Rear wheel bearings, replacement?

Hi vic b,

You are right, the bearings do not adjust. From prices of a few years ago, the bearings were in the region of £65.00 to £75.00 per side from M/benz dealers; this came as a set per side, including seal and gasket required to do the job, I think, if my memory serves me, you do get a set of new lock nuts for the driveshaft flange.

The old bearing is chiselled off, and the new, pressed-on. Therefore, you will need a press or, farm that element of the job to a garage, with a press.

You may find in your local area bearing suppliers, searching through the yellow pages, who supply wheel bearings also, provided you give them the number off your old set, but you will need to order your seal and gasket from the dealer anyway. Bearings from the bearing supplier should be around £35.00 each.

I would suggest a diff. specialist to re-load (adjust crown-wheel and pinion) your axle, it can be normal and acceptable to a small amount of iron fillings attached to the drain plug magnet, but if you have particles of filling swimming in the oil as oil is drain off, then there is something a miss. In which case, I would be looking at renewing the diff. and pinion bearings as well.

A special expander is required to remove the crown wheel and pinion in order to replace the bearings. Not many mechanics or independant garages will have the skill, experience or the toool to do the job, I doubt.

You will need to talk to each individual, to who can do what for you. I reccomend a specialist. They too, are in the yellow pages.

Regards,

Hi Vic B if you are planning to get the bearing kits from MB just give them your vehicle vin number WDB 460............ and they will quote you a price and delivery...you can also source them from any specialist bearing and seal stockist by taking the removed parts as a pattern ..could save up to 50% on the cost. before fitting the new bearings you must remove ALL of the metal particles tha may have travelled from the diff allong the axle tubes to the wheel bearings and look for scoring on the half shaft/bearing interface surfaces...if you freeze the new bearings in your deepfreeze until they are white they will fit into the bearing housing with a gentle tap across the face using a block of hard wood between the bearing and the hammer....my own thoughts are that fitting a "known condition" axle from another G' will be cheaper in the long run...and a lot less hassle.....setting up a replacement diff with the axle insitu is almost impossible and cleaning it properly throughout will be difficult......

Hi Vic G Wagen UK at Caversham nr Reading have a used serviceable rear axle. they may be willing to undertake the repairs and loan you another G in the interim...call James Lafferty on 0118 9721100