Had my Disco for about 5 years now and the off-side front wheel bearing has been an advisory on 4 out of the last 5 years. Been carrying round a spare for about a year and been to Morocco last year and this year the mountains of northern Portugal for about 2500 miles. 30 miles from home the 3 amigos appeared and so it was time to buy myself another bearing and do both together. WOW. Never really thought there was anything particularly wrong with the front wheels, no excess wobble, no noise etc. Its amazing how things creep up on you without you really noticing. I've got what feels like a brand new car. Smooth, silent and an uncanny lack of 'feel' from the steering wheel. 140,000 just passed so hopefully we'll see if I can get the same from this set. Don't change your Disco just the front wheel bearings. Just as a matter of interest what happens when wheel bearings fail?

Just got the rears to do now then! I've done one of mine recently and I don't think it's as bad a job as the front ones.
Griff

borntobemild said:

Had my Disco for about 5 years now and the off-side front wheel bearing has been an advisory on 4 out of the last 5 years. Been carrying round a spare for about a year and been to Morocco last year and this year the mountains of northern Portugal for about 2500 miles. 30 miles from home the 3 amigos appeared and so it was time to buy myself another bearing and do both together. WOW. Never really thought there was anything particularly wrong with the front wheels, no excess wobble, no noise etc. Its amazing how things creep up on you without you really noticing. I've got what feels like a brand new car. Smooth, silent and an uncanny lack of 'feel' from the steering wheel. 140,000 just passed so hopefully we'll see if I can get the same from this set. Don't change your Disco just the front wheel bearings. Just as a matter of interest what happens when wheel bearings fail?

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++1!!!
I assumed my Disco was ok, just noisy, well "they are like that, arent they?"
No they are not!! Changed them 3000 miles ago, after 3 Amigos, now shes lovely and quiet!
Just wind noise over 60.
Mark

"O/S/F wheel bearing has been an advisory for four out of the last five years". Speaks volumes for the OPs maintenance ethic. Some people are just born to break down.

Hi Wammers

Don't understand use of ''OP's''. What does it mean.

Never broken down. My reason to post was to prevent people breaking down. Wheel bearing being an advisory for so long meant either it wasn't a problem or all wheel bearings have slight play as I was assuming because it never became 'wheel bearing has failed'. My question at the end of the post was to help people assess whether a wheel bearing is failing as having changed both front bearings I have no idea what a failed wheel bearing feels like or the consequences of such a bearing failing.

My maintenance ethic has always been 'fix it before it fails'.

The main reason for this is this fantastic forum. Started reading this forum before I bought a Disco2. It has helped me when I bought my vehicle to immediately identify problems and plan maintenance to make sure that other people's problems don't become mine. I cannot thank this forum enough for all the problems it has highlighted and money it has saved me. Thanks to you all!

Regards mildbetoborn

OP = Original Poster i.e. the person who started the thread

borntobemild said:

Wheel bearing being an advisory for so long meant either it wasn't a problem or all wheel bearings have slight play

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The MOT is first and foremost a safety test. Ever notice how other than emissions, practically every item on the check list is safety related? An advisoory basically means "noticeable, but not bad enough to warrant a fail at this time" In simple English it means "sort this sooner, not later". If it was not regarded as a problem, why would an advisory be issued? If all wheel bearings had slight play, why would an advisory be issued? They may as well issue advisories for "fixed window does not open" if either were the case.

Most folk, upon receiving such an advisory would replace as soon as practical, not allow the same fault to be presented repeatedly, thus they would not need the advice do this before you break down. I can only assume you are either a) very very lucky, or b) cover very few miles to have a loose bearing last so long. It's not even like wheel bearings are an overly expensive or difficult job to do. Hell you already bought one, seem to have the knowledge to fit it, but just left it all wrapped up in the box.

Please, next advisory, think of other road users. Imagine the wheel deciding to leave in lane 3 at 70, or to bounce down the high street amongst grannies and pushchairs.