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[Paddy Flannery]

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

[feeutfo]

A "roaring" noise...?   Deap rumble yes, roaring? mmmno. Wouldn't say that. Usually gets progressively worse IME.

[Paddy Flannery]

Rumble is a better description. Just surprised by the very sudden onset.

[Elite Pete]

Lift the front wheels and check for play

[Entwood]

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 ....   

[feeutfo]

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.

[feeutfo]

Last original oe baring I had fail, failed tight. No play, but stiff/notchy and made a horrible noise.

[Andy B]

....
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. 

[feeutfo]

....
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.

[Andy B]

.....

i might have to wait until she's out before trying that method.
[/quote]

Stand up & be a man!!! 

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 

[robbo299]

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    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.
 

[feeutfo]

Sure I've seen KOYO on oe bearings...?

[feeutfo]

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    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.
 

I might be prepared to try one sooner than that, if that's possible?

[robbo299]

Might be... I will pm you tomorrow.

[feeutfo]

Cheers robbo.