My A2 update……and all the bearings, and found the problem.

[datsundrew]

So, my A2 commuter seems to be getting better and better, I’m doing around 250 miles a week from Trowbridge to wales and each week it’s getting better MPG. It is a poverty ‘help me I’m poor’ spec but in lovely condition considering is coming up to 200k!
My hubbies A2 has always been great, and I posted on here a few months ago we got 71mpg in ‘ORC’ the tdi 75, mine on the other hand struggled to get mid 50s. Since being mapped not only is it transformed, but getting better.
Anyhow…..I had noise that I couldn’t pinpoint, and after several motorway runs concluded it was a front wheel bearing, so 2 weeks ago I replaced them both, the off side was definitely a bit rough but not awful, whilst the other was good.
Mondays journey was a lot quieter, but there was still a noise, and a bearing type noise , then on my way home today heavily loaded with wood and tools the noise was far more obvious but its very odd in that at low speed up to 30 I’d put money on it being a front bearing, but after that and up to 70 it’s definitely sounding like it’s a rear bearing, and I’m placing my bet that it’s the rear left!
I’ve now ordered a pair and I’ll keep you posted
I am usually good at identifying wheel bearings, but I’m wondering if aluminium carries sound differently?

 

[depronman]

So, my A2 commuter seems to be getting better and better, I’m doing around 250 miles a week from Trowbridge to wales and each week it’s getting better MPG. It is a poverty ‘help me I’m poor’ spec but in lovely condition considering is coming up to 200k!
My hubbies A2 has always been great, and I posted on here a few months ago we got 71mpg in ‘ORC’ the tdi 75, mine on the other hand struggled to get mid 50s. Since being mapped not only is it transformed, but getting better.
Anyhow…..I had noise that I couldn’t pinpoint, and after several motorway runs concluded it was a front wheel bearing, so 2 weeks ago I replaced them both, the off side was definitely a bit rough but not awful, whilst the other was good.
Mondays journey was a lot quieter, but there was still a noise, and a bearing type noise , then on my way home today heavily loaded with wood and tools the noise was far more obvious but its very odd in that at low speed up to 30 I’d put money on it being a front bearing, but after that and up to 70 it’s definitely sounding like it’s a rear bearing, and I’m placing my bet that it’s the rear left!
I’ve now ordered a pair and I’ll keep you posted
I am usually good at identifying wheel bearings, but I’m wondering if aluminium carries sound differently?

yep aluminium shell makes the noise travel and fools you
I did the same, now always jack it up then axle stands and spin wheels, rears by hand, fronts with 2nd gear with engine ticking over

Paul

 

[datsundrew]

yep aluminium shell makes the noise travel and fools you
I did the same, now always jack it up then axle stands and spin wheels, rears by hand, fronts with 2nd gear with engine ticking over

Paul

Yes, I did the front up trick and in 2nd, and knew then one was noisy, so foolishly I revelled in moment and didn’t bother checking the rear! Lol

 

[depronman]

Yes, I did the front up trick and in 2nd, and knew then one was noisy, so foolishly I revelled in moment and didn’t bother checking the rear! Lol

lol school boy error there

 

[datsundrew]

I forgot to mention that on my fill up last week I achieved 62MPG, which is a big hike considering I wasn’t trying. The whole economy thing gets blown out the water as I’m not an early person, and at 5am the roads are clear

 

[Howey]

Spin the wheel and hold the shock absorber you might just be amazed!

 

[datsundrew]

Ok…..so since my last post on here, the new rear bearings arrived, and fitted even though there seemed nothing wrong with them. Another 800 miles and the noise has got slightly worse, so today I got it over the pit, jacked up and my stethoscope out. Started the engine and put it into 4 gear and immediately heard the familiar noise. Wheel bearings….silent, Diff area…. Awful noise!!
I then went to drain the gearbox box oil ….the 3 dog bone bolts were so tight that one sheered off, and the other 2 were ridiculously tight, with one having a damaged thread

 

[datsundrew]

Once I got the drain plug out, this happened, and there was about 3 litres of it!!
So it seems it’s had a lot of water in it through the selector tower , and its now toast! I’m just wishing I’d checked this when the noise started, but then I suspect the damage was done well before the noise became so obvious.

 

[datsundrew]

a search on eBay, and it looks like I’ve found a low mileage Fabia box.
not really what I wanted to discover, but at least I know what the issue is as it’s been driving me mad. Long distance the noise is really tiring.

 

[Howey]

Great time to go JDD if yours is a TDI75

 

[datsundrew]

So….I got to swap the gearbox this weekend, not all plain sailing as some previous garage had obviously used a rattle gun on the bolts it coupe used on. 2 out of the 3 dog bone mount bolts on the gearbox , the heads snapped off, and then the driveshaft bolts on the gearbox end were so tight I had to use a 3ft bar to crack them, 2 of which rounded off and resulted in having to grind off the heads! Ridiculous..
the new box went on fine, I swapped the output flanges over, and I had to remove a lug from the gearbox mount, and then remove a bit of the aluminium to allow the gear selector ball joints to clear it. It took me a while to figure out why I couldn’t select second gear, as it was hitting the mount slightly and being in the car couldn’t see what was happening under the bonnet. My friend Jim was a star helping me out to get this all done.

 

[datsundrew]

A test drive this morning, and all is well. That annoying bearing droning noise has now gone, and it’s transformed it. The clutch is light ( but with a slight judder?)
1st and 2nd are the same, there’s a noticeable step up to 3rd,
70mph is now 2200rpm, and is definitely more relaxing to drive. Im off to wales tomorrow on my weekly commute, and the first time in 3 weeks in this car as I’ve been using Chad, the dolphin grey tdi, which I have to say has been superb since I fitted new driveshafts.

 

[datsundrew]

More pics….

 

[Howey]

Mega!
Can you show us the modification to allow 2nd gear?
Which clutch kit did you go with? Did you clean the mating surfaces with brake cleaner?

 

[datsundrew]

Mega!
Can you show us the modification to allow 2nd gear?
Which clutch kit did you go with? Did you clean the mating surfaces with brake cleaner?

I’ll get pics up for you at the weekend, I’m away again this week. The clutch was a cheap £50 eBay job, as same as the one I fitted to my other a2 which is perfect, everything was clean before fitting. Will see how it goes over the next week. To be honest after the horrible noise I’ve put up with on it, a bit of clutch judder is fine. Lol

 

[Howey]

I’ll get pics up for you at the weekend, I’m away again this week. The clutch was a cheap £50 eBay job, as same as the one I fitted to my other a2 which is perfect, everything was clean before fitting. Will see how it goes over the next week. To be honest after the horrible noise I’ve put up with on it, a bit of clutch judder is fine. Lol

Might just need to bed in. You sure like your gearbox jobs!
Enjoy Wales!!