Failed nct wheel bearing

Andy454

I've a 10 year old audi a4
Took it for its nct today and it passed all tests
During the visual inspection the inspector said it needed a wheel beating replaced and failed it on that saying there was too much play on it
I had a celica that needed a wheel bearing once, it sounded like an airplane taking off from the noise of it and I could physically rock the wheel back and forth!

Anyway I took it home and tried to see what play the guy was talking about - but the wheel is tight! Tight as a pair off nuns knickers!!

I don't think that there is in an issue and what's more is all the test results, slippage, brakes, ovality etc are exactly as the last test two years ago!
It appears they are just trying to extort money from me as they want 28 euros to retest - I thought visual defects where supposed to be free no?

I really don't want a garage messing with the car - I know I will need brake pads in a month or so - the inspector didn't even mention them!!

challengemaster

Visual defects are free to retest, a wheel bearing isn't a visual as it requires the car to be put on a ramp and physically checked for play. Visual retest would be bulbs, etc.

johnayo

Andy454 wrote: »

I've a 10 year old audi a4
Took it for its nct today and it passed all tests
During the visual inspection the inspector said it needed a wheel beating replaced and failed it on that saying there was too much play on it
I had a celica that needed a wheel bearing once, it sounded like an airplane taking off from the noise of it and I could physically rock the wheel back and forth!

Anyway I took it home and tried to see what play the guy was talking about - but the wheel is tight! Tight as a pair off nuns knickers!!

I don't think that there is in an issue and what's more is all the test results, slippage, brakes, ovality etc are exactly as the last test two years ago!
It appears they are just trying to extort money from me as they want 28 euros to retest - I thought visual defects where supposed to be free no?

I really don't want a garage messing with the car - I know I will need brake pads in a month or so - the inspector didn't even mention them!!

Why don't you appeal their decision.
This will not be a visual as it will need to go on the lift to check, so it will be a retest.
The brake pads were ok on the day. That's their job done.
Not saying I'm agreeing with their decision, but this is how it works.

jamesbondings

Girlfriends car got failed on this also last month took it to the garage where the mechanic said there was nothing wrong with it at all and that if he was to tighten it any more it would snap.

Took it in for the retest the bloke put it on the ramp had a chat with his co worker took it off the ramp and passed it without looking at it at all.

Money racket isn't the word.....

johnayo

Money racket it may well be, but for Gods sake have it checked out properly. You don't want a wheel bearing giving you grief at 120k on the motorway.

Ronnie Beck

Did you rotate the wheel and listen for a grinding noise?

YbFocus

There doesn't have to be that howling noise to show a bearing is going, if there is any grind or catch in it it's going.
I had total bearing failure in a bora before from nothing, is not the nicest thing ever.
I'd change it man.