A4 - Front Wheel Bearings ?

I bought my 1998 1.9TDi SE (110) 2 years ago at 60k miles and have enjoyed
very economical driving since. I stopped using the main dealer at 100k miles
when I decided I would keep the car until it fell apart.

At 110k mile I had the front tyres changed at the same time as the service.
Immediately after the car was left idle for 2 weeks as I was away. Since
then, for the last 3,000 miles (6 weeks) there has been a very noticeable
speed-related 'roar' coming from the front wheels.

The new Dunlops (same tyre model that I've had fitted twice before) have a
slightly different tread pattern now than before - a small extra thin slot
down each of the two major read blocks and for a while I wondered if this
might be the problem.

However, today, I noticed that by steering to the left (going round a bend
at 30-50mph) the noise disappears, but returns when I straighten up or go
round a righthanded bend. To me this indicates that the wheel bearings may
be failing. I had previously checked by taking each front wheel off and
listening to the hub by manually spinning it and could not hear any
chrunching or graunching.

Does any have any ideas of what else it might be or what sort of cost the
parts/labout might be to fix the bearings?

"Graeme" > wrote in message
...
> I bought my 1998 1.9TDi SE (110) 2 years ago at 60k miles and have enjoyed
> very economical driving since. I stopped using the main dealer at 100k
miles
> when I decided I would keep the car until it fell apart.
>
> At 110k mile I had the front tyres changed at the same time as the
service.
> Immediately after the car was left idle for 2 weeks as I was away. Since
> then, for the last 3,000 miles (6 weeks) there has been a very noticeable
> speed-related 'roar' coming from the front wheels.
>
> The new Dunlops (same tyre model that I've had fitted twice before) have a
> slightly different tread pattern now than before - a small extra thin slot
> down each of the two major read blocks and for a while I wondered if this
> might be the problem.
>
> However, today, I noticed that by steering to the left (going round a bend
> at 30-50mph) the noise disappears, but returns when I straighten up or go
> round a righthanded bend. To me this indicates that the wheel bearings may
> be failing. I had previously checked by taking each front wheel off and
> listening to the hub by manually spinning it and could not hear any
> chrunching or graunching.
>
> Does any have any ideas of what else it might be or what sort of cost the
> parts/labout might be to fix the bearings?
>
>
>
>

you prob wont hear the bearings if you spin the wheel but 100k miles is
about right for a set, they will go on for ages before they need changing,
on my A4 quattro the rears cost me around 140 quid each to be done from an
independant shop, I need to get my front ones done now as well.

It's almost def the bearings gone, get both sides down at the same time,
because the other one will start whining very soon after

hth

Ronny