Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Paddy Flannery on 06 March 2012, 18:33:26

Title: Front bearings?
Post by: Paddy Flannery on 06 March 2012, 18:33:26
Driving home last night when there was a sudden onset of " roaring " type noise from the front of my 2003 2.6 saloon. Checked previous posts and tyres are getting on a bit, but still legal. Steering feels fine. No change in noise when cornering left of right.

When bearings are knackered, is it a sudden onset of noise ? Thought it would be more gradual, but I'm no expert, hence asking your advice please.

Thanks
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: feeutfo on 06 March 2012, 20:57:49
A "roaring" noise...? :-\  Deap rumble yes, roaring? mmmno. Wouldn't say that. Usually gets progressively worse IME.
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: Paddy Flannery on 06 March 2012, 21:05:04
Rumble is a better description. Just surprised by the very sudden onset.
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: Elite Pete on 06 March 2012, 21:07:13
Lift the front wheels and check for play ;)
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: Entwood on 06 March 2012, 21:14:30
One of mine went from a barely noticeable light wine to an undriveable, overheating graunching in 330 miles....  unfortunately this was from Caen to Royan (France) going on holiday with the 'van on the back .... you don't want to know the cost of fixing ....   :(
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: feeutfo on 06 March 2012, 22:07:58
On the subject of wheel bearings, it would appear after talking to buypartsby, that what I thought where conti tech wheel bearings, are in fact conti direct wheel bearings, and are listed as aftermarket, not oe equivalent.

This appears to be backed up by cost.
Aftermarket seem to be ££35-£45 generally going by various motor factors.
Oe equivilant almost twice that from various sources.

Perhaps not surprising then, that I've gone through 3 conti direct w.b's in the last year.
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: feeutfo on 06 March 2012, 22:09:58
Last original oe baring I had fail, failed tight. No play, but stiff/notchy and made a horrible noise.
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: Andy B on 06 March 2012, 22:14:15
....
This appears to be backed up by cost.
Aftermarket seem to be ££35-£45 generally going by various motor factors.
Oe equivilant almost twice that from various sources.
Around £100 when I bought one a couple of years ago


Perhaps not surprising then, that I've gone through 3 conti direct w.b's in the last year.
You'd have been able to buy an OE bearing for the same money, & have only needed to fit it once.  ;) ;)
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: feeutfo on 06 March 2012, 22:19:36
....
This appears to be backed up by cost.
Aftermarket seem to be ££35-£45 generally going by various motor factors.
Oe equivilant almost twice that from various sources.
Around £100 when I bought one a couple of years ago


Perhaps not surprising then, that I've gone through 3 conti direct w.b's in the last year.
You'd have been able to buy an OE bearing for the same money, & have only needed to fit it once.  ;) ;)
i might have to wait until she's out before trying that method. ;)
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: Andy B on 06 March 2012, 22:24:46
.....
i might have to wait until she's out before trying that method. ;)
[/quote]

Stand up & be a man!!!  ;) ;) ;) :y

I've always said that if my Omega needs it .......... it always gets it!

That said, her car needed loads spending on it around Christmas, & it got it .............. despite me being capable of doing the work, just didn't have the time or the place to do it & not having a 'spare' car at the time.

Just put a few hours overtime in & justify it the expense that way  :y :y :y
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: robbo299 on 06 March 2012, 23:49:53
This is not the first time i have read about conti-tech bearings failing even after just a few months from fitting. I work for SKF, a bearing manfacturer, and as i had not heard of conti-tech being a bearing manufacturer i asked our automotive division about them. Apparently they are manufactured for conti-tech under licence. My contact did not know who by. During my enquiries i managed to obtain 2 front wheel bearing hub units and 2 rear wheel bearings for my estate   ::) ;)
Imagine my suprise when i opened the front hub unit box to find a KOYO bearing unit in our (SKF) packaging  :o  See pic below.
After a further enquiry to my contact in the automotive division i found out that it was normal practice to supply another manufacturer`s unit in our packaging if our supply chain was out of stock. I was assured that any product used in this way would be fully checked and verified to the same exacting standards to which our products are made. i also checked the rear wheel bearing boxes and found them to contain SKF bearings. If my Elite passes the MOT in May i will offer these bearings for sale on the forum at cost price.
 
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn228/robbo299/th_06032012120.jpg) (http://s305.photobucket.com/albums/nn228/robbo299/?action=view&current=06032012120.jpg)
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: feeutfo on 07 March 2012, 00:06:34
Sure I've seen KOYO on oe bearings...?
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: feeutfo on 07 March 2012, 00:08:09
This is not the first time i have read about conti-tech bearings failing even after just a few months from fitting. I work for SKF, a bearing manfacturer, and as i had not heard of conti-tech being a bearing manufacturer i asked our automotive division about them. Apparently they are manufactured for conti-tech under licence. My contact did not know who by. During my enquiries i managed to obtain 2 front wheel bearing hub units and 2 rear wheel bearings for my estate   ::) ;)
Imagine my suprise when i opened the front hub unit box to find a KOYO bearing unit in our (SKF) packaging  :o  See pic below.
After a further enquiry to my contact in the automotive division i found out that it was normal practice to supply another manufacturer`s unit in our packaging if our supply chain was out of stock. I was assured that any product used in this way would be fully checked and verified to the same exacting standards to which our products are made. i also checked the rear wheel bearing boxes and found them to contain SKF bearings. If my Elite passes the MOT in May i will offer these bearings for sale on the forum at cost price.
 
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn228/robbo299/th_06032012120.jpg) (http://s305.photobucket.com/albums/nn228/robbo299/?action=view&current=06032012120.jpg)
I might be prepared to try one sooner than that, if that's possible? :)
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: robbo299 on 07 March 2012, 00:14:34
Might be... ::) I will pm you tomorrow.
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: feeutfo on 07 March 2012, 00:19:07
Cheers robbo. :)
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: Paddy Flannery on 07 March 2012, 09:16:39
Local garage has diagnosed front offside wheel bearing is buggered.

I'm concerned about what I read re Conti from Buypartsby, so will look elsewhere.

Cheers folks.
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: feeutfo on 07 March 2012, 11:57:55
If I understand correctly, conti direct supply the troublsome wheel barings. Who are said to be nothing to do with conti tech. :-\
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: kcl on 07 March 2012, 13:50:38
Conti belongs to Schaeffler group nowadays so might be INA/FAG bearings from now on...
Title: Re: Front bearings?
Post by: aaronjb on 07 March 2012, 14:04:46
Sure I've seen KOYO on oe bearings...?

KOYO make all sorts, so it wouldn't surprise me if they're an OE bearing supplier..