Wheel bearings

[Padster72]

I have a hunch my wheel bearings are on the way out. There is a noise present when driving, which as the speed increases becomes slightly louder and gradually more high-pitched. Does my self-diagnosis sound reasonable? How much is it likely to set me back to get it rectified?

Its a 3.2 GSI by the way.

[EURO G]

sounds like wheel bearing mate for a pattern part your looking about £100 give or take alot more expensive from vaux

[cookie]

I got mine to do as well Padster, is yours the rear? Ive seen a few of them on ebay ranging from £69.00 to £91.00.

[Padster72]

Think its the rear, not sure which side though. Gonna try and narrow it down today.

[cookie]

Drop the back seats down and take it for a drive you will know for sure then.

[Nigel Ash]

Before you go rushing in diagnosing a wheel bearing...

Wheel bearings don't go high pitched with increase in speed, They rumble louder with increase in speed, and usually its a very deep rumble. I would like to bet your problem is tyres. I had exactly the same problem as you and blamed a wheel bearing, taking the car to two different garages who both said the bearings are fine, the tyres are faulty. On inspection the tyres were old but not illegal and looked fine. I took the mechanics advice though and replaced all the tyres. Noise went away, job done.

One thing I notice about car forums, and its the same over on the Westfield Sportscar Club forum that I frequent a lot, is that readers delve in too deep far too quickly, rather than ruling out the simple stuff first. I used to be guilty of this too but have learned to back off. You'll be amazed how many Westfield owners have done complete engine strip down and rebuilds for a simple misfire, when a set of plugs would have done the job just fine

[Stevie-B]

Well said Niigel. I suspect my problem is a bearing as the noise is a loud droning and the staering wheel vibrates slightly.

******....

[cookie]

Yep mine drones as well stevie-B, its seems to be coming from the OSR. Is your's front or back bearing as you mentioned vibration on the steering wheel?

[Stevie-B]

Sorry Cookie, I always add a comment and then ****** off for a few days.... mine seems like the front end. Hard to tell. Going to jack her up and see if there's any play.

Although my tyres are also on the way out so I may need to replace as well......... MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!!

[cookie]

Well I jacked the back end up yesterday, had both wheels and calipers off and when spinning the hub, it makes a lot of noise, OSR is louder than NSR. I surpose there should be no noise at all should there?