rear wheel hub

[Mitchell Segal]

Hi Danny,

Is this your first rear wheel bearing on that car, since it was new? I
guess I must have gotten a lemon or something like that, because on my 2001
A4 1.8QT, I have to replace the rear wheel bearings almost like they are on
a schedule.  The right-rear goes about every 50,000km, the left-rear goes
about every 85,000km.  I remember the first 2 were changed when it was
still under the 100,000km warranty, and since then I've had to the right
one 3 more times, and the left one 1 more time.

Doesn't seem to matter whose bearings I have.  The factory ones lasted just
2-3 years, I assume they were replaced with more factory spec units.  I've
had jobber bearings, I've had the top of the line SKF bearings, doesn't
seem to make any difference.  They keep wearing out on a pretty fixed
schedule (got about 222,000km right now, expecting the left one to go again
this year, if it sticks to schedule)

Every time it's the same thing.  Noisy rear end when driving, noises change
as you swerve left/right (indicating it's the bearing).  Don't know what it
is about my car that wears them out so fast.  I don't drive the car hard,
most of it is straight highway driving, 4 wheel alignments done after each
bearing change, never out of spec, tires last years, so it's not an
alignment problem.  I know the roads are pretty bad here in Montreal, QC,
but they aren't that bad, and I do try to avoid most of the potholes.

As for your question, no, I don't think I've ever had to change the hub.
 The garages always just change the bearing and put it back together and
does an alignment.

Be thankful that this is the first time you're changing it, I'm a little
sick of this weakness in my A4 (the other area I find the car is weak on,
was front end tie-rods, replaced a few of those over the years as well, 2-3
times I think).

Mitchell


Date: Fri, 1 Mar 2013 10:59:34 -0800 (PST)
> From: Danny <pyro_10314 at yahoo.com>
> To: "quattro at audifans.com" <quattro at audifans.com>
> Subject: rear wheel hub
>
> Hi all,
> ? Will finally be getting around to repairing a rear wheel bearing on a
> 2001A4 1.8t. Just wondering when should the hub be changed also, if ever.
> The bearing has been noisy for a couple of months and it is extremely noisy
> now. I sent out a email to the a4 list but by looking at the archives it
> seems pretty quiet. Tia
> Danny
>