Possible Wheel Bearings Going

[webhype]

Was on the m1 today, and as i changed lanes slowly right (just pulling right on the wheel) i got a deep long vibration and it kept repeating, probably lasting 1-2 seconds each vibration as my wheel was pulled to the right.

Came off at next junction and dropped it in at local garage they took it for a spin a few times and said it sounds like a possible wheel bearing going either on front drivers or passengers wheel... wasnt bad enough for them to tell for sure.

Told me £175 for replacing each side, they would replace the left first (coz it only happens when turning right) then if needed, replace the right.

It only happens @ 60-70mph, crnt notice anything at slower speeds so thats why they say it POSSIBLY starting to go.

Rang local seat dealer and there gunna take a look tomorrow, asked about if it should be warranty? he told me "mmm well...mmmmmm, we will have to drive it first"...

So, anything i should look out for? should this be warranty? if not, then would you get it done at dealer or does £175 per wheel sound OK for the local garage?

Cars done 11,000 miles and is 14months old.

 

[doll]

If it's an FR i'd get your tyres checked for uneven wear first....I think we have all suffered with the phantom wheel bearing noise problem.

If you do have uneven wear, you will need a geometry check and adjustment...and a new set of tyres to cure the noise of course.

Not discounting wheel bearing of course....but they will be able to tell if it's wheel bearings when they get it up in the air.

HTH.

 

[webhype]

Its a Cupra.

and yeah the wheels are worn a bit on the inside due to my tracking was out for a month or so.

I had it tracked (full 4 wheel alignment) done today and thats when i noticed it to be honest, straight after it was all 4 wheel aligned. so thats when i took it back to the local garage (forgot to say that in the first post sorry)

So if the wheels are all running true, would you still maybe suggest its the tyres?

Again its only when doing 60-70+ and turning right.. :S

 

[Stealthdave]

the rumbling sound we get from uneven tyres happens all the time..

 

[doll]

I would still point towards tyres....swap the fronts to the back and see if the noise either follows or disappears. It would be really unusual for a bearing to fail that early and given that you just had the geometry put right, your tyres will be running differently.

 

[webhype]

Hmmmmm... OK, gunna get 2 new tyres ordered now (need them anyway coz just looked and there pretty much on the line in the middle and the edges are slightly worn (so i suppose that would fit into uneven tyre wear)

Again would this rumbling noise happen JUST at 60-70 and turning the wheel right?

 

[bqd]

regarding warranty, wheel bearings are covered under warranty here fyi...

 

[Bedlam]

I think there are several questions I would be asking myself here

1. Have they used the correct settings and Seat Model for my adjustment (search the
forum too for this)

2. Has the alignment been adjusted correctly and everything torqued up correctly

3. Is the wheel bearing reason an excuse to cover up negative answers to 1 & 2 above

4. Is it just a wheel out of balance

5. Why didn't they inform me that I (may) need new tyres soon before I left the first time

6. Why didn't they notice I may have a wheel bearing "going" since they presumably
adjusted my suspension, wheels etc.

Or maybe I am just a cynic

p.s. No reason they should notice 6. above I spose - is the local garage just off J40 of the M1?

 

[doll]

Hmmmmm... OK, gunna get 2 new tyres ordered now (need them anyway coz just looked and there pretty much on the line in the middle and the edges are slightly worn (so i suppose that would fit into uneven tyre wear)

Again would this rumbling noise happen JUST at 60-70 and turning the wheel right?

Mine was audible at 30 to 40mph and disappeared when i turned, so I don't think there's an exact science.

When I jacked mine up, you could feel how out of shape the tyre was by running my hands over it.

The wheel bearings would be covered under warranty as already said...but I still doubt it is them.

 

[Street]

Mine had both rear wheel bearings changed at 16k ish.. Was done under warranty too.

 

[webhype]

Thanks for all the replies

Well, im getting 2 new tyres fitted in the morning as i need them regardless. So hopefully that would cure this rumbling..

If not, then il still drop it down to seat dealer for them to see if it is wheel bearings.

It really is like a deep rumbling/vibration, like imagine when you drive on the rumble strip on the motorway, kinda a much softer/faster version of that noise. a real deep down long rumble lol.

 

[webhype]

Right got some new front tyres this morning. And it still made the rumbling vibration but quite a bit softer. So I dropped it into seat for a technician to go out and test drive it with me, we drove round for 20 mins and it rumbled a few times, but again only softly but noticeable. He said it doesn't strike him as anything to be concerned about but checked suspension and bearings and found no issues.

So I think it must have been the tyres, as it still does it but not as much. Surely if it wasn't the tyres I would have had the exact same strength rumbling instead of a softer less noticable one?

 

[Bedlam]

Can I ask what the 4 wheel alignment cost you?

 

[webhype]

35quid. Got printout graphs etc.

 

[webhype]

The seat guy did comment it runs great, nice and straight. He let go of steering wheel and put foot down and it just powered forward. No torque steering or wondering.