Hi guys long title as its a weird problem, 'N' reg POLO 6N 1.6 ltr GL, first off I've had the horrible wheel bearing failure noise from the front end, took the old girl into work and into the workshop, now I was pretty sure that the nearside bearing had gone, but on shaking of the wheels all round the off side front wheel was found to have movement, holding the wheel at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock position I could feel a slight amount of movement, so I bought a front bearing and fitted that to the off side front.

Took the old girl for a test drive and still the noise persists.

So now I've bought another bearing for the near side front and will fit that after the weekend

But I've had the car up on a jack and spun the near side and cannot hear any grating sound from the bearing!!! can the bearing still be shot without making a knackered noise?

the other two problems I seem to have is, when i shake the front offside wheel, the one with the new bearing I still have movement.

When the wheel is lifted clear of the ground there seems to be a vertical movement of the spring and damper, almost like the top nut is not done up properly, is this normal, as it appears on both front wheels.

Or have I got something else wrong, ie could it be something else that can make that horrible noise of knackered bearing..

Thanks for all the help in advance, I know its hard to diagnose from a description so if you need any more details I shall try and supply.

Have you checked for movement/noise in the rear wheel bearings? Could be a deceiving noise from rear not front?? Just a thought. Plus, the movement in the o/s/f may be from something else.. Possible bottom ball joint?

Edited 1 August, 201214 yr by VDUB POLO

Have you checked for movement/noise in the rear wheel bearings? Could be a deceiving noise from rear not front?? Just a thought. Plus, the movement in the o/s/f may be from something else.. Possible bottom ball joint?

Cheers for the reply vedub polo, the movement I have when the wheel is lifted off the ground is a vertical one, you can see front shock moving up and down by about 3 mm. The only way I can describe it is it's like the top nut hasn't been done up fully, so I'm wondering if there is a bush that's worn out between the shock and the top mount that I can't see that is causing this movement.

Also when I has the offside swivel hub off to press out the bearing the was slight movement in that when I held the hub and moved the abs rotor so I thought that confirmed the knackered wheel bearing.

I will have a good look at the rear bearings they were replaced this time last year at the mot so unlikely to be the culprits but I'm not ruling them out either.

Bottom ball joint, don't think it is, as it's a mega snug fit with loads of grease in it before I removed the rubber boot to split it and now with a new rubber boot fitted its got even more grease in it, but again I shall get a pry bar and see if there is much movement.

I'm away this weekend so won't be doing anything on my polo but will be returning to it Monday to have a look at the other front bearing first, many thanks for the reply if you have any other ideas I'm listening ok cheers again

Rear beearings can fail prematurely if done up to tight, so definetly worth a check.

ok guys cheers for the replies and infomative views, I've just gone out to the polo after working on my bike to change to front near side bearing, but I thought I would as suggested check the rear wheel bearings, I have found that the off side rear bearing has a good amount of play in it, I un done the nut etc and removed the drum, both bearings came out using just my fingers, thought I woud have to drift them out as the manual says.

Anyway there was no noise from the wheel when spun by hand but on taking out the bearings the outer one did seem to have play so I'm going to change this one this week and hopefully this will solve the noise.

I shall obviously keep you informed with my findings so we can end the topic as solved, keep watching as I should have it done by wednesday ok

The bearings will come out of the drums easily, it's the outer bearing race you have to tap out

Ok guys I changed the off side rear bearings, being tapered I took particular attention to the doing up of the nut etc, anyway I've still got abit of movement in that rear wheel which is really bloody annoying, any reason why guys? New bearings were packed with grease etc and seated on new races. So no reason for movement unless I haven't done up the nut tight enough, at the moment I can just move the washer as the manual says.

As for the front near side I started that today but I came to a halt with a seized caliper Allen screw, so all work is at a standstill until Friday when I can get it on a ramp at work and see what I can do then, any ideas on why I've still got movement on that rear wheel??????

I usually do them up by feel tbh, around the weight of my spanner falling down then a nip to the next split pin hole doesn't seem to have been an issue yet.

Did you torque the front wheel bearing properly?

On my mk4, I torqued it as per procedure (initial torque to pull the shaft right in, back off then torque and angle) but this wasn't enough, the hub but torques are critical on the front (well need to be tight!) as it holds the bearing together.

Working with prototype cars I'm forever replacing and trying new hub but torques due to bearing issues!

On my mk4 I had to properly wang it up to ensure the shaft was pulled fully up in the splines then torque it.

Cheers Mr Harris, and to all the other forum members for your help, now changed three bearings, O/S/F O/S/R and the one that I thought it was all the time but was told by so called mechanics that it was fiine was the N/S/F, there was no movement on this bearing and when spinning the wheel it seemed as though the mass of the wheel was covering up the wear on the bearing, on removing the wheel the bearing was heard and it was knackered, also why do people use angle grinders to remove bearings, I have a nice scar on my hub thanks to a previous spanner twirler not doing the job properly, anyway front bearing replaced all noise gone.

As for the rear, well that took a little bit of knowledge from someone who was willing to let me watch and learn on the proper procedure of tightening up taper bearings, I now have no movement at the rear either now so happy days, just need to replace my centre box now, of which I have sitting in my garage awaiting fitting.

So again many thanks to everyone my polo is back on the road with no noise so all fixed,cheers again.

Good good :)

People often grind into the inner race that gets stuck onto the drive flange and then split it with a chisel.

If you look closely there are two small cut outs you can use heel type lever bars to get these off. Or I have a tool that bolts behind it and you can sit it on that and press it out, guess depends on the availability of tools to hand hey?

Just done my rears on friday. Like nick said, two cut outs so you can knock the cups out, best way i find is to put them on etc, tighten it up rather tight to pull them all together then undo and tighten it with a extention bar with no socket by hand . This is normally enough to allow it to spin with no play :)

My 2p

I was on about cut outs on the front drive flanges blumberclart!