GTI killing me (Wheel Bearing or Gearbox)

[Gavin]

Here we are again! Another problem which could potentially hit my wallet

There was a time when I dreamt of owning a Polo GTi - but now, I cant wait to get rid before it bankrupts me! Actually, I wish I never bought it!

Anyway, about 2 months ago I noticed that there was a whurring-train noise coming from the drivers side wheel (like there was a label stuck on the wheel or something). Speed up and it quicken, slow down and so does the sound

I jacked the car up and spun the drivers side around and could hear the noise. Checked to see if anything was between the brakes etc but couldnt find anything. Whack the wheel back on and IIRC the noise went

Now, a few weeks back I noticed the noise again. I usually have my radio on so dont hear it
Drove it today and it was pretty loud (maybe heat related) so thought I's check on here to see what it could be....

I'm not sure whether its the wheel bearing or Gearbox? What are the symptoms for both?

Cheers

A very unhappy GTi owner

[Gavin]

right - take the car up again and spun the wheel and the noise seems t be coming from the disk area??? i think its sort of safe to rule of the gearbox and maybe a issue with the bearings???

[shantybeater]

yeah mate don't panic yet, we all have bad patches, does it go away when you brake? i have this exact issue at the moment and i'm not sure what it is...but it came when i got new brake discs and pads fitted :S

[Gavin]

No, that whats weird... the noise doesnt change speed or pitch when you brake???

I had the car jacked up today, and turned the drivers side wheel slowly to you could hear the noise everytime the wheel completed a full turn? Now if it was a disk or brake pad problem then i would have expected the noise to change pitch on braking?

would a wheel bearing have these symptoms?

[Tetsuo_83]

I know you say you dont think it could be the brakes, but I had he exact same noise coming from the left hand side of mine... and braking didnt seem to be the issue then either. But, it turned out the piston had seized in the caliper, and because of the crappy size design of the Polo's factory pads (theyre actually too small for the caliper and jiggle about a bit), the outer pad had slipped out and thats what was causing the noise.

Go out, drive it hard, brake hard a few times, then immediately get out of your car and touch the face of the wheel, if the problem wheel is hotter than the other then it could be the slipped pad issue.


@Shantybeater: your problem isnt a problem, the pads havent broken in yet is all, will go away in a few hundred miles of normal driving. I broke mine in the fun way the night I changed them.... smoke billowing from the front wheels

[shantybeater]

but ive had them on for around 1500 miles now , the noise has become a lot more random, it doesnt go with the road speed anymore!

[Tetsuo_83]

but ive had them on for around 1500 miles now , the noise has become a lot more random, it doesnt go with the road speed anymore!

Thats a little worrying! I dunno what to tell you now.. other than have it looked at! Oh and do that heat check i mentioned earlier, y'never know...

[shantybeater]

will do, cheers pal...sorry to hi-jack the thread!

[Gavin]

oh - cheers for that Tetsuo_83

I'll have to check it later on... what was your outcome... did you have to buy new calipers? Price?

cheers!!!

[Tetsuo_83]

Bit of a caliper refurb and some new pads, all it will cost you is the pads, a can of wd-40, some sandpaper, and the new bolt and sleeve from VW (cost me €15 its a kit).

If you know how to change your brakes you'll have no problem doing this yourself, simple bolt swap...... its caused by the rubber sleeve cracking or tearing, water gets in rusts the bolt and the caliper seizes.

[Gavin]

phew... probably the best outcome. Initial thought it was the gearbox so aint fussed about spending a couple of pounds on this

cheers Tetsuo_83