ever added grease to taper bearings but these are not fitted to an A2.

Other than incorrect fitting as already mentioned, poor driving style like banging the car up curbs, driving thru water/ford's and big wheels/low profile tyres are the usual contributing factors
Click to expand...
Or mercyless hammering on the discs to get them off could also be stressig.
 
Joga said:
Or mercyless hammering on the discs to get them off could also be stressig.
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The disc would have to removed to replace the bearing so to be honest I don't think the disc would be a factor with a recently replaced bearing as if excessive force was needed the discs would be replaced and fitted to a brand new bearing.
 
Lowering the car to torque the hub can split the bearings. They pull back up but the seals are shot and water gets in.
I know that is a problem on Golfs. May apply to A2.
 
Little Dog said:
Lowering the car to torque the hub can split the bearings. They pull back up but the seals are shot and water gets in.
I know that is a problem on Golfs. May apply to A2.
Click to expand...
I dont think it applies to A2 since they have Gen2 bearings in the front. But I recognise this risk with older cars e.g. Audi 100 C3.
 
Early on in A2 ownership had a bearing replaced by a local garage.
Gave them the whole hub and a replacement SKF bearing to make it as easy as possible as they had previously done am earlier Polo one for me.
Got it back with a damaged retaining ring. Took it back explaining the issue, they apologised and offered to replace it blaming an apprentice.
Under a year later it failed, turns out they didn't use the proper tool just a press on the bearing centre which damaged the bearing surfaces.
Bought my own Gen 2 tool and have done 4 since with no problems. It is really straight forward if you just follow the method.
 
Tardis said:
Early on in A2 ownership had a bearing replaced by a local garage.
Gave them the whole hub and a replacement SKF bearing to make it as easy as possible as they had previously done am earlier Polo one for me.
Got it back with a damaged retaining ring. Took it back explaining the issue, they apologised and offered to replace it blaming an apprentice.
Under a year later it failed, turns out they didn't use the proper tool just a press on the bearing centre which damaged the bearing surfaces.
Bought my own Gen 2 tool and have done 4 since with no problems. It is really straight forward if you just follow the method.
Click to expand...
I think the correct tool can be used in a press.
 
There is certainly a press specific tool for this. They did not have it at the time when Gen 2 hub failures were still quite a new thing.
You could certainly configure the most popular style tool for use in a press but it is so simple to use on the car that I find it easier with the hub still located by the strut.
Whichever method suits your own preference.

The Polo hub bearing they had previously replaced for me was for a 6N with the separate large plain bearing and retaining circlip that welds itself into the hub.
The Gen 2 bearing they fitted as a replacement had no identifiable number.
 
Back to the original question - driving through deep floodwater can and does prompt failure, presumably due to washing out the grease. I’ve had it happen to me a couple of times.
 
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