yeah its most likely ur wheel bearing. i have a bad one too. mine is the rear right. i went to les schwab and they were charging me $520 (both sides rear). supposedly the cheapest bearings they found were $110 each and i was gonna need an alignment which is bs. so i just bought the ones from ecstunning for like 60 and im having someone else do it. GREAT SUCCESS!!

 

You do technically need an alignment after the bearings are replaced. The camber eccentric bolt is on the bottom of the wheel carrier, which needs to be removed. Additionally, if you've had the pleasure of dealing with a toe-arm with an end that simply spins so the nut cannot be removed, you'll have to remove the toe arm, which will require removing the toe eccentric bolt. Even if you've marked the eccentric bolts, you're really supposed to at least check the alignment. Additionally, even though the steering wheel is level after you're finished, it doesn't mean you might not get some funky tire wear or strange cornering feeling due to bad rear toe or rear camber.

By the book, yes you need an alignment. $520 is a decent price for both sides, but add in the alignment and you're back up to dealer price.

 

Bearings are standardized. As long as the part has ***, SKF, or RUVILLE on it, it's fine. Just be sure to ask what brand it is before you go with the cheaper part.

But... wheel bearings from the dealer list for under $80 each, IIRC. Pay $200 for the bearing and you're getting ripped off on the parts, but $100 labor is cheap for a 2.5 hr. job. If you're worried about quality or workmanship, just go to the dealer. If you're in Stamford, Fairfield and Danbury Audi aren't that far from you. They both have excellent service and fair prices. Do both sides and you'll likely get a bit of a discount.

 

I marked where my bolt sat, got the alignment checked and it turned out fine but I had just gotten an alignment 5,000 miles ago when I threw on new tires on my HRE's. So if you havent gotten an alignment in a while might as well do so. Might not be good to the pocket but neighter is the ownership of an Audi. BTW I got my WB at ECS but that was before I saw the set at MJM for $50... argghhh... should teach me a lesson to never buy from ECS

 

really?? thats good to know i guess. well im still gonna take it to a private guy. and the alignment i'll probably just wait till i get it lowered since i'll need to do it again..... plus its off anyways haha

 

So... you at least marked the camber eccentric, right...?

 

yeah i'll do that. the bearing should come in on tuesday so that'll get done sometime next week.

 

ok, here goes my continued sob story. The guy at Bronx, ordered the part - an SKF - and i went all the way there just to find out that he had ordered a part for a 1.8 whereas I told him I had a 2.8. So there he sends me back home asking me to come back after 2 hours...after 2 hours, I go there, he removes the parts all the way up to the part where I can see the old bearing. He places the new bearing that he received on top of the old one and finds out that it still is over sized. The part supplier had messed up again! So I quietly, apart from the sound of my teeth grinding that is, asked to put all of em back again, and returned home, vowing never to step in to that place again... Am now gonna order a part from ECS, and get it done from someone here tself, maybe Milford. But these guys dont give a warranty for a customer supplied part, is that fine?

 

Danbury or Fairfield Audi would have taken car of you and had you back on the road already.