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- Audi A6 C6 How to Replace Wheel Hub and Bearings<br>Step by step instructions for do-it-yourself repairs.
Wheel Bearing?
#1
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Wheel Bearing?
My 2012 A6 just started to make a whining/humming noise from the front end (sounds like the driver side). I just turned 51,000 miles (of course). I replaced my tires about 500 miles ago with Continental Extremecontact DWS. The whining/humming starts around 25-30 mph and gets bad around 40-45 mph. It gets better the faster I go but I can still hear it. Plus there was a slight vibration. I thought the noise was the tires so I had all of the wheels re-balanced but that didn't solve the issue. I thought it might be the stiffer tread so I replaced the driver side wheel with a different, original tire, A6 wheel and the whine/humming did not change. I did notice that if I turn right the whining/humming disappears but doesn't increase if I turn left.
Has anyone had a similar issue? Is 51,000 miles common for bearings to go? If this is a bearing, does anyone know where I can get information on replacing it? I've done these on other cars but never on an Audi and never with such little mileage. If it isn't the wheel bearing, what else can it be?
Has anyone had a similar issue? Is 51,000 miles common for bearings to go? If this is a bearing, does anyone know where I can get information on replacing it? I've done these on other cars but never on an Audi and never with such little mileage. If it isn't the wheel bearing, what else can it be?
#2
AudiWorld Super User
I would guess that the replacement procedure is similar for most Audis and I would look on YouTube for a DIY. You can then determine if you want to tackle the job or seek professional help.
I haven't heard of any other C7 owners mentioning wheel bearing issues. You could check in the C6 and C5 sections to see how often it occurs with the older models.
#3
AudiWorld Member
Has anyone had a similar issue? Is 51,000 miles common for bearings to go? If this is a bearing, does anyone know where I can get information on replacing it? I've done these on other cars but never on an Audi and never with such little mileage. If it isn't the wheel bearing, what else can it be?
At first I thought is was the 19" Goodyear tires I purchased that were take-offs, but it was a bearing. I lived with it for a couple weeks not believing it was a bearing. But it was.
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/aud.../#post24497954
#4
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Update - I replaced both bearings and the sound is gone. Each bearing was a bit wobbly when I pulled them off. The funny thing was that I was only going to do one. Since the sound went away when I turned right, I figured the right bearing was the bad one. I pulled that one off and it wobbled when I spun it in my hand. I figured that had to be the bad one so I wouldn't need to change the other one. I put the right front back together and took the car out for a test drive. The sound was still there. I then changed the left bearing (in half the time now that I knew what I was doing) and the sound is now gone. The left bearing did not wobble as badly as the right but it was making a grinding noise when I spun it by hand.
Some side notes:
The 4 bolts holding the bearing were spline (triple square) bolts but the replacements had torque heads. I ordered these Buy Wheel Bearing Kit (62mm, OEM) - 4H0498625A by *** | Europa Parts
The torque spec for the 4 bolts is 80nm plus 90 degree turn. The torque spec for the hub bolt is 200nm plus 180 degree but once I torqued it to 200nm I couldn't turn that bolt more than 20 degrees. Even put the 1 inch impact on it. Not budging.
I wanted to make a video but was a bit rushed for time. I found this video to be the most accurate for a 2012 A6.
Some side notes:
The 4 bolts holding the bearing were spline (triple square) bolts but the replacements had torque heads. I ordered these Buy Wheel Bearing Kit (62mm, OEM) - 4H0498625A by *** | Europa Parts
The torque spec for the 4 bolts is 80nm plus 90 degree turn. The torque spec for the hub bolt is 200nm plus 180 degree but once I torqued it to 200nm I couldn't turn that bolt more than 20 degrees. Even put the 1 inch impact on it. Not budging.
I wanted to make a video but was a bit rushed for time. I found this video to be the most accurate for a 2012 A6.
#6
AudiWorld Member
Update - I replaced both bearings and the sound is gone.
Some side notes:
The 4 bolts holding the bearing were spline (triple square) bolts but the replacements had torque heads. I ordered these Buy Wheel Bearing Kit (62mm, OEM) - 4H0498625A by *** | Europa Parts
. I found this video to be the most accurate for a 2012 A6. [* AUDI A 8 *]( RADLAGER und NABE WECHSELN ) How to Replace a hub and bearing. - YouTube
Some side notes:
The 4 bolts holding the bearing were spline (triple square) bolts but the replacements had torque heads. I ordered these Buy Wheel Bearing Kit (62mm, OEM) - 4H0498625A by *** | Europa Parts
. I found this video to be the most accurate for a 2012 A6. [* AUDI A 8 *]( RADLAGER und NABE WECHSELN ) How to Replace a hub and bearing. - YouTube
#7
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Not nearly as hard as the video. I put the flathead screwdriver on the corner and just gave it a shove with my hand and they popped right off. I did everything with only a jack. One side at a time.
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#8
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Hi, if I'm not mistaken I have the same issue. I brought my car to the dealer and they claim they can't hear the noise. I told the service advisor to check the bearings and the advisor said they can't unless they know for sure the bearings are the problem. I will complain about the noise again when I bring my car in for the 25k mile service. Question: why didn't you let the dealer fix this issue under warranty?
#9
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Hi, if I'm not mistaken I have the same issue. I brought my car to the dealer and they claim they can't hear the noise. I told the service advisor to check the bearings and the advisor said they can't unless they know for sure the bearings are the problem. I will complain about the noise again when I bring my car in for the 25k mile service. Question: why didn't you let the dealer fix this issue under warranty?
#10
AudiWorld Junior Member
My 2012 A6 just started to make a whining/humming noise from the front end (sounds like the driver side). I just turned 51,000 miles (of course). I replaced my tires about 500 miles ago with Continental Extremecontact DWS. The whining/humming starts around 25-30 mph and gets bad around 40-45 mph. It gets better the faster I go but I can still hear it. Plus there was a slight vibration. I thought the noise was the tires so I had all of the wheels re-balanced but that didn't solve the issue. I thought it might be the stiffer tread so I replaced the driver side wheel with a different, original tire, A6 wheel and the whine/humming did not change. I did notice that if I turn right the whining/humming disappears but doesn't increase if I turn left.
Has anyone had a similar issue? Is 51,000 miles common for bearings to go? If this is a bearing, does anyone know where I can get information on replacing it? I've done these on other cars but never on an Audi and never with such little mileage. If it isn't the wheel bearing, what else can it be?
Has anyone had a similar issue? Is 51,000 miles common for bearings to go? If this is a bearing, does anyone know where I can get information on replacing it? I've done these on other cars but never on an Audi and never with such little mileage. If it isn't the wheel bearing, what else can it be?
Here is a video on how to do it: