Hi guys,
It's been a while. Hope everyone is safe and keeping well.
Looking for some advice. Car is a W212 E350cdi.
I think a wheel bearing on the front has had it or needs adjusting- there is a droning/humming sound above 40mph and a quite evident change in sound at 75mph without fail, every time.
I will be getting the car on a ramp this weekend and see how much play there is with the wheel and turn the wheels etc to confirm bearing being the issue. Now, the car has 130k+ miles and as far as I know, it has never had the wheel bearings replaced, adjusted or repacked with grease.
There are couple of options going forward and I'm looking for advise on what makes most sense.
1) I confirm the sound is due to wheel bearings. I pull the hub off. If the bearings look ok and don't have discolouration, markings, damage, all move freely and the races are all good inside the hub, I clean old grease out as best I can, pack OLD bearings with new MB grease and refit into hub etc. I will only be able to remove outside bearing and repack as the inner bearing has a seal on back which should not be reused I believe? And Im not sure if I can just purchase a new seal on its own.
Is this a false economy as they don't cost much and I should just replace with new bearings. If I'm correct, MB do not sell these and I would need to get a very good aftermarket bearings. MB only sell a complete hub with bearings already fitted I believe.
For reference:
Complete hub from MB is £210 each side.
Complete hub from Febi is £110 each side
New inner and outer bearings with seals kit from FAG, SKF, Febi £27 each side
2) Same as above but I get NEW bearings and seals, pack with new MB grease and fit into hub.
3) I should not reuse the old races due to mileage they've done and I should replace these as well if I'm replacing the bearings? If this is the case, I think I would just replace the whole hub with bearings and races already fitted to ensure no issues with removing and replacing the races. These will also come packed with new grease so a simple job.
4) Is all the above overkill and I just simply need to adjust the bearings as first port of call with the original bearings and the original grease lasting much longer than this mileage (I have no idea how long the bearings and grease last)- as mentioned above, they have never been adjusted. Should I use a dial indicator or follow the 'by feel' method a lot of people use when I adjust?
What ever is decided, I will be doing both sides.
As a final point, am I correct in thinking that rear bearings are non maintenance and sealed so there is no adjustment or greasing ever done on these.
Sorry for the long post, bad habit.
Thanks
It's been a while. Hope everyone is safe and keeping well.
Looking for some advice. Car is a W212 E350cdi.
I think a wheel bearing on the front has had it or needs adjusting- there is a droning/humming sound above 40mph and a quite evident change in sound at 75mph without fail, every time.
I will be getting the car on a ramp this weekend and see how much play there is with the wheel and turn the wheels etc to confirm bearing being the issue. Now, the car has 130k+ miles and as far as I know, it has never had the wheel bearings replaced, adjusted or repacked with grease.
There are couple of options going forward and I'm looking for advise on what makes most sense.
1) I confirm the sound is due to wheel bearings. I pull the hub off. If the bearings look ok and don't have discolouration, markings, damage, all move freely and the races are all good inside the hub, I clean old grease out as best I can, pack OLD bearings with new MB grease and refit into hub etc. I will only be able to remove outside bearing and repack as the inner bearing has a seal on back which should not be reused I believe? And Im not sure if I can just purchase a new seal on its own.
Is this a false economy as they don't cost much and I should just replace with new bearings. If I'm correct, MB do not sell these and I would need to get a very good aftermarket bearings. MB only sell a complete hub with bearings already fitted I believe.
For reference:
Complete hub from MB is £210 each side.
Complete hub from Febi is £110 each side
New inner and outer bearings with seals kit from FAG, SKF, Febi £27 each side
2) Same as above but I get NEW bearings and seals, pack with new MB grease and fit into hub.
3) I should not reuse the old races due to mileage they've done and I should replace these as well if I'm replacing the bearings? If this is the case, I think I would just replace the whole hub with bearings and races already fitted to ensure no issues with removing and replacing the races. These will also come packed with new grease so a simple job.
4) Is all the above overkill and I just simply need to adjust the bearings as first port of call with the original bearings and the original grease lasting much longer than this mileage (I have no idea how long the bearings and grease last)- as mentioned above, they have never been adjusted. Should I use a dial indicator or follow the 'by feel' method a lot of people use when I adjust?
What ever is decided, I will be doing both sides.
As a final point, am I correct in thinking that rear bearings are non maintenance and sealed so there is no adjustment or greasing ever done on these.
Sorry for the long post, bad habit.
Thanks