[kreka]

A couple months ago I took my B6 2.0T for tire rotation and wheel balance. It wasn't too long that my wife had told me the car started making some humming noise that was getting worse with speed increase. I took the car for a ride and it did sound like it was coming from tires. I just figured I'd take it back and rotate tires back the way they were. The tires got rotated, but the noise didn't go away.

Today, I took it in to our local Firestone thinking my tires are shot and I needed a new set. Well, I got a call back and the service person said my tires and wheel bearings were fine. He claims the sound is coming from the transfer case. I took the car home and went online for some enlightenment. I'm a little bit confused here. It seems that only all and 4 wheel vehicles have a transfer case, and my car is a two-wheel drive.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[WilNJ]

I wouldn't take any European car to Firestone. Find an independent shop that specializes in European cars, typically Audi/VW/Porsche/Mini. You're right in that only AWD cars would have a transfer case. Are you sure he didn't say transaxle?

 

[kreka]

That's what it says (transfer case) on the invoice I got. Maybe he referred to transmission. Doesn't sound good.

 

[jddaigle]

I second the advice of taking to a shop that specializing in VWs. The Firestone guy seems a bit misinformed to say the least.

 

[kreka]

Took the car to a different shop for a second opinion, and they say that front wheel bearing has just begun to go bad. Hence, we might have a write-up on how to change a front wheel bearing. Unless, I decide to have them do it.

 

[kreka]

I guess I'm doing it myself. I've just bought a front wheel bearing from rmeuropean.com for about $100. It says it's an OEM manufacturer. A lot cheaper than almost $500 to have someone else do it.

 

[kreka]

It was supposed to arrive Friday so I got on it about noon. I did not take any pics because there is a writeup on audizine.com so I felt it was unnecessary (DIY: Front wheel bearing replacement).

Everything went smooth until I had to take the 4 M12 (triple square) bolts that hold the bearing to the knuckle. I didn't have a long neck M12, so I went to some local auto stores, and found something usable at advanceauto. Once I came back home and unpacked the set, I realized I had already bought the same set a couple years ago when I did a CV axle on my B5. Anyway, took me a while but got all four bolts out. Then, the bearing would not move - the guy on audizine wrote it simply fell out. Mine did not. It took me good 20-30 minutes to slowly tap (hammer) it out. But it did come out. Putting it back together wasn't that bad. By about 4:30 I was done.

The bearing I bought from rmeuropean.com is ***, and they claim it is an OEM part. It is made in Slovakia, so that eased my mind a bit. I was afraid of seeing the made in China stamp.

No more humming noise coming from the front end.