Noisy wheel bearings

Post by **smashyvan** » 28 Jan 2008, 16:46

Hi, been watching for a while but this my first post.....

Got a 1.9 1988 petrol hitop which has over the last 3 years or so had all its wheel bearings replaced. NSR local garage, OSR VW main dealer, OSF local garage, NSF - me, pretty straight forward really. I also changed the driveshafts & all CV's. Trouble is about 3000 miles later I get this whining noise noticeable from 25 mph coming from rear (I think) which gets louder and higher pitched as speed increases. Its doensnt change with power or brake use. Seem to remember people talking about substandard bearings on the market.... Am scratching my head, is this premature bearing failure or maybe something worse?

Post by **airhead** » 28 Jan 2008, 17:04

GSF's bearings are supposedly a load of crap. Replace them with stock VW ones and all should be well, and make sure not to over-tighten the castle nut on the back.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 28 Jan 2008, 22:05

Might also be insufficient grease in wheelbearing housings at the rear. Its not enough just to apply grease to bearings, the whole housing should be packed with it.

Post by **andysimpson** » 28 Jan 2008, 22:06

geniune rear outer bearings are obsolete

Post by **smashyvan** » 25 Feb 2008, 12:34

Update - just had both rears replaced - am positive the NSR at least was only 40000 miles old. GSF suspected by garage but no options as outers are obsolete. Now got Vetech bearings in (rebranded GSF's). Watch this space....!

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 25 Feb 2008, 17:37

re:- castle nut on the back, has anyone ever managed to overtighten that nut

360 ft lb

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 27 Feb 2008, 18:09

Yeah no prob - one light tug - snap. Mind you I've got arms like tractors

- just kiddng.

Post by **smashyvan** » 02 Jun 2008, 16:41

hmm - after having replaced all bearings a few hundred miles ago (see below - £120 ish labour per rear.....) - I now have another very dodgy bearing like noise coming from the OSR. I was forced to use GSF as was told by garage 'they are the only manufacturer to supply rears' - is this really the case?
Is there a convenient alternative - or will I be forced to take the old rears to a bearing merchant to get an alternative vis SKF FAG etc, does anyone have part no's?

Post by **syncroandy** » 02 Jun 2008, 17:39

Brickwerks has the rear bearing and seal kit, w. SKF bearings.

Post by **Syncro G** » 02 Jun 2008, 23:08

smashyvan wrote:hmm - after having replaced all bearings a few hundred miles ago (see below - £120 ish labour per rear.....) - I now have another very dodgy bearing like noise coming from the OSR. I was forced to use GSF as was told by garage 'they are the only manufacturer to supply rears' - is this really the case?
Is there a convenient alternative - or will I be forced to take the old rears to a bearing merchant to get an alternative vis SKF FAG etc, does anyone have part no's?

Given the dates on this thread it sounds like you've just found out the lifespan of a GSF bearing. Thats about what mine managed, less than 2500miles.

What came out looked like this...

[IMG:640:480]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e224/ ... 9Small.jpg[/img]

[IMG:640:480]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e224/ ... 5Small.jpg[/img]

[IMG:640:480]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e224/ ... 8Small.jpg[/img]

I could show you the video of how much play there was in that wheel but it'll probubly scare you, certainly did me! (see for yourself, jack the wheels up, a small bit of play is fine, if the top of the wheels movement can be measured in inches (yes really!) its not good! Remember to take the handbrake off).

Got a Brickwerks set in now, nice and silent again, hopefully it'll stay like that.

Have a word with the garage that fitted them, if they surplied them they might be willing to return them or fit something else. The fact the bearings aren't fit for use shouldn't be hard to prove - park it outside and tell them to jack it up and see for themselfs. I got mine changed for free but I bought the replacement bearings myself brickwerks as I didn't see the point in another set from GSF even if they would have cost nowt.