1994 S320 front bearings, can they be tightened?

[Zanx]

Just blown £500 on new shocks and discs all round on my S320 on the advice of the local steering specialist (front shocks are definitely leaking anyway), he said there was a bit of play in the front bearings too, was wondering if these cars had tapered bearings that could be nipped up a bit to take up slack, or whether I have to spend more on bearings.

I'm hoping to get the handling and steering to somewhere near as new condition. I love the car, but it does seem to lollop around a fair bit on Norfolk's fine roads.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Yes they are taper bearings and can be re set. Do not over tighten !!

 

[grober]

They should be set with a dial gauge if you want to get them spot on.

 

[Zanx]

Fantastic, thanks. I'll just take the slack out of them (and re grease) for now.

 

[NormanC]

They should be set with a dial gauge if you want to get them spot on.

Fantastic, thanks. I'll just take the slack out of them (and re grease) for now.

The reason you need the dial gauge as Graeme says is to set the end-float correctly. You shouldn't remove the slack completely! Sorry, but I don't know the correct end-float - perhaps someone else does?

 

[Ian B Walker]

0.01 to 0.02mm according to WIS

 

[Zanx]

The reason you need the dial gauge as Graeme says is to set the end-float correctly. You shouldn't remove the slack completely! Sorry, but I don't know the correct end-float - perhaps someone else does?

Ok, maybe the steering guys can do it when they do the tracking. No point doing the tracking if the bearings aren't right.