Back in March this year the car went in for a rumbling noise from the rear end. It turned out to be the driver side rear wheel bearing. This was replaced under extended warranty at 50k miles. A few weeks ago the rumbling noise comes back after less than 20k miles and the dealer says that it's the same wheel bearing and will arrange to get it sorted. Has anyone else had experience of short life wheel bearings? What sort of junk are they fitting in these cars? 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

You've done 20k in less than 6 months?

Actually 20k in 7 months, my son travels a lot in his job especially during the summer. A mixture of off and on road usage. This, however is irrelevant. The bearing shouldn't fail this early 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Hi Dorset, I am on my second replacement bearing in twelve months! Mine was front near side, all seems good so far but only time will tell. I couldnt believe it when the bearing went again, I had the off side changed before the near side for the second time as I couldn't believe that it could go again. Mine were replaced by an indie.

Fitting a bearing not using the correct tools can ruin a new one, i wouldnt be surprised if the dealer mechanic couldnt find the tool when he needed it so improvised using a hammer and drift to get the job done and mucked it up?

That was what I thought, I would be very surprised if the bearings were to blame. Good job the replacements were FOC.

Do you remember when we had tapered roller bearings and as part of a service you would regrease them and then tighten them up to a set torque and then slacken them off a bit? In those days you never heard of bearing failures like you do today. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Landiroamer wrote:

Fitting a bearing not using the correct tools can ruin a new one, i wouldnt be surprised if the dealer mechanic couldnt find the tool when he needed it so improvised using a hammer and drift to get the job done and mucked it up?

I tend to agree, there is no reason for a set to fail so soon - assuming they were correctly fitted in the first place.
Either that , or the grease got contaminated/// 

That aside, we must ask the question as to why the original bearings so fragile? I wonder if it is down to the fact that the FL2 is basically a Ford underneath and that the Ford engineers basically engineered it down to too low a price. If all you have been working on is Transit vans, Fiestas and Mondeos and a requirement for a 4x4 lands on your desk you probably have a different approach to the problem. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

dorsetfreelander wrote:

Back in March this year the car went in for a rumbling noise from the rear end. It turned out to be the driver side rear wheel bearing. This was replaced under extended warranty at 50k miles. A few weeks ago the rumbling noise comes back after less than 20k miles and the dealer says that it's the same wheel bearing and will arrange to get it sorted. Has anyone else had experience of short life wheel bearings? What sort of junk are they fitting in these cars?

dorsetfreelander wrote:

That aside, we must ask the question as to why the original bearings so fragile? I wonder if it is down to the fact that the FL2 is basically a Ford underneath and that the Ford engineers basically engineered it down to too low a price. If all you have been working on is Transit vans, Fiestas and Mondeos and a requirement for a 4x4 lands on your desk you probably have a different approach to the problem.